The Mobilisation of women WW11

WW11 From late 1941 women, unless they were pregnant or had small children, were sent to work in industry or Auxiliary armed services. By 1943, 90% of single women and 80% of married women were doing work of national importance

WAAF Women’s Auxiliary Air force At first the women men did not fly but carried out the routine Office work. Later they became Involved in more dangerous Jobs such as mechanics, Welders and a few became Pilots!

ATS Auxiliary Territorial Service The women in the ATS did The routine office, driving And domestic duties which Freed the men to do combat Duty. In the latter years of The War women became more involved with dangerous jobs such as welding and were even used as gunners on Anti –aircraft guns – though they were note allowed to fire the guns! A total of 335 women were killed In the ATS and 300 wounded.

Factory Work By 1943 women occupied 57% of the jobs in factories, often doing a better job then the men! The Ministry of Information published Details of women's achievements. A women welder ‘produced 120 pieces of equipment a day compared to 100 to her male Colleagues. Source A – A painting by an Official was artist. It shows a women working in an engineering factory. Lesson 10

Land Army The Women’s Land Army was revived in 1939, and 80,000 women volunteered For work. They had no choice Where they worked and were Often billeted in remote areas In very basic conditions. Source B – A poster produced by he government to encourage Women to join the land army Lesson 10

Source C – A factory worker interviewed in Working gin the factories is not fun. To be shut in for hours on end without even a window to see daylight is grim. The noise was terrific and at night when you shut you eyes to sleep all the noise would start again in your head. The work was often monotonous. I think boredom was our worst enemy. Lesson 10

Source D – From an interview with Lily Halford who served in the Women’s Land Army. I was called up in I did not mind being called up. I think all of us were eager to do some kind of war work. I chose the Land Army because I liked gardening and decided to apply for a job with the horticultural side of the Land Army. Lesson 10

Cross referencing SupportChallengeExtent of Support Contents Nature How far do sources C and D support the impression of women’s work given in source A? Once again, the question above is asking you to cross reference the sources and come to a conclusion about the extent of their support for a statement. Make a copy of the grid and use it to plan your answer.