Women Workers WW1
For the first eighteen months of the Great War, nearly all of the army's gun ammunition was filled at Woolwich, yet at the start of 1914 the Arsenal employed only half as many men as it had in 1901. At the start of the battle of Neuve Chapelle on 10th March 1915, the army would fire more shells in the opening barrage than had been fired in the whole of the Boer War. The Arsenal could not meet this scale of demand on its own, even with the men working 96 hours a week with just one day off every four weeks. The army's acute shortage of shells in the Spring of 1915 led to a political scandal - the Shell Scandal. The Prime Minister, Asquith, was forced into coalition government, and control of the Royal Ordnance Factories was transferred from Kitchener's War Office to a new Ministry of Munitions under Lloyd-George. He soon realised that only the mass employment of unskilled men and women in the factories could meet the army's needs. This "Dilution" of skill was negotiated with the trade unions, and from October 1915 the first women to work in the Arsenal since the previous century started their shifts. By the end of 1917 nearly 26,000 women - 35% of the Ordnance Factory workforce - worked in the Arsenal, mostly in shell filling and fuze and gaine assembly.
Hoggs at Royal Arsenal c.1916
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.
Following a shortage of shells in 1915, the Ministry of Munitions was founded to control Britain's output of war material. It oversaw all aspects of the production and supply of munitions, under the forceful and energetic Minister for Munitions.
A number of new initiatives were soon introduced to improve production levels. One of these was an appeal to women to register for war service work. Thousands of women volunteered as a result, and many of these were soon employed in the growing number of munitions factories across the country. By the end of the war, over 700,000 – and possibly up to one million – women had become ‘munitionettes’.
The munitionettes worked long hours in often hazardous conditions.
Following a shortage of shells in 1915, the Ministry of Munitions was founded to control Britain's output of war material. It oversaw all aspects of the production and supply of munitions, under the forceful and energetic Minister for Munitions.
A number of new initiatives were soon introduced to improve production levels. One of these was an appeal to women to register for war service work. Thousands of women volunteered as a result, and many of these were soon employed in the growing number of munitions factories across the country. By the end of the war, over 700,000 – and possibly up to one million – women had become ‘munitionettes’.
The munitionettes worked long hours in often hazardous conditions.
Women Workers WW2
Becoming a ‘Canary’
Munitions workers whose job was filling shells were prone to suffer from TNT poisoning. TNT stood for Trinitrotoluene – an explosive which turned the skin yellow of those who regularly came into contact with it. The munitions workers who were affected by this were commonly known as ‘canaries’ due to their bright yellow appearance. Although the visible effects usually wore off, some women died from working with TNT, if they were exposed to it for a prolonged period. As Ethel Dean, who worked at Woolwich Arsenal, recalled, ‘Everything that that powder touches goes yellow. All the girls’ faces were yellow, all round their mouths. They had their own canteen, in which everything was yellow that they touched… Everything they touched went yellow – chairs, tables, everything
Munitions workers whose job was filling shells were prone to suffer from TNT poisoning. TNT stood for Trinitrotoluene – an explosive which turned the skin yellow of those who regularly came into contact with it. The munitions workers who were affected by this were commonly known as ‘canaries’ due to their bright yellow appearance. Although the visible effects usually wore off, some women died from working with TNT, if they were exposed to it for a prolonged period. As Ethel Dean, who worked at Woolwich Arsenal, recalled, ‘Everything that that powder touches goes yellow. All the girls’ faces were yellow, all round their mouths. They had their own canteen, in which everything was yellow that they touched… Everything they touched went yellow – chairs, tables, everything
Health hazards
As well as handling the hazardous TNT powder, munitions workers risked their health in other ways in the busy, dangerous factories. The working conditions varied, but they often featured poor ventilation, exposure to harmful chemicals and sometimes even asbestos; and the physical labour involved – which included lifting heavy shells and operating machinery – could be back-breaking or extremely risky.
As well as handling the hazardous TNT powder, munitions workers risked their health in other ways in the busy, dangerous factories. The working conditions varied, but they often featured poor ventilation, exposure to harmful chemicals and sometimes even asbestos; and the physical labour involved – which included lifting heavy shells and operating machinery – could be back-breaking or extremely risky.
Noisy conditions
Depending on the type of production that was being carried out, the munitions factories could be very noisy working environments. With heavy machines operating, workers shouting at each other and moving heavy shells and equipment around, the factories were often deafening places to be.
Workplace accidents
Working as they did long before modern-day health and safety legislation, workplace accidents were not unusual for employees of the munitions factories. From relatively minor injuries to more serious incidents and even death, munitions workers risked their health and often their lives while carrying out their jobs. The exact number of fatalities is difficult to know: many of these cases were kept out of the press, due to the impact such news would have had on national morale and the war effort. Henry Oxley remembered from his time at Woolwich Arsenal, ‘Prevalent in my particular job was filings coming off the machine into one’s eyes. There was no protection to shield your eyes from the filings coming up. And that was an occurrence which happened quite often.’ (IWM SR 716)
Threat of explosion
There were a number of explosions at munitions factories during the First World War. The massive amount of explosive material kept at the factories meant this was an ever-present danger for those working at them. One of the largest of these disasters occurred at Silvertown, in London’s East End, in January 1917. As many as 73 people were killed, and 400 were injured. Florence Parsons, who was working nearby, remembered the huge sound the factory made as it went up: ‘A terrible explosion went. We thought it was a Zeppelin over the top of us – it really rocked us… Oh the explosion, it rocked everywhere.’ (IWM SR 11462) As key centres of war production, munitions factories were also particular targets for enemy air raids, adding another element of danger to working at them.
Long hours
The working day for a munitions worker varied according to where he or she was employed but, due to the pressures and demands of war production, they generally had to work long hours. Usually a shift system operated, and some workers also put in overtime. The length of time the shifts lasted were not standardised but could be up to 12 hours' long, as many factories operated both day and night. Many munitions workers later remembered how exhausting the night shifts were and the difficulty of staying alert when working them.
Short breaks
Despite such a tiring working day, munitions workers didn’t have many – or particularly long – breaks. Some even remembered having no breaks at all. The better factories provided canteens, washrooms and toilet facilities for their employees, but these were not to be found at every workplace. When Kathleen Gilbert was a munitions worker in London, her hours were, ‘from 6am to 5.30pm, standing all the time. We had a 10 minute break, to go to the toilets, and we had to stand and eat sandwiches at the machine.’ (IWM SR 9105)
Repetitive work
Munitions workers carried out a wide range of jobs during the war, and were involved in the manufacturing of a variety of armaments and equipment essential to the war effort. They could be engaged in: cleaning, filling, painting and stacking shells; operating machinery; weighing powder; assembling detonators; filling bullets; lacquering fuses and making shell cases. It was often repetitive – but they had to stay focused, as their work was checked and needed to meet the required standards.
Strict rules
Due to the risk of explosion at the factories, strict regulations were put in place to reduce the chances of accidents happening. The workers wore wooden clogs so as to avoid the sparks that could be caused by shoes with any metal in them. Other metal items were prohibited, including jewellery and hairpins.
For the women to work in these `Danger Buildings` a routine twice a day exercise had to be undertaken before entering or leaving the area. They had to pass through the `Shifting House` which was a long building divided by a red barrier, one side being the dirty side, and the other side the clean. On arriving to start their shift their outdoor clothing, jewellary, hairpins were removed along with any matches and metallic items in their pockets. They would be checked for any metallic fasters on their under garments, only lace up corsets could be warn, before they could pass to the clean side and put on their regulation cream coloured gowns buttoned right up to their neck and tight around their wrists. On their heads they had to wear tightly fitted caps with as much hair tucked away under it. Of course to end a shift or to leave the danger buildings area for any reason the complete reversal had to be undertaken.
"They don't breed Women like that anymore"
Of course the `Danger Buildings` were not the only place the women worked. There were the likes of the `Tailor's Shop` were the items such as the cartridge bags were made and also all the clothing for the `Danger Building` workers. The Tailors Shop many jobs were undertaken by the women, and this was quoted once by a male who worked along side a group of women in the Royal Arsenal :-
" The thing that I remember was their amazing cheerfulness." They seldom complained and the twelve hour day never seemed to never tire them." In many ways, they were better than the men at some of the work they were called on to do." Their fingers were quick and nimble and you didn't often find and shirking." "And a lot of them did men's jobs like driving trucks and lifting heavy shell cases all day." and to add all that off he also said, " they don't breed women like that lot any more ! ".
Of course the `Danger Buildings` were not the only place the women worked. There were the likes of the `Tailor's Shop` were the items such as the cartridge bags were made and also all the clothing for the `Danger Building` workers. The Tailors Shop many jobs were undertaken by the women, and this was quoted once by a male who worked along side a group of women in the Royal Arsenal :-
" The thing that I remember was their amazing cheerfulness." They seldom complained and the twelve hour day never seemed to never tire them." In many ways, they were better than the men at some of the work they were called on to do." Their fingers were quick and nimble and you didn't often find and shirking." "And a lot of them did men's jobs like driving trucks and lifting heavy shell cases all day." and to add all that off he also said, " they don't breed women like that lot any more ! ".
John Harvey - 24 Oct 2004
Dear Readers, I thought I would see what turned up under Woolwich Arsenal Factory WW1 and was amazed that so many people are seeking names and contacts. I can only respond with some memories that my dear old mum used to tell us about. Her name was Nina Owen then, died aged 96, born 1898 She lived in Stoke Newington, London during first-world war. She used to walk from there to South Tottenham Station every morning, about 5 miles, to catch a train to Woolwich where she worked filling shells with gunpowder. She remembers a terrible explosion at one time that killed many workers. She would fascinate me about a song the girls used to sing, and to best of my memory it went like this....
We are the ammunition girls, working day by day,
Wearing the roses off our cheeks, for very little pay.
Why do they call us Canary Girls, we are as happy as the birds upon the sea.
If it wasn't for the Ammunition Girls, where would the Empire be....
The reference to Canary Girls was because their faces would become stained with yellow from handling the gunpowder..
Dear Readers, I thought I would see what turned up under Woolwich Arsenal Factory WW1 and was amazed that so many people are seeking names and contacts. I can only respond with some memories that my dear old mum used to tell us about. Her name was Nina Owen then, died aged 96, born 1898 She lived in Stoke Newington, London during first-world war. She used to walk from there to South Tottenham Station every morning, about 5 miles, to catch a train to Woolwich where she worked filling shells with gunpowder. She remembers a terrible explosion at one time that killed many workers. She would fascinate me about a song the girls used to sing, and to best of my memory it went like this....
We are the ammunition girls, working day by day,
Wearing the roses off our cheeks, for very little pay.
Why do they call us Canary Girls, we are as happy as the birds upon the sea.
If it wasn't for the Ammunition Girls, where would the Empire be....
The reference to Canary Girls was because their faces would become stained with yellow from handling the gunpowder..
Women Workers in the Danger Buildings
As highlighted on Map above
Quick Firing Cartridge Factory No 4 (Today Thamesmead right of Nathan way)
Cartridge Factory (Cannon) Danger buildings area with wooden platforms located somewhere in Thamesmead area today right of canal, swing bridge
A group of female munition workers employed at Woolwich Arsenal to manufacture detonator plugs dated 1914-18
BOX SHOP & PACKERS
Danger Building Location (Today Thamesmead)
DBS - Royal Arsenal worker records
The records relating to the munitions factory workers were retained beyond the normal retention period of 100 years from date of birth. The record set is not complete as some records were destroyed during bombing and other accidents that occurred at the Factories, but they have approximately 170,000 record sheets of staff employed at the various Royal Ordnance Factories, including the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich. All available records are currently held by DBS in their archives.
Only a basic record sheet is held, but family members, or those carrying out genealogical research, do find the limited information to be of interest.
For all enquiries that they are able to assist in their contact details are:
Email: PeopleServices@dbs.mod.uk quoting 'Information & Records Management request'
Tel: 0800 345 7047 (STD)
+44 1225 747750 (Overseas)
The earliest date of birth that they have noticed is 1862 and the records tend to be service records from the late 1920s-1930s onwards to the 1980s (prior to the ROFs being privatised). The majority of record sheets they hold cover the period of employment between 1930-1950. The pre-1929 records are stored in strict Alphabetical order so it only takes a few minutes to look up a record sheet if you have the full name and also date of birth (approximate year is a help). The post-1929 records are stored by year of birth and then alphabetical so they would need the year of birth to locate the individual's record sheet.
Also the greenwich heritage centre now has a data base of munitionettes names, addresses and other information ..... all collected in 2016
Only a basic record sheet is held, but family members, or those carrying out genealogical research, do find the limited information to be of interest.
For all enquiries that they are able to assist in their contact details are:
Email: PeopleServices@dbs.mod.uk quoting 'Information & Records Management request'
Tel: 0800 345 7047 (STD)
+44 1225 747750 (Overseas)
The earliest date of birth that they have noticed is 1862 and the records tend to be service records from the late 1920s-1930s onwards to the 1980s (prior to the ROFs being privatised). The majority of record sheets they hold cover the period of employment between 1930-1950. The pre-1929 records are stored in strict Alphabetical order so it only takes a few minutes to look up a record sheet if you have the full name and also date of birth (approximate year is a help). The post-1929 records are stored by year of birth and then alphabetical so they would need the year of birth to locate the individual's record sheet.
Also the greenwich heritage centre now has a data base of munitionettes names, addresses and other information ..... all collected in 2016
Last Surviving Danger Building Area
Women Worker newspaper clippings
More information here
Manorway holt
Church Manor Way halt. The closest Station to Thamesmead on the main line. It was opened in 1917 and closed in 1920.
The halt was named Church Manor Way after the road in which it was situated built to serve munitions workers at Woolwich Arsenal.
Attached pass issued to Royal Arsenal workers to allow them to get a cheaper fare and ticket with maps highlights to confirm the nearest location from piecing evidence together.
You will see that it covers three stops; Woolwich, Plumstead and Church Manorway (Just before Abbeywood station)
The SEE & CR (South Eastern and Chatham Railway) had passenger stations at Plumstead and at Abbey Wood and placing a Halt at Church Manor Way was practical.
When looking at the maps I have added you will see that there was already an Arsenal pedestrian gate at Church Manor Way, a gate that was close by the Sewer Bank and the SE & CR line. It therefore made sense to build a Halt at that point. The Quick Firing Cartridge Factory's (QFCF4) was situated in Birchmere park area. If you have any more information please add to this post.
The halt was named Church Manor Way after the road in which it was situated built to serve munitions workers at Woolwich Arsenal.
Attached pass issued to Royal Arsenal workers to allow them to get a cheaper fare and ticket with maps highlights to confirm the nearest location from piecing evidence together.
You will see that it covers three stops; Woolwich, Plumstead and Church Manorway (Just before Abbeywood station)
The SEE & CR (South Eastern and Chatham Railway) had passenger stations at Plumstead and at Abbey Wood and placing a Halt at Church Manor Way was practical.
When looking at the maps I have added you will see that there was already an Arsenal pedestrian gate at Church Manor Way, a gate that was close by the Sewer Bank and the SE & CR line. It therefore made sense to build a Halt at that point. The Quick Firing Cartridge Factory's (QFCF4) was situated in Birchmere park area. If you have any more information please add to this post.
