During World War 1 a huge number of women were drawn into employment in Sheffield and membership of the National Union of Women Workers rose from 350-5000 . The largest number of women were employed in munitions work with Templeborough alone employing over 5000 women.
I’ve been wondering what that was like…
My darling brother,
I am started at Templeborough and at last am doing my bit! You wouldn’t believe how many girls there are working here already and only five hundred men remaining, mostly giving us orders! I’m not sure they like us being here and there is one Mr Farley, that keeps reminding us, “Soon as the war is over so are you lot!”
Lots of girls here have sweethearts in the Pals so you can imagine you boys are very much the topic of conversation! To hear us talk you lot are the handsomest and bravest soldiers in the whole war and quite a force to reckon with.
I hope your training is going well. I must say I feel better knowing you are with Bill and Ted. I know you like to lark about together and that will keep your spirits up. I can just see Ted doing his famous impersonations of Charlie Chaplin and making everyone laugh!
I was glad to leave Mrs Kennedy’s. As you know the family is kind enough but I am still their skivvy and my hands and back were beginning to tire of it all.
Not that it’s easy here. The noise you wouldn’t believe and before you say it, that’s not just the sound of girls chattering but the machines and presses themselves. If you want to say something you have to exaggerate your mouth like you was on the stage and I am already learning to lip-read like the other girls do.
It gets very hot too and there is a fair bit of sweating goes on believe me! I have lost weight and am probably too skinny for most but you should see my muscles! I am proud of them and can compete with you in an arm wrestle when you get back!
Sheffield has never been busier and someone at work said they are calling us the armaments capital of the world because we are producing so many munitions, including shells, tin hats and bayonets. My day starts early as I am on the tram for five, having helped Mum with housework and built the fire up again. By that time the streets are busy with everyone working long days to make sure we send you all you need to fight the Bosh. I am hoping some of my work falls into your hands because I feel sure you will feel my love in it.
Mum continues down the laundry at Wadsley Asylum though it has been requisitioned for soldiers now and they have 1700 beds there for the wounded. That is a very high number so I am hoping they are overestimating what will be needed. Mum says the work has got harder with badly soiled laundry and not enough workers. I think she quite envies me as we have better pay and conditions than most women due to learning specialist skills and doing dangerous work.
I look a perfect fright in my uniform and you would laugh to see me in men’s overalls, my hair tied back and wearing goggles. One of the new girls didn’t put hers on because she said they was ugly, (which they are) and a red hot shavings flew up and stuck to her eye. She was hollering the place down and not surprising as it burnt though and she will only have one eye to see through when she returns to work. You will be glad to hear although I thought the same as her, I am first in wearing my goggles now.
Everyone has a different part or job to do so we can work fast and pass things down the line double quick. That is not to say we don’t pay attention because it is vital that we check everything thoroughly so it’s safe to use for you boys. The shell examiners have got the hardest job, checking that the internal and external chambers are correct and fit together smooth. As you probably know, the shells weigh up to 80ib and are heavier than a child.
Luckily we are not the ones packing them as that is much more dangerous. News may have reached you of a terrible accident down Nottingham way when a spark caught and the whole place went up. The managers are very keen to avoid that here and so are we!
I hope you are keeping well and will soon make it to the front line where all the action is. I know you are busting to get there!
It’s been a while since we heard from you so do write to us when you can. Mum prays for your safe return as we all do,
Your loving sister,
Daisy
During World War 1 a huge number of women were drawn into employment in Sheffield and membership of the National Union of Women Workers rose from 350-5000 . The largest number of women were employed in munitions work with Templeborough alone employing over 5000 women.
I’ve been wondering what that was like…
My darling brother,
I am started at Templeborough and at last am doing my bit! You wouldn’t believe how many girls there are working here already and only five hundred men remaining, mostly giving us orders! I’m not sure they like us being here and there is one Mr Farley, that keeps reminding us, “Soon as the war is over so are you lot!”
Lots of girls here have sweethearts in the Pals so you can imagine you boys are very much the topic of conversation! To hear us talk you lot are the handsomest and bravest soldiers in the whole war and quite a force to reckon with.
I hope your training is going well. I must say I feel better knowing you are with Bill and Ted. I know you like to lark about together and that will keep your spirits up. I can just see Ted doing his famous impersonations of Charlie Chaplin and making everyone laugh!
I was glad to leave Mrs Kennedy’s. As you know the family is kind enough but I am still their skivvy and my hands and back were beginning to tire of it all.
Not that it’s easy here. The noise you wouldn’t believe and before you say it, that’s not just the sound of girls chattering but the machines and presses themselves. If you want to say something you have to exaggerate your mouth like you was on the stage and I am already learning to lip-read like the other girls do.
It gets very hot too and there is a fair bit of sweating goes on believe me! I have lost weight and am probably too skinny for most but you should see my muscles! I am proud of them and can compete with you in an arm wrestle when you get back!
Sheffield has never been busier and someone at work said they are calling us the armaments capital of the world because we are producing so many munitions, including shells, tin hats and bayonets. My day starts early as I am on the tram for five, having helped Mum with housework and built the fire up again. By that time the streets are busy with everyone working long days to make sure we send you all you need to fight the Bosh. I am hoping some of my work falls into your hands because I feel sure you will feel my love in it.
Mum continues down the laundry at Wadsley Asylum though it has been requisitioned for soldiers now and they have 1700 beds there for the wounded. That is a very high number so I am hoping they are overestimating what will be needed. Mum says the work has got harder with badly soiled laundry and not enough workers. I think she quite envies me as we have better pay and conditions than most women due to learning specialist skills and doing dangerous work.
I look a perfect fright in my uniform and you would laugh to see me in men’s overalls, my hair tied back and wearing goggles. One of the new girls didn’t put hers on because she said they was ugly, (which they are) and a red hot shavings flew up and stuck to her eye. She was hollering the place down and not surprising as it burnt though and she will only have one eye to see through when she returns to work. You will be glad to hear although I thought the same as her, I am first in wearing my goggles now.
Everyone has a different part or job to do so we can work fast and pass things down the line double quick. That is not to say we don’t pay attention because it is vital that we check everything thoroughly so it’s safe to use for you boys. The shell examiners have got the hardest job, checking that the internal and external chambers are correct and fit together smooth. As you probably know, the shells weigh up to 80ib and are heavier than a child.
Luckily we are not the ones packing them as that is much more dangerous. News may have reached you of a terrible accident down Nottingham way when a spark caught and the whole place went up. The managers are very keen to avoid that here and so are we!
I hope you are keeping well and will soon make it to the front line where all the action is. I know you are busting to get there!
It’s been a while since we heard from you so do write to us when you can. Mum prays for your safe return as we all do,
Your loving sister,
Daisy
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