National Army Museum launches Spotlight Saturdays

The National Army Museum kicks off a new series of public events to showcase the work of specific regiments, topical themes or inspiring key campaigns in the nation's history, with 'Spotlight Saturdays'.

Taking place on a Saturday, every other month, the spotlight sessions aim to inspire, engage and educate visitors with a free day of activities at the museum in Chelsea. The sessions will bring together serving soldiers, leading military experts and veterans, as well as the Museum's extensive collection of archives and objects spanning more than four centuries.

On Saturday 2 March, in recognition of Women's History Month 2019, the Museum spotlights how women have helped shape the British Army. Women and the Army will transport visitors from the 17th century through to the present day with theatrical performances, live music and intriguing discussion. 

Step back in time - In 1693, Mother Ross disguised herself as a man to join the British Army in order to find her husband who had disappeared at war. Her incredible story is told in a theatrical performance by Dr Kate Vigurs of History's Maid.

Real Women: 5 x 15 Panel - Ali Brown, chair of the WRAC Association, brings together five remarkable women who are either serving soldiers, veterans or Army wives, to share their personal experiences of the British Army. Meet

• Betty Webb – served at Bletchley Park with the ATS. She's now a published author.
• Moira Cameron – served a full Army career in the 70s and 80s, and was the first female Yeoman of the Guard at the Tower of London.
• Ali Brown – served in the Army from the early 1980s until 2011. She served during conflicts in the Gulf and the Balkans and now works tirelessly to 'support women who served' through the WRAC Association.
• Colonel Lucy Giles – currently serving in the British Army, Lucy was the first female college commander at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and was awarded the Women in Defence award in 2017.
• Military wife – a military wife will join the panel to share what life is like for the spouse of a serving soldier, from the highs of travel to the lows of leading a family solo.

Additional activities throughout the day include performances by the Military Wives Choirs, as well as gallery tours and object handling centred around women in the Army.

Visitors are invited to go back in time when they meet an ATS re-enactor. They will have the opportunity to quiz a woman from the Auxiliary Territorial Service, the women's branch of the Army, to discover her story and learn more about what life was like for women at the time of the Second World War.