My first two images below were taken during World War Two, in my home village of Earlston in the rural Scttish Borders, and show muniton workers in their protective clothing.
Photographs courtesy of the Auld Earlston Group
During World War Two, around
950,000 British women worked in munitions factories making weapons such as shells and bullets. Munitions work was
often well-paid, but involved long hours. Workers were also at serious risk from accidents with dangerous
machinery or when working with high explosive material. Some munitions workers dealt with toxic chemicals every day. Those
who handled sulphur were nicknamed ‘Canary Girls’, because their skin
and hair turned yellow from contact with the chemical. [Source: My Learning.Org ].
In Earlston, 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.
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My Memories of being covered up against the elements:
I have no winter photographs of my 1950s childhood - cameras must have been
reserved for summer. I grew up in
north-west England where winters were relatively mild, but this was
the days before tights, and girls then did not wear trousers. A
Liberty bodice, skirt with short socks (short trousers for my brother),
home knitted jumpers and pixie hoods, criss-crossed over my
chest and tied at the back - this was the ritual dress for going out in
winter.
Liberty bodices were a close fitting undergarment worn by little girls over a vest in winter. They were made of a fleecy woollen fabric and had little rubber buttons, apparently so they wuld pass through a mangle. I hated them! They could make you feel sticky if the weather turned warm and the buttons were tricky to do up and undo.
Liberty bodices were a close fitting undergarment worn by little girls over a vest in winter. They were made of a fleecy woollen fabric and had little rubber buttons, apparently so they wuld pass through a mangle. I hated them! They could make you feel sticky if the weather turned warm and the buttons were tricky to do up and undo.
Fast Forward Some Decades:
1966 and the film Dr. Zhivago was the blockbuster film of the year, with Russian style fur hoods the popular fashion item for winter. Here I am in the red jacket wearing mine.
1966 and the film Dr. Zhivago was the blockbuster film of the year, with Russian style fur hoods the popular fashion item for winter. Here I am in the red jacket wearing mine.
I was now in Scotland and our daughter was born in January, so an unfortunate time for planning
parties. Still we aimed for the ritual birthday photograph over the yeas which had to be out of doors (no flash).
Not looking too happy here -
Below - wrapping up against the blustery May winds on the Isle of Iona
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Granddaughter well wrapped up for experiencing snow for the first time.
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Sepia Saturday give bloggers an opportunity
to share their family history through photographs
Very interesting story about the munition workers. I am also envious of your creative take on the theme. All I could think of was 4 women. What is wrong with me??
ReplyDeleteThank you for the compliment, Wendy, but I admit I often go for the obvious with Sepia Saturday prompts. So what is wrong with featuring four women? - I am sure you must have many photographs in your collection of you aunts, cousins etc Go for it - and I look forward to reading your post!
ReplyDeleteAh-ha! You like red coats & jackets! I do love the red coat. It's rather sharp-looking. And your daughter's coat in that same picture reminds me of my brown checkered coat when I was around 6 or 7. I don't know why, but I loved it, and forever after, have loved checkered or hounds tooth fabrics in brown or black & white for coats, jackets, and skirts. Nice warm post! :)
ReplyDeleteBeing in the snow always looks appealing to we Antipodeans but reality is rather more harsh. Love the photo of your granddaughter on her first snowy expedition and your Zhivago outfit.
ReplyDeleteI wonder whether those munitions workers had health impacts after the war as a result of the chemicals etc they worked with.
Great photos, especially the one of your granddaughter. What a little doll.
ReplyDeleteGreat collection of warm wear and who was wearing it...loved your description of your own clothes as a child to go out into the cold.
ReplyDeleteA nice mix of history and fashion. Looking at the munition workers made me wonder about their clothing. They don't look like men's coveralls. Did their employer have trouble getting proper protective uniforms sized for women?
ReplyDeleteThank you all for your kind comments on this enjoyable prompt. Here in Scotland, I had no problem in finding snow pictures and winter fashion.
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