WWI – The Home Front The role of women, food shortages, bombing raids and how Cheshunt was affected.

Before the First World War Before the war, the most common employment for a woman was as a domestic servant. However, women were also employed in what were seen to be suitable occupations e.g. teaching, nursing, office work.

The outbreak of war The introduction of conscription in 1916 led to an increase in the number of women employed in all sectors of the economy. There had been a Trade Union decree that women would only be employed for the duration of the war so that there would still be jobs for those men returning from the military.

Many women were paid good wages, especially in munitions factories, but in most cases they were paid lower rates than men. Improved wages did allow more independence for some women.

Women became more visible in the world of work. They were seen to be doing important jobs.

The armed forces also employed Women to do a variety of work, many jobs were of a clerical and domestic nature though.

Women were in great demand for the ‘caring’ side of employment and became nurses in the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry, and drivers and clerks in Voluntary Aid Detachments.

After the War Women were expected to give way to men returning from the forces and return to pre-war ‘women’s work’. The assumption that ‘a woman’s place is in the home’ returned. The percentage of women at work returned to pre-war levels. More women than before worked in offices.

After the War From 1918 women over the age of 30 who owned property were allowed to vote in elections. Shorter skirts and hair became fashionable. Women went out with men without a chaperone. Women smoked and wore make-up in public for the first time. In 1919 being female or married was no longer allowed to disqualify someone from holding a job in the professions or civil service.

Shortages The outbreak of war led to inflation [increase] in prices, particularly of food. Poor families couldn’t afford to pay more, by the end of the war many were suffering from malnutrition. Germany’s U-Boat campaign in the Atlantic – sinking supply ships from America - led to food shortages in Britain. April 1916 – Britain only had 6 weeks of grain left! People were encouraged to convert their gardens into allotments.

Rationing Fuel was also in short supply and was rationed. From January 1918 sugar was rationed, from April butter, meat, cheese and margarine were added to the list. Ration cards were issued and people had to register with butchers and grocers. It worked! Malnutrition disappeared and no-one in Britain actually starved during WWI.

Britain under attack! December 16th 1914 – German Navy attacked Hartlepool, Scarborough and Whitby, killing 119 people, including children. For the first time EVER the lives of British civilians were at risk during wartime. May 31st 1915 – London was the first British city to be bombed by German Zeppelins (air ships). These air attacks continued until late 1916 when pilots from the Royal Naval Air Service flew night patrols to protect London.

The Cheshunt Zeppelin September 2nd 1916 – 16 Zeppelin’s crossed the channel carrying 32 tons of bombs aiming for targets in London, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. Royal Flying Corps pilot, Lieutenant William Leefe Robinson flew his bi-plane under one of the SL11 airships over North London and fired his machine gun ‘into its belly’, he shot the airship in the side and at the back which eventually set the craft on fire. The wooden framed airship fell into a field behind the Plough Inn Pub in Cuffley. The explosion was seen 40 miles away and the fire burned for over 2hrs. The crew were all killed but no civilians were hurt.

Leefe Robinson – the Hero! This was the first airship to be destroyed on British soil. All the other airships saw this event and fled back to Germany. Leefe Robinson’s heroic deed marked the END of German zeppelin attacks on Britain!

Cuffley made famous 60, 000 sightseers came to Cuffley to see the wreckage of the airship. Leefe Robinson was hailed a national hero and given the Victoria Cross for ‘conspicuous bravery’. 9th June 1921 a service was held and a permanent memorial to the event was erected at Cuffley on the spot where the zeppelin fell.

TASK You have the rest of this lesson to create a power point (min 3 slides) about the Home Front in WW1. Try to say which you think was worse, life in the front lines or on the home front – remember to give your reasons. Include information and images about; the role of women shortages during the war Cheshunt during the war. Use the web links provided and information from your own research (e.g. Google). Be prepared to present your work to the rest of the class – make sure any information is written in your own words and you make note of the websites you use for information!

Web Links Search for Women in WW1 and/or try the following links; http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/britain_wwone/women_employment_01.shtml http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/world_war_one_and_women.htm Search for WW1 rationing in Britain and/or WW1 shortages in Britain, or try the following links; http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/rationing_and_world_war_one.htm http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWrationing.htm Search for Cuffley Zeppelin attack 1916 and/or try the following links; http://www.worcestershireregiment.com/wr.php?main=inc/vc_w_l_robinson_page1 http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=950CE2DF143BE633A25755C0A96F9C946796D6CF http://www.hertfordshire-genealogy.co.uk/data/postcards/t065-event-postcards.htm Other http://www.webhistorian.co.uk/pages/index.php?id=71 http://www.thisishartlepool.co.uk/history/bombardmentofhartlepool.asp

How do I reach my target level? Level 5 – Describe in as much detail as possible, try to give at least 3 examples. Level 6 – Explain in detail, giving at least 3 reasons. Include all the reasons/causes and try to say how they fit together. Level 7 – Compare sources/reasons/causes and show how they are linked together. Explain which are the most or least important/reliable.