In Their Own Words

Professional portrait photographer Rachel Vogeleisen was first drawn to the history of World War II when she learned, as a child, that her grandfather from Alsace had been forced to fight for Germany against Russia. That moment sparked a lifelong fascination — and a decade-long project. This powerful book is the result of ten years of research and interviews with 21 women who volunteered during the Second World War. From pilots to mechanics, medics to signal operators, these women stepped forward when the world needed them most — often without thanks or recognition. Through intimate photographic portraits and unedited personal testimonies, Vogeleisen gives these women a platform to speak in their own voices, preserving stories that might otherwise be lost. Included are extraordinary women like Joy Lofthouse, whose wartime contributions were finally honoured with the 2005 memorial to the Women of World War Two in Whitehall, London. A moving, visually striking tribute to service, sacrifice, and the enduring power of memory. For fans of Code Girls, The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line, and Women in War.