Original WW1 era portrait of girl guide leader or possibly a home front volunteer in uniform with whistle, shoulder cord - possibly she was a member of the women's voluntary patrols. (These Women’s Patrols were suggested by The Headmistresses' Association and the Federation of University Women. The War Office gave permission for these patrols to take place outside military camps to stop local woman from becoming too friendly with the soldiers and also to keep a check on morality in cinemas). Studio of Mora Ltd. Western Road and London Rd, Brighton, more research needed.
At the outbreak of war, contemporaries testified to the explosion of 'khaki fever'. 'Khaki fever' describes the excitement that young girls and women were believed to experience at the presence of soldiers as a wave of patriotism swept across the nation. Concern centred on their relations with soldiers. Curfews were placed on towns where large bodies of troops were stationed. This concern with the behaviour of young women and girls provided an opportunity for feminists to press their case for the need for women police. Two groups of women organized patrols to deal with these wayward women. The more radical of the two was the Women Police Service (WPS) set up by Margaret Damer Dawson and Mary Allen; both had links with the militant suffragette Women’s Social and Political Union. The WPS adopted an interventionist style of rescue work, warning errant girls and soldiers' wives of the danger of immoral behaviour. The women involved in these patrols were issued with a uniform and were to adhere to a strict code of conduct. The other group of women police were the voluntary patrols co-ordinated by the middle-class National Union of Women Workers (NUWW); few of its members were militant feminists. Indeed, the NUWW was reluctant to employ women who had been arrested during suffragette demonstrations and protests. Unlike the WPS, these voluntary patrols tried to disassociate themselves from any ideas of 'rescue work' and charity, and saw themselves as aides to the established police. Both groups of women spent much time policing the behaviour of working-class women, patrolling parks and public spaces, separating courting couples, and moving on 'dangerous' women. The WPS even signed a contract with the Ministry of Munitions to police the growing number of women workers in munitions factories. Crucially, these women did not possess power of arrest, though they would present evidence in court on the behalf of male officers. Source: The Open University "The Women Police".
Size: 4537px × 6928px
Location: Brighton, Sussex, England, UK
Photo credit: © ThislifeThen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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