The story of just a few of the girls who have disguised themselves as men to go to war.
Women like Kit Welsh, who served as a dragoon in the Duke of Marlborough's army. Lucy Brewer , who became a us Marine in the early 19th century, and whose exploits included fighting a duel to stop a drunken officer molesting a young girl. And Dorothy Lawrence , whose curiosity about war led her to the front line in 1915 digging trenches in a unit of sappers.
Their lives were adventurous, often dangerous, sometimes comic, and their motives for donning uniform varied from the desire to find a husband or lover already serving in the forces to sheer love of adventure. Written and narrated by Jane Finnis
Diary extracts read by KATE BINCHY and BONNIE HURREN Producer MARLENE PEASE Preview: page 17