A Chelmsford author has published a touching book about the women who served in the First World War. 

We Also Served: The Forgotten Women of the First World War by Dr Viven Newman reveals many proud stories of, often unrecognised, acts of heroism by British women and also  features the little-known stories of those who performed more unusual tasks during the conflict. 

Dr Vivien Newman, an expert on women's experiences during the First World War, was a Senior Tutor at Chelmsford Adult Community College for nearly 20 years and speaks on the First World War to numerous local groups in Essex.

These range from the eight-year-old girl who knitted over 100 comforts for the troops, to the young woman who was decorated for bravery by the Germans, the Belgians, the French and the British.

In August 1914, a mere 640 women had a clearly defined wartime role.

By 1918, hundreds of thousands of women from all corners of the world had ignored War Office advice to 'go home and sit still', lending their individual wills and collective strength to the Allied cause.

As well as becoming nurses, munitions workers and members of the Land Army, women were also ambulance drivers and surgeons.

At least one British woman bore arms and over a thousand lost their lives as a direct result of their involvement with the war.

This book lets these all but forgotten women speak directly to the reader of their war, their lives and their experiences.

The book is available from high street book stores or from www.pen-and-sword.co.uk