What was it like to work in a munitions factory?
However, working in the factories could be unpleasant, uncomfortable and often very dangerous. The female workers, nicknamed ‘munitionettes’, had limited protection against the toxic chemicals they had to use. Over 200 women lost their lives through accidents, explosions, or poisoning from handling chemical explosives.
Why did munitions workers turn yellow?
Munitions work involved mixing explosives, and filling shells and bullets. Munitionettes manufactured cordite and TNT, and those working with TNT were at risk of becoming “Canary Girls.” They were exposed to toxic chemicals that caused their skin and hair to turn yellow, hence the nickname.
Why did Canary Girls turn yellow?
The work in this factory was heavy and dangerous and TNT was a highly poisonous substance. It contained picric acid which had the effect of turning the skin of the women who worked with it bright yellow – giving rise to the nickname canary girls.
What did munitions factories make in ww1?
The armed forces consumed vast amounts of munitions, requiring huge quantities of steel, copper, explosives and other materials. Historic England has identified the majority of the government factories. They manufactured everything from shells to tanks, gas masks, and boxes.
What is a munitions worker?
Munitions workers played a crucial role in the First World War. They supplied the troops at the front with the armaments and equipment they needed to fight. They also freed up men from the workforce to join the armed forces.
What did munition workers make?
Around 950,000 British women worked in munitions factories during the Second World War, making weapons like shells and bullets. Munitions work was often well-paid but involved long hours, sometimes up to seven days a week.
What did munition workers wear in ww2?
Dress: long collarless dress of biscuit-coloured drill fabric with long sleeves, buttoned cuffs and an integral belt.
What did munitions workers wear in ww2?
What did munitions workers do in ww2?
Munitions workers worked in munitions factories. They made weapons (guns) and ammunition (bullets, hand grenades and bombs) needed by the armed forces. It was a very dangerous job and the hours were long.
What is a munition worker?
The Munitionettes, or Canary Girls as they were known, were part of the female work force that took up war-time employment in the production of munitions during the First World War as both the demand for munitions at the war front increased and the male work force was depleted.
What did the Munitionettes do in WW1?
The Munitionettes and the work of women in the First World War. The Munitionettes, or Canary Girls as they were known, were part of the female work force that took up war-time employment in the production of munitions during the First World War as both the demand for munitions at the war front increased and the male work force was depleted.
When was a day in the life of a munitions worker?
A Day In The Life Of A Munitions Worker. Monday 15 January 2018. Of all the roles women took on during the First World War their work in munitions factories was probably the most vital. Without the bullets and shells they produced the British Army couldn’t have carried on fighting.
How were new jobs created in WW1?
New jobs were also created as part of the war effort, for example in munitions factories. The high demand for weapons resulted in the munitions factories becoming the largest single employer of women during 1918. Though there was initial resistance to hiring women for what was seen as ‘men’s work’,…
How did WW1 affect jobs for women?
During WWI (1914-1918), large numbers of women were recruited into jobs vacated by men who had gone to fight in the war. New jobs were also created as part of the war effort, for example in munitions factories.