Warrior Women

Lyudmila Pavlichenko is the most celebrated female sniper in history. In 1942, despite experiencing pushback at the idea of a woman sniper, Pavlichenko enlisted in the Soviet Army to fight against Nazi Germany. This episode explores her extraordinary story, focussing on her time in service; the challenges she faced as a woman in a world of male military elites, her training, weapons, tactics, success, and resulting fame and recognition. With Jonathan Ferguson, Keeper of Firearms and Artillery, Royal Armouries, excerpts read by Chloe Rycroft, Education Manager, Royal Armouries.This podcast was funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund - Thanks to National Lottery Players.

Hannah Snell was the first women to join the Royal Marines. Or so her biography would have us believe. This episode explores the truths, half-truths and bare faced lies about this 18th century warrior woman and includes insights from author Matthew Stephens (who wrote 'Hannah Snell, The Secret Life of a Female Marine, 1723 – 1792') and Jonathan Ferguson Keeper of Firearms and Artillery at the Royal Armouries.This podcast was funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund - Thanks to National Lottery Players.

A warrior queen who defended her kingdom on the battlefield. Legend tells us she fled the British forces who burned her fortress to the ground, soaring through the sky on horseback, her young son strapped to her back, sword in the air, disappearing into the night.  She returned at the battle of Gwalior, leading her troops into one final stand-off. It was there she was killed, dying valiantly, dressed as a man. Revered and hated – a rebel, a jezebel, a mother, a warrior - India’s greatest heroine has been called many things… but who was she and will we ever really know? This episode attempts to untangle the myth surrounding Lakshmi Bai, the Rani of Jhansi.With Harleen Singh, Associate Professor of Literature and Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies at Brandeis University and Natasha Bennett, Curator of Asian and African Collections, Royal Armouries.This podcast was funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund - Thanks to National Lottery Players.

Vera Leigh's story is a tale of rags to riches. Born in Leeds and abandoned as a baby, she was adopted by a wealthy American and became one of only 39 women chosen to work during the Second World War as a Special Operations Executive, involved in clandestine operations in France to subvert and sabotage the Nazi enemy. This episode will examine her secretive life as a special agent and her fate at the hands of the enemy.With Dr. Kate Vigurs, historian and author of Mission France: The True History of the Women of SOE and Jonathan Ferguson, Keeper of Firearms and Artillery, Royal Armouries.This podcast was funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund - Thanks to National Lottery Players.