Edinburgh heroine honoured in Paris

Published on Monday 9 June 2008 10:34

THE courageous work of an Edinburgh doctor who established overseas hospitals for troops during the First World War has been honoured during a ceremony in Paris.

Dr Elsie Inglis founded the Scottish Women's Hospital for Foreign Service (SWHFS) at the outbreak of the war in 1914.

The 14 units set up by SWHFS across Europe helped to save countless lives during the conflict.

Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell was among those who attended the ceremony, which took place at the Abbaye de Royaumont in the French capital last week.

He said: "It is a great pleasure to help mark the selflessness and dedication shown by the women of the Scottish Women's Hospital for Foreign Service.

"The courage, valour and sacrifice of Dr Inglis, her colleagues, and Scottish servicemen and women is appropriately recognised and celebrated by this fine memorial to their great deeds."

Dr Inglis was born in India and studied medicine in Edinburgh. She campaigned for the right of women to vote and played a key role in setting up the Scottish Women's Suffrage Federation.

She died from illness and exhaustion in 1917, the day after her return to the UK.