Women were a vital part of the workforce in the First World War in the production of armaments - shells and bullets. Also known as Munitionettes or Canary Girls, they filled the gap left by men joining the forces.
normal;">But the work was not without its dangers, with serious risk of accidents accidents with dangerous machinery or when working with high
explosive material. Some munitions workers handled toxic chemicals every
day. Those who handled sulphur were nicknamed ‘Canary Girls’, because
their skin and hair turned yellow from contact with the chemical.
Over 200 women lost their lives through accidents, explosions, or poisoning from handling chemical explosives. On 1 July 1918, an explosion at the Chilwell Faory in Nottinghamshire killed 134 workers - male and female - and wounded many more.
By the end of the war, it was estimated that over 700,000 – and possibly up to one million – women had become 'munitionettes'.
By the end of the war, it was estimated that over 700,000 – and possibly up to one million – women had become 'munitionettes'.
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| World War One Recruitment Posters |
Speaking from today's perspective, the term "Munitionettes" seems, with hindsight to be very demeaning and patronising to the role the women actually performed. It makes me think of a troupe of dancers in a musical hall or even cinema usherettes. What do you think? It does not appear to have such widespread use in the Second World war.
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In World War Two, around 950,000 British women worked in munitions factories making weapons like shells and bullets. Munitions work was often well-paid, but involved long hours.
In my home village of Earlston, Berwickshire in Scottish Borders, women munition workers were employed at two sites. One local resident recalled there were two shifts working seven days a week involving dozens of women. She was also sent to college at Portobello, Edinburgh to learn how to operate a lathe.
Two photographs of Earlston munition workers.
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Great group photos of those hard working women! (I guess they didn't care much about their uniforms...practical and not flattering much!)
ReplyDeleteA fascinating history. Maintaining a continuous supply of munitions was one of the first major problems facing all the nations at war in 1914. It's astonishing that the logistics of finding workers was not considered much in the military planning.
ReplyDeleteAs for the "munitionettes", I think it was the era's writing style to always use feminine suffixes. I find it in reports of female "directress" or "conductrix".
Clearly the work that those women undertook was hard and dangerous for their health. "Munitionettes" sounds a bit like like marionettes, but hopefully that was not the way they were treated.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the historic info to go with the pictures. Quite interesting.
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