The skill and care of the women of the Allied military nursing services was remembered gratefully by hundreds of thousands of wounded servicemen. The small peacetime services increased rapidly by enrolling reservists and volunteers; the great majority of the nurses who cared for Allied casualties were 'civilians in uniform', who worked tirelessly under difficult conditions and in tented hospitals close to the front lines in real danger; many nurses paid for their devotion with their lives. This first-ever fully illustrated study of the US, British, Commonwealth, and other nursing organisations includes many unpublished photographs and 24 meticulously illustrated colour figures.

MARTIN J.BRAYLEY now works as a professional photographer and freelance author after many years' service with the Royal Navy. He is a long-time collector and researcher of militaria, and his published books - with co-author Richard Ingram - include World War II British Women's Uniforms (1995); The World War II Tommy - British Army Uniforms, European Theatre 1939-45 (1998); and Khaki Drill & Jungle Greeen - British Tropical Uniforms 1939-45 (2000). He has also contributed articles to specialist magazines in Britain and abroad; and this book is the latest in a series of titles for Osprey Military on the men's and women's services of World War II. An expert marksman, Martin Brayley has represented Great Britain at international level; he lives in Hampshire with his wife and son.
RAMIRO BUJEIRO has become a frequent and popular contributor to Osprey Military's book series since illustrating Warrior 23, US Marine in Vietnam (1998). He is an experienced commercial artist who lives and works in his native city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. His professional background includes many commissions as a figure illustrator and strip cartoonist for clients all over Europe and the Americas, including many years' work for IPC Magazines in Great Britain. His main interests are the political and military history of Europe in the first half of the 20th century; a recent publication, with Carlo Caballero Jurado, is Elite 76, The German Freikorps 1918-23 (2001).