Women think around corners, men see in straight lines: WW2 veteran's comments go viral
A WWII veteran who faked her height to join the Wrens has become an online sensation, with thousands praising her powerful words on war and the role of women in leadership.
A video of 100-year-old Dorothea Barron has gone viral, with her blunt assessment of war's futility striking a chord online.
The BFBS Forces News Instagram clip has been liked more than 278,000 times, with people calling the centenarian a hero and praising her wisdom.
Dorothea was speaking at an International Women’s Day event in London, where she reflected on the realities of war. In the clip, she states:
"Nobody bloody well wins a war. Everybody loses any war. Nobody wins, absolutely nobody. Even the victors have suffered, and they've lost their loved ones. War is useless, you've got to talk."
Her words prompted one commenter to write, "I wish this was the world motto."
'Women see round corners'
Dorothea also spoke about the importance of women in the military, saying she admired today's female service members and believed they brought a much-needed perspective to defence.
"We need women in there. We need a sobering voice, and women are, I'm afraid, much more sensible than men.
"I know my sons-in-law will turn up in horror at that, but they are – women see round corners and think round corners. Men just see in straight lines."
The phrase "women see round corners" struck a chord online.
One person called it "a perfect distillation of how women think about consequences rather than just the action."
Another said: "More female leaders = better communication."
One simply wrote: "Make this woman prime minister!"
A determined trailblazer
Dorothea's story goes beyond her viral moment. In 1943, she was so eager to join the Women's Royal Naval Service that she faked her height to meet the entry requirements.
"I put things under my heels and cut cardboard shapes and wore them inside my shoes. I put my hair up and stood as tall as I could," she recalled.
"I think they took pity on me and thought, 'poor thing, she's so keen to come, we will let her in even if she isn't 5ft 3in'."
As a visual signaller, she trained troops in semaphore and Morse code ahead of the D-Day landings, ensuring they could communicate if radios failed.
A legacy recognised
For years, Dorothea rarely spoke about her wartime service.
But First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ben Key made sure she knew how much it mattered, writing to her: "You were extraordinary trailblazers for all the women that now serve on the frontline in today's Navy – without your example and your courage, we would not be where we are today."
Dorothea modestly responded: "That was very sweet of him to say that. Everybody's contribution was fundamental to the winning of the war – it really was everybody's."
Still standing tall
At 100 years old, Dorothea remains incredibly active, still teaching yoga in her local village hall and impressing younger students with her flexibility.
Her viral moment has introduced her to a new generation, with one commenter summing it up best: "I love her. I hope someone has recorded hours of her talking."
For a woman once considered too short to serve, Dorothea Barron has never stood taller.
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