I don't know how influential she was, but I can't pass up the chance to mention my next door neighbor: One of Churchill's Wartime Secretaries. Elisabeth Shakespeare Layton (later Nel) http://randslam.hubpages.com/hub/Mr-Churchills-Secretary-The-Mackie-House http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1569501/Elizabeth-Nel.html Their family property here in Vernon BC sold to the Mackie family in 1940. Now the Mackie House Foundation: http://www.mackiehouse.ca/ How she met her husband: Frans Nel http://samilitaryhistory.org/9/09febnl.html __________________ Other secretaries to Winston Churchill during the war: http://lincolnandchurchill.org/churchill/churchills-team-in-wwii/
Vera Brittain, who worked tirelessly to get food to starving children in occupied Belgium and Greece, and trenchantly against mass bombing of civilians in German cities.