Dorothy Christian Hare (1876–1967) was educated at the London School of Medicine for Women. She held positions at the Royal Free Hospital and the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital, London. In 1916 Hare went to Malta with the Royal Army Medical Corps, and in 1918 became the general medical director of the Women’s Royal Naval Service, for which she received the CBE in 1919. During her time with the WRNS, Hare witnessed the miserable plight of girls with venereal disease, and went on to found two hostels which catered for affected pregnant and non-pregnant girls. In those days the treatment of venereal disease was protracted and unpleasant, and those affected were often refused lodgings in mother and baby homes. The hostels were therefore very important, and only closed down during the Second World War when penicillin became widely used.