Celebrating the Heroic Women from WW1 Summerdown Camp this International Women's Day!

International Women's Day is celebrated on 8 March every year to mark the sociological, political and economical achievements of women all over the world and simply to celebrate their awesomeness! The day is recognised by organisations, charities, governments and individuals around the world.

International Women's Day was first recognised and celebrated in 1911 - only a few years before Summerdown convalescent camp opened in Eastbourne during the First World War - the first and largest of its kind in the UK. The camp welcomed its first wounded soldier in April 1915, and throughout the five years that it was open it was the heroic women who took care of the thousands of injured men.

On 16 March a new exhibition uncovering the fascinating history of life at Summerdown Camp will open at Eastbourne's Pavilion. With International Women's Day this Sunday, it's only right that we recognise the women who lived and worked at Summerdown Camp a century ago!

The women at Summerdown Camp played a huge part in insuring that soldiers recovered from the horrific injuries incurred on the front line, including developing some of the vital occupational therapies used at the camp, such as embroidery and basket making. Pioneering medical treatments for both mental and physical ailments were also developed with the help of the nursing women at the camp.

Not only did these amazing women nurse the injured men back to health, they also fed and cared for them. A Women's Army Auxilary Corps cook would have to cook for over 3000 soldiers every meal time, you can only imagine the many dilemmas and chaos involved in such a task - a huge accomplishment by these women which is recognised at the exhibition.

Of course, the women became close to the men they were caring for and then had to go through the heartbreak of saying goodbye when the soldiers returned to war.

Here at Visit Eastbourne, we think that the amazing women of Summerdown Camp deserve to be remembered this International Women's Day. So here is a big thank you to them for all they did at the convalescent camp in the First World War!

The Summerdown Camp exhibition opens at the Pavilion on March 16 - entry is free, so go down and learn about the women, soldiers and the camp itself. On April 8 there is a special commemorative event at the Pavilion, to mark 100 years to the day that the first soldier arrived at Summerdown!