Women+at+war

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Although men were the main fighters of this war, women still had a huge responsibility. As picture 1 shows, women could be called up to what was known as the Women`s Land Army, with the intention of them growing and providing more food for the country. Also as picture 2 shows, women took up jobs in factories making bombs and guns. In one case the women were creating a bomb containing a chemical that gave them yellow skin, resulting in them being nicknamed the 'canaries'.

__What the women did.__ When the war broke out women covered all the traditional employment of the men. Women were introduced to occupations in factories, building weapons, ships, tanks and planes. They had to work where ever they were sent, so life was harder as they might not have any knowledge about their new responsibilites.Some women worked as mechanics at the airbases or the vehicle depots, doctors and nurses at the military hospital, or they worked on the farms. Ship building went up by 600% and the air craft production went up by 500% due to the women's efforts. This included one plane being built every five minutes. Women were making a real diference. Those who remained in Britan were expected to carry a gas mask with them at all times in case Britan was invaded with gas bombs. This included when women contributed to the work force. While the wife's husbands were at war the women did lots of work, as they had to do all the jobs the men did. This included bus and train driving, working in factories and making bombs.

Women At Work!!! These women have found a job working in a factory to do with general engineering.

As more and more men were called up to serve in the forces,women were called upon to take over the jobs traditonally done by men. As Women worked in factory producing air craft,ammation,wepon and other goods needed for the war effort.They worked long hours and could earn as much as 40 shilings [2.00] a week.This was quite a good wage in the 1940s but was less than what the man earned for doing the same job.

Men were sent away to work so women had to fill in their jobs. Old women would nanny the womens children, and women that did not have children would be sent away to help other countries. Some of the jobs they did were; bus conductors, train signal operaters, drivers, mechanics, clerical workers, shipwrights and engineers.