Original WW1 era postcard of female factory worker, munitions worker, wearing trousers and a cap, studio of American Galleries, 259 Argyle St. Glasgow, circa 1916-1918.
See Alamy Image ID: 2HY05RT for uncropped image on postcard with studio name. In mid-May, 1915, public outrage over a shortage of shells on the western front toppled the Liberal government and led to the formation of a coalition government. British soldiers were wounded and dying because they didn't have enough armaments and the new government took immediate action to address this. The economic and industrial future of the British Empire was dependent on whether the government could quickly create a vast munitions industry. That industry could only proceed with the co-operation of all skilled workers - meaning there could be no more labour unrest from the increasingly strident trade union movement. It would also depend on whether the industry could make do with unskilled labour to replace the former skilled workers who were now in the army. The imposition of conscription in January 1916 meant the unskilled labour for the British munitions industry had to be made up primarily by women. A Ministry of Munitions was created in June, 1915 under the control of Lloyd George and in the next few years, he would oversee the creation of a massive new industry that churned out millions of tons of artillery and shells that would supply not only the British soldiers, but also those of the Allied Forces. Glasgow was the industrial heartland of Scotland and its Clydeside industrial region became one of the most important centres of munitions production in Britain. The shipyards, iron foundries and steel works were rapidly converted to munitions production. The Glasgow area was ideally suited for the new industry because it contained large supplies of coal, iron and steel, a concentration of experienced engineering firms, and a skilled male workforce. It also had a large reserve of female labour. For the rest of the war, women in Scotland would make all manner of material crucial to the war effort. They did all processes of shell making (forging steel etc).
Size: 5098px × 7482px
Location: Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Photo credit: © ThislifeThen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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