Description
Physical description
This is a diorama representing Sergeant-Major Flora Sandes in Serbia, and is 69cm x 61cm x 58.5cm high. It is made of wood and plaster, and was originally made in 1918 specifically for the Imperial War Museum.
The painted three-dimensional plaster model shows a group of four figures behind the cover of a rocky outcrop, with two to the right in the action of firing rifles, their spent cartridge cases seen in the snow, a man to the left under cover, tending to his wounded arm, and a female figure to the centre, standing with weapon in right hand and facing the viewer but pointing with her left hand. The painted background is of mountains and features stylised air burst explosions in the distance.
Label
Flora Sandes (1876-1956) was a British nurse, who subsequently enlisted as a Serbian Army soldier during the First World War. The daughter of a Scottish clergyman, Sandes volunteered for service with a Serbian ambulance unit, upon the Austro-Hungarian declaration of War with Serbia on 28 July 1914.
When the Serbian Army was overrun by invading Austro-German-Bulgarian forces in November 1915, Sandes travelled with the Army and government-in-exile during the 'Great Retreat' to Corfu, via the mountains of Albania. Sandes herself enlisted with the Serbian Army - the Iron Regiment - during the retreat. In November the following year, Sandes achieved a remarkable promotion, to Sergeant-Major. The same year, 1916, she published "An English Woman-Sergeant in the Serbian Army" as a means of raising necessary funds for the Serbian cause. Before year 1916 was out, she had suffered a wound caused by an enemy grenade during hand-to-hand fighting. Her wound meant that she returned to her original wartime occupation, running a hospital.
In spite of the end of war in late 1918, Sandes chose to remain with the Serbian Army, eventually retiring with the rank of Captain and the Order of the Star of Karageorge. Having lived a decidedly unusual and adventurous life for a woman of the period, Sandes eventually married in 1927. Upon the death of her husband in 1933, Sandes belatedly returned home to England where she died in Suffolk in 1956. A biography of Flora Sandes, 'The Lovely Sergeant' by Alan Burgess was published in 1964.
History note
Oct 1915-Enlisted as Private in Serbian Army and fought in the Albanian retreat. Jan 1916-Promoted to Corporal and decorated with Order of St Sava, 4th Class. Apr 1916-Made Sergeant-Major, and promoted Second Class.
Flora Sandes (1876-1956) was a British nurse who subsequently enlisted as a Serbian Army soldier during the First World War. The daughter of a Scottish clergyman, Sandes volunteered for service with a Serbian ambulance unit, upon the Austro-Hungarian declaration of War with Serbia on 28 July 1914.
When the Serbian Army was overrun by invading Austro-German-Bulgarian forces in November 1915, Sandes travelled with the Army and government-in-exile during the 'Great Retreat' to Corfu, via the mountains of Albania. Sandes herself enlisted with the Serbian Army - the Iron Regiment - during the retreat. In November the following year Sandes achieved a remarkable promotion, to Sergeant-Major. The same year, 1916, she published "An English Woman-Sergeant in the Serbian Army" as a means of raising necessary funds for the Serbian cause. Before year 1916 was out she had suffered a wound caused by an enemy grenade during hand-to-hand fighting. Her wound meant that she returned to her original wartime occupation, running a hospital.
In spite of the end of war in late 1918, Sandes chose to remain with the Serbian Army, eventually retiring with the rank of Captain and the Order of the Star of Karageorge. Having lived a decidedly unusual and adventurous life for a woman of the period, Sandes eventually married in 1927. Upon the death of her husband in 1933, Sandes belatedly returned home to England where she died in Suffolk in 1956. A biography of Flora Sandes, 'The Lovely Sergeant' by Alan Burgess was published in 1964.
