Era of the Great War War work: men and women

In today’s class I am learning to: War work: men and women In today’s class I am learning to: Describe the types of work carried out by men during the Great War Describe the types of work carried out by women during the Great War

War work: men and women During the Great War, men and women both played extremely important roles in a variety of jobs, both abroad and on the Home Front.

War work: men and women Men’s work

War work: men and women The most obvious role that men played during the war was fighting as part of the military. British military men served in either the army, navy or air force, whether they were conscripted or had chosen to fight.

The biggest number of men served in the army. War work: men and women The biggest number of men served in the army. As soldiers they had various jobs to do. This included serving in the trenches, but also included specialist skills such as machine gunning, tunnelling or even cooking.

War work: men and women The navy played a role in fighting and also ensuring supplies reached Britain (or didn’t get elsewhere). Sailors on ships might work as gunners, a signal man, stokers, or cooks. Other men served on submarines.

The air force was the smallest part of Britain’s military. War work: men and women The air force was the smallest part of Britain’s military. Airforce pilots at first took part in spying missions to watch the enemy. Over time guns were added to planes and pilots took part in dog fights.

War work: men and women Not all men went to war: some were not of age to be conscripted (18-41) or they were rejected due to injury, etc. However others stayed because they worked in reserved occupations (jobs which meant they wouldn’t be conscripted)

War work: men and women Examples of reserved jobs included shipbuilders, munitions workers and miners. This was because these jobs were an essential part of the war effort, so these men were needed at home to support military efforts.

War work: men and women Other jobs were reserved because these roles helped the country continue to function. Examples of these jobs included bus and train drivers, doctors and also farmers (to ensure the country had enough food during the war).

War work: men and women Women’s work

Women stepped into various jobs to support the country’s war effort. War work: men and women When men went off to fight in the war (especially after the introduction of conscription in 1916), this left numerous jobs which needed done. Women stepped into various jobs to support the country’s war effort.

Some women worked on farms, growing the food the country needed. War work: men and women Women worked in different jobs that kept the country going, including bus conductors and drivers. Other women became police officers or firefighters. Some women worked on farms, growing the food the country needed.

Some women worked in Britain to directly support the war effort. War work: men and women Some women worked in Britain to directly support the war effort. They were employed in munitions factories, making the weapons which were being used to fight. Other women worked in different types of factories.

War work: men and women Women were also given the opportunity to work in professional jobs which were usually done by men. Some women became doctors or worked in the civil service. More women were also employed as teachers.

War work: men and women Women in these jobs earned more than they had before the war, although still less than men were paid. At the end of the war most women were dismissed from their jobs and the work given back to men.

Many women went abroad to support Britain’s fight in the war. War work: men and women Many women went abroad to support Britain’s fight in the war. They worked as doctors, nurses or ambulance drivers at the Front. Others became mechanics and cooks, the free up soldiers to take part in the fighting.

One famous female worker was Elsie Inglis. War work: men and women One famous female worker was Elsie Inglis. Inglis was from Glasgow and offered the British government her services to set up a field hospital. When this offer was declined she was given support from France’s government to do so.

Another famous woman during World War One was Edith Cavell. War work: men and women Another famous woman during World War One was Edith Cavell. Cavell was a British nurse based in Belgium. She treated soldiers from all sides however was eventually shot by the Germans after helping British soldiers escape.