an introduction to Vera Brittain

My namesake is Vera Brittain (1893-1970), a British feminist and author whose pacificism grew from her experience in World War I. She served as a nurse in England and France and lost her brother, fiancé, and many close friends to the war. She remained active in international peace movements, including the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, throughout her life.
When I first read Vera Brittain’s work, I was a graduate student in history. I was also an officer in the U.S. Air Force, preparing to teach at the Air Force Academy. I found Testament of Youth (1933) a devastating glimpse into the challenge that war poses to feminists and advocates of human rights. Now I teach and write about military law and history, seeking to better understand the costs and consequences of war and military service for both women and men, soldiers and civilians.
Many thanks to Grace O’Malley for building this bridge to bring us together – and to everyone else in on the conversation!