Betsy Cadwaladyr travelled the world as a maid aboard ship before serving alongside Florence Nightingale in the Crimean War.
Betsy, born Elizabeth Davies, grew up in Bala, the daughter of a Methodist preacher. Yet she always longed to explore further afield, and left to enter domestic service in Liverpool at the age of 14. She then travelled the world, working as captain's maid and assistant, before settling in London to train as a nurse.
After reading about the plight of British soldiers in the Crimean War, who were dying of typhoid and wound infections, Betsy decided to join the military nursing service to take care of them. She worked alongside Florence Nightingale for a time, but did not like her imperious discipline.
Betsy moved to serve on the Balaclavan front, where she was famous for her disregard of red tape to ensure that supplies reached the wounded.
Listen to some of the contributions about Betsy's life on an episode of BBC Radio Wales programme The Past Master in May 2009.
Derek Thorpe, author of a new account of her life, tells us how Betsy made it into an emperor's harem before joining a group of nuns who wanted to nurse the soldiers.
Listen to Derek.
Donna Meade, professor of nursing at Glamorgan University, tells how Betsy came from a hard-working tradition of capable women and was determined to nurse the soldiers at the front, despite Florence Nightingale's opposition.
Listen to Donna.
Mark Bostridge, author of a biography of Florence Nightingale, sheds more light on the difficult relationship between the two women, even suggesting that perhaps not all of Betsy's story can be believed.
Listen to Mark.
Nurse alongside Florence Nightingale in the Crimean War.
