3231: Munitionettes

This photo shows a group of workers in an engineering workshop during the war. As part of mobilizing the nation for war, women workers were permitted to take jobs that had been previously reserved for men, although they did not receive the same pay rates. In general men were astonished to find that women workers were capable and quick to learn. The women here are wearing the brown overalls and caps associated with 'munitionettes', as female munitions workers were known. The women workers are wearing 'On Service' badges, one of which is in William Edward 'Bill' Whitfield's box of badges. The exact work being performed is unknown, although on the right of the photo there is a lathe.

The workshop is probably in Bradford, West Yorkshire. On the reverse in pencil is written 'A. Lister' and in pen 'Gladys Lister'. Gladys was Bill's wife but as she was born 1908 it cannot be her in this photo. Her father Fred is difficult to trace before 1911 so it has not been possible to identify 'A. Lister', if indeed this person is in the photo.