The Era Of The Great War #7: The Changing Role Of Women Flashcards
What did David Lloyd George, PM of Britain, know by May 1915?
That he had to mobilise the women of Britain
What did the women do as police?
Women’s Patrols inspected women working, patrolled streets, parks, and public houses
What do VAD Nurses stand for?
Voluntary Aid Detachment
What was the corps or military nurses called?
Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMS)
When was the QAIMNS founded?
1902, Boer War
How many were in the QAIMNS by the end of WW1?
Over 10000
Why did professional nurses not warmly welcome VAD nurses?
They feared an invasion of QAIMNS in fear that their own efforts would be undermined
What jobs did VADs do?
- domestic labour
- cleaning floors
- changing bed linens
- rarely allowed later to change dressings or administer drugs
How many female munitions workers were there by 1918?
Almost one million
What was pay like for munitions workers?
Relatively well paid
What were conditions like for munitions workers?
Unpleasant, dangerous, long hours
What did munitions workers in large shelling factories do?
Worked with TNT
What happened to the women who worked with TNT?
They suffered from jaundice, and so were nicknamed canaries
There were several explosions at munitions factories. Which was the worst?
Chilwell, Nottinghamshire
1 July 1918
Killed 134
Injured 250
What was the food supply like when the Women’s Land Army was established?
There was only 3weeks worth of food left
How did the Government Board of Agriculture try to change men’s prejudices against the WLA?
They organised live practical demonstrations of them working
When was the WLA established? By who?
Dame Meriel Talbot.
- in January 1917, she formed the WLA on behalf of the British Government and the first women of the Board of Agriculture were appointed
- In March 1917, she crates a CIVILIANS labour force of mobile workers
Age requirement for WLA
Over 18
How long did the WLA train for?
4 weeks
What did the Land Girls do?
Milking, care of livestock, general work on farms
What was the payment for the WLA?
18 shillings/ week and then 20 after an efficiency test
Between March 1917 and May 1919, how many full time WLA members were there?
23000
How many FULL TIME workers were there for the WLA between March 1917 and May 1919?
23000
By 1918 how many women weee working on the land?
300k
What jobs could women have in transport?
Conductresses, ticket collectors, carriage cleaners, bus drivers
What jobs could women have in transport?
Conductresses, ticket collectors, carriage cleaners, bus drivers
During the war, how many women worked in transport?
50000
What happened to many female transport workers after the war?
Their jobs were taken away when service men returned
When was the WAAC formed? (Women’s auxiliary armed corps)
December 1916
Why was the WAAC formed?
The war office found that jobs being done by soldiers in France could be done by women
What was the WAAC renamed to in 1 April 1918?
Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps
How many women joined Britains armed forces in total?
Over 100k
What did production of munitions increase to with the help of women?
20x
Weapons that previously took a year to produce now took how long with women’s help?
3 weeks
Impact of women in industry?
- seen as more capable
- learnt skills
- production increased
- gave them money
- some jobs were taken away after
