Wonder Woman of the Week: Hannah Snell

Sally may have sold sea shells by the sea shore (and kudos if you only had to read that once), but one seashell seeking sailor took a different path. This week’s spotlight disguised herself so she could serve in her nation’s navy, became a tough-as-nails marine, and received the praise of her peers after her sex became known. She sailed through ocean storms that would sink sea-sick sailors, engaged in brutal trench fighting during a hellish siege, and suffered serious injuries from battle. The Wonder Woman of the Week is Hannah Snell.

Hannah Snell was born in Worchester, England in 1723. She was just like any of the other kids growing up; playing games with her siblings and neighborhood kids. Snell however, was not about all those domestic games. She didn’t play house or mother or doctor. Little Hannah played soldier. [1]

When Hannah Snell was only seventeen, her parents died and she moved to Wapping. She fell in love with a Dutchman names James Summs and the two married. Summs returned to his work at sea, but Snell never heard back from him. Snell believed Summs had been kidnapped into service by Army or Navy- a common practice during the 18th Century- and decided to leave her home in search of her missing husband. [2]

The Scottish were in full rebellion in 1746, so Hannah Snell disguised herself as a man and enlisted in the military. Her regiment marched north to Carlisle. For undocumented reasons, Snell incurred disciplinary action and received five hundred lashes as punishment and managed to conceal her sex for the duration. Snell signed onto the ship Swallow as the Marine officer’s cook and sailed to the East Indies. [3]

The Swallow sailed the islands of Mauritius where the navy was attempting to wrangle possession of the island. Hannah Snell landed with the Royal Marines and found herself in the center of the battle. During the island-hopping campaign, Snell and the marines waded through chest-deep rivers under direct fire from French soldiers as they stormed defensive positions. Snell herself was shot in the groin, but again was able to conceal her true sex due to help from a native Mauritian woman who extracted the bullet. [3]

Hannah Snell was reported to have survived twelve separate bullet wounds (meaning this woman was shot twelve times) and not only survived, but kept most of her medical injuries a secret. Her fellow marines were catching on however. Snell- who used the false name “James Grey” gained the nickname of “Molly” because of her femininely smooth face. While stationed in Portugal, Snell learned the fate of her husband. He had been executed in Genoa and her search had been in vain.[3]

The devastated Hannah Snell decided she would return to England with her ship and retire from her life as a soldier. In 1750, after disembarking in London and meeting with her marine buddies at the pub, Hannah Snell made a bold move. She took off her disguise and revealed who she truly was to the soldiers she had served with during her life as a sailor. In a surprising move- the marines embraced Snell for who she was and went further to help her receive the pensions owed to her as a retired marine- something impossible for a woman to earn. [4]

The retired marine marched right up to the head of England’s Army, gave him the documents of her service as a Royal Marine- all while in her lady clothes- and petitioned for her pay. The officer- impressed by her service- granted her request. Hannah Snell became the most famous female soldier in England nearly overnight. Snell received full pay- equal to that of a male marine- started a family and lived for forty more years. [4]

Hannah Snell began her life as many young girls do, playing games with boys and girls not caring about the gender divides of her people during the innocence of youth. Snell was different though because she dared to marry a man she loved- a rarity in 18th Century England. When her husband went missing, she went to the ends of the earth-literally- to find him. On her journey, she sailed through devastating storms at sea, underwent brutal lashings, fought in horrendous battles, marched through chest-deep rivers; and all the while concealed her femininity throughout. Even further, Snell had the courage to reveal her true identity to the soldiers she fought with for two years- knowing an arrest and even execution was a legitimate response. Not only did her peers accept her, both the lead officer of the entire English Army accepted her along with her entire nation who filled lecture halls just to hear her tell the story of her experiences. More than anything else, Hannah Snell is proof that a woman can be just as capable a soldier as any man and that when faced with an Odyssey of a journey; even an eighteen year old girl can become a national hero.

Lee, Yoon Joung. “Hannah Snell: The Secret Life of a Female Soldier.” 29 November 2010. A Woman’s Bridge Foundation. Accessed 18 November 2015. http://www.awomansbridge.org/women-culture--history/hannah-snell-the-secret-life-of-a-female-soldier

“Hannah Snell (James Grey) 1723-1792.” 2011. Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Museum. Accessed 18 November 2015. http://www.warwickfusiliers.co.uk/pages/pg-50-hannah_snell_james_grey_1723_-_1792/

“Hannal Snell (1723-1792).” 2003. David Nash Ford’s Royal Berkshire History. Accessed 18 November 2015. http://www.berkshirehistory.com/bios/hsnell.html

“Hannah Snell: Britain’s Most Famous Female Sea Soldier…” 2015. HannahSnell.com. Accessed 18 November 2015. http://www.hannahsnell.com/