great war women - an intergenerational project for · pdf filein january 1918 the government...

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1 Great War Women: home and abroad Projects for Primary Schools – by Tricia Restorick Women were the mothers, sisters and wives of soldiers. They were home-makers, workers and carers of returning wounded men. Some working women took on additional responsibility in the workplace. Others left a life of leisure to become wage-earners for the first time. Feelings of patriotism, a longing for adventure or a sense of vocation inspired other women don service uniforms at home and abroad. As a related, but separate phenomenon, women also appeared in wartime posters encouraging men to enlist. Numerous examples can be found on the web and provide colourful discussion points. Posters from other countries engaged in the conflict will help to include children from backgrounds other than UK. These notes provide suggestions BUT the most lively and immediate resources are to be found in your own locality. Local newspapers of the time are invaluable sources but take time to study on microfiche. Your local librarian might be able to help and will certainly guide you to a local Roll of Honour, picture archive etc . and suggest resources already in use. The suggestions given here are grouped to show women responding to wartime conditions: in the home on home service serving abroad WORLD WAR ONE 1916-1918 Our Heritage - Our Schools Our Community 2016-2018

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Page 1: Great War Women - An Intergenerational Project For  · PDF fileIn January 1918 the Government introduced rationing. ... 4628/ and   ... Prior to the Great War women

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GreatWarWomen:homeandabroadProjectsforPrimarySchools–byTriciaRestorickWomenwerethemothers,sistersandwivesofsoldiers.Theywerehome-makers,workersandcarersofreturningwoundedmen.Someworkingwomentookonadditionalresponsibilityintheworkplace.Othersleftalifeofleisuretobecomewage-earnersforthefirsttime.Feelingsofpatriotism,alongingforadventureorasenseofvocationinspiredotherwomendonserviceuniformsathomeandabroad.Asarelated,butseparatephenomenon,womenalsoappearedinwartimepostersencouragingmentoenlist.Numerousexamplescanbefoundonthewebandprovidecolourfuldiscussionpoints.PostersfromothercountriesengagedintheconflictwillhelptoincludechildrenfrombackgroundsotherthanUK.

ThesenotesprovidesuggestionsBUTthemostlivelyandimmediateresourcesaretobefoundinyourownlocality.Localnewspapersofthetimeareinvaluablesourcesbuttaketimetostudyonmicrofiche.YourlocallibrarianmightbeabletohelpandwillcertainlyguideyoutoalocalRollofHonour,picturearchiveetc.andsuggestresourcesalreadyinuse.Thesuggestionsgivenherearegroupedtoshowwomenrespondingtowartimeconditions:

inthehomeonhomeserviceservingabroad

WORLD WAR ONE

1916-1918

Our Heritage - Our SchoolsOur Community 2016-2018

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TheHomeBackgroundissuestoconsider: 1.Inadditiontotheroutinedrudgeryofrunningthehomewomenoftenhadtocopewithoutthedomesticandfinancialsupportoftheirhusbandsand/orworkingsons.Partofasoldier'swageswerepaiddirectlytothefamilybutthereductioninhouseholdincomeswascompoundedbyincreasingfoodprices.Insomeindustrialareas,childrenwereallowedtoleaveschoolbeforetheofficialschoolleavingage,ortoreducethelengthoftheschooldaysothattheycouldsupplementthefamilyincome.

2.In1917theGermansadoptedatacticofunrestrictedsubmarinewarfareandaimedtosinkallshipssupplyingBritain,whethertheybelongedtoBritain,Americaoranyothercountry.Theeffectsweredevastating.EssentialsuppliesbegantorunshortandinApril1917Britainwassixweeksawayfromrunningoutofwheat.InJanuary1918theGovernmentintroducedrationing.

3.Womenwerethemaincarersformenreturninghomewoundedorinjured.Themenreceivedaweeklypensionbasedonthedegreeoftheirincapacityandanallowanceforeachchild.Womenalsoenduredtheuncertaintiesandworrywhenmenweredeclared'missinginaction'.

4.Menwhowerekilledduringthewarleftbehindwives,parentsandfamilies.Theimpactoftheselossescreatedprofoundchangestofamilylifeandthatofwidersociety.Onpages5and6areexamplesofnewspaperreportsofcasualtiesoftheBattleoftheSommemadeintoremembrancecards.Theyimplyfamilieswhosuffered.

Suggestedactivities:1,2and3.Changingpatternsoffamilylifearegoodtopicsfordiscussionandforimaginativewriting.Thegradualbuild-uptorationinghighlightedsocialdifferences.Forexamplethedependenceofpoorerfamiliesonbreadwasnotsokeenlyfeltinhouseholdswhichcouldstillaffordawiderrangeoffoodstuffs.Menwhohadbeenwoundedorinjuredweresometimesunabletotakeuptheirpreviousemployment.Theyoftenfeltinadequateandangry.

4.Yourlocalwarmemorial(s)andRollsofHonourwillhavelistsoflocalmenkilledinthewar.

• ChildrenwillbeabletolookupnamesandaddressesontheCommonwealthWarGravesCommissionwebsiteandcross-referencetothe1911Censustoseethefamilymembers.

• Analysisoftheregimentsmentionedonthewarmemorialwillshowthatmenservedinawiderangeoflocalandnationalbranchesoftheservices.

• Menwhodiedveryearlyinthewarwereoftenregular(ie.full-time)soldiers.Deathsin1915andearly1916wouldincludevolunteersencouragedbyKitchener's"YourCountryNeedsYou".

• In1916conscriptionwasintroducedandservicebecamecompulsory.Atthispoint,'Conscientiousobjectors'becomearichveinforstudy.

• Ifafulllistofdatesofdeathisavailable,atablewillshowwhichyearsofthewarweremostcostly.

Resources:Alltheissuesdescribedabovehavegoodinternetcoverage,forexample:

• Foodshortagesandrationing:http://www.mylearning.org/wwi-food-shortages-and-rationing/p-4628/andhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/0/ww1/25235371

• Localnewspapersandinternetsourceswillgiveanideaofpricerisesinyourarea.• Formenwhodiedinthewar:www.cwgc.org• 1911Census:www.ancestry.co.uk• ImperialwarMuseumresourcesrelatingtowomenhttp://www.iwm.org.uk/history/women-in-

wartime

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OnhomeservicePriortotheGreatWarwomenwerealreadyemployedinlargenumbers,especiallyinthetextiletradeanddomesticservice.Thewarwastogivewomennewandmuchwideropportunitiestotaketheirplacewithintheworkforce.Manysoughtworkoutofneedintheabsenceoftheirmen-folkbutotherssimplyseizedanopportunitypreviouslyclosedtothem.Ineveryareaofnationallifewomensteppedforwardtotaketheplaceofmenservingtheircountrywhilstalsokeepinghomesfunctioning.

• Womendonneduniformtobebusconductressesandtodeliverpost;• 258,300womenworkedoutdoorsintheLandArmy;• Womenworkedincoalmines,onbuildingsitesandasdocklabourers;• 900,000womenworkedinmunitionsfactoriesexposedtoeverykindofdangerandriskedtheirlives

andhealthonbehalfofthewareffort;• Bettereducatedwomenwhohadnotpreviouslyworkedbecameclerks,teachers,laboratory

workers,shopassistantsandadministratorsofvoluntaryorganisationsraisingfundsforthewareffort;

Onthenegativeside,somewomenwhohadpreviouslybeeninserviceinthehousesofthewealthywerethrownoutofworkaspayingwagesbecamemoredifficult.In1914,theWomen'sSocialandPoliticalUnionabandonedthesuffragecampaignandardentlysupportedthewareffort,urgingallwomentodothesame.SomeWSPUmemberssetuplocalbranchesofTheWomen'sTemporaryEmploymentBureauandencouragedwomentoentertheworkforceinplaceofmen.

IWMQ28190IWMcaption:'Femalebricklayersatworkonabuildingsitein

LancashireduringtheFirstWorldWar'

IWMQ-27846IWMcaption:'TwowomenmunitionsworkersoperateashellcaseformingmachineduringtheFirstWorldWarattheNewGunFactoryofthe

RoyalArsenal,Woolwich,London.'

IWMQ-28191IWMcaption:'WomenworkinginthelaboratoryofachemicalworksofBrunnerMond&Co.Ltd.,Northwich,Manchester,September1918.'

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ServingabroadWomenalsoservedthewareffortinmoredirectwaysasnursesandmembersoftheWomen'sAuxiliaryArmyCorps.Women'snamesoccasionallyappearonlocalwarmemorialsbuttherearewell-documentedstoriesaboutnursesEdithCavell,NellieSpindlerandBettyStevenson,spiesLouisedeBettigniesandMarthaCnockaert,artistsFloraLionandOliveMudie-Cooke.

• Thepre-war-trainednursesoftheQueenAlexandra’sImperialNursingService(QAIMNS)servedfromtheoutsetinmanytheatresofwarincludingFrance,Belgium,Greece,andIraq.Bytheendofthewar10,400hadservedwithQAIMNS.Theirworkinmilitaryhospitalsanddressingstationsnearthefrontlinesresultedinsomeofthembecomingcasualtiesthemselvesandonehundredandfortyonenursesareknowntohavedied.

• Qualifiednurseswho,beforethewar,hadjoinedtheTerritorialForceNursingService,wenttoserveinmilitaryhospitalsinUKandabroad.FiguresforTFNSvary.IanHay[SirJohnHayBeith]gives7,117ofwhom2,280servedoverseas,whileElizabethHaldanegivesafigureof8,140withthesamenumberservingoverseas.

• WomenjoiningtheVoluntaryAidDetachment(VADs)weretrainedbytheRedCrossandworkedasnursesintheUnitedKingdomfromtheoutbreakofthewar.AfterApril1915,ascasualtiesincreasedandtheneedformorehospitalsgrew,VADsalsoworkedinmilitaryhospitalsontheWesternFront.LikemembersofQAIMNSsomelosttheirlivesandnonewerefreefromthedangersofdiseaseor,whenabroad,fromenemyattack.

• AftertheextremelyheavylossesontheSommeinthesummerof1916,manymeninmilitaryadministrativepostsweretransferredtocombatroles.TheirplacesweretakenbymembersofQueenMary'sAuxiliaryArmyCorps.Bytheendofthewar10,000officersand52,000otherranksofhadworkedintheQMAACundertakingeverytypeofofficeanddomesticemployment,workinginbakeries,ordnance,motortransportdepotsandasgardenersinmilitarycemeteries.InFranceairraidswereaconstantthreatlateinthewarresultinginlossoflife.InoneraidaloneinMay1918sevenwomenwerekilled.

OnlineResourcesForimagesofwomeninWW1see:http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/search?query=women&items_per_page=10&f%5B0%5D=contentDate%3AFirst%20World%20WarFornursesinWW1see:http://www.scarletfinders.co.uk/index.htmlForimagesofwomenatworkinWW1see:http://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-women-war-workers-of-the-north-westandForstoriesaboutwomensee:http://www.iwm.org.uk/history/12-things-you-didnt-know-about-women-in-the-first-world-warandhttp://www.iwm.org.uk/history/5-inspirational-stories-of-women-in-the-first-world-warFortheworkofwomenwarartistsandphotographers:http://www.iwm.org.uk/history/6-stunning-first-world-war-artworks-by-women-war-artistsandhttp://www.iwm.org.uk/history/british-women-photographers-of-the-first-world-war

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R fm WALTER MORR IS ON J OWETT 4 th B t n , N ew Z e a l a n d R i f l e B r i g a d e

(E ar l o f L i v e r p oo l ' s Own)

Wa l t e r ' s f a t h e r F r an k wa s a dr ap e r i n Br a d f o r d a n d S i l s d e n b e f o r e o p e n in g a sh op n ex t t o t h e Y or k sh i r e Ro s e on C o a ch S t r e e t , Sk i p t o n . Wa l t e r ' s m o t h e r c am e f r o m N e s s f i e l d , I l k l e y . A f t e r l e a v i n g s c h o o l W a l t e r w o r k e d a s a s h o p a s s i s t a n t i n t h e

b u s i n e s s b e f o r e em i g ra t i n g t o N ew Z e a l a n d . T h e NZ R i f l e C o r p s wa s e n g a g e d a t F l e r s - C o u r c e l e t t e o n 15 S e p t em b er . Wa l t e r w a s

wo u nd ed an d t a k en t o t h e d r e s s i n g s t a t i o n a t De r n a n c o u r t bu t d i e d t h e r e t w o da y s l a t e r . H i s b r o t h e r s e rv e d w i t h t h e L ee d s R i f l e s

a n d s u r v i v e d t h e wa r .

G u n n e r WI LL IAM DUFFEY 1/6 th D uk e o f We l l i n g t o n ' s R e g i m e n t

Wi l l i am Du f f e y wa s 22 w hen h e d i e d o n 16 S ep t emb e r 1916 d u r in g a n a t t a ck o n th e G e rma n s t r o n gh o l d a t T h i e p v a l .

H i s b od y w as n o t r e c ov e r e d a n d h e i s r e memb e r e d on t h e T h i e p va l Memor i a l t o t h e Mi s s i n g o f t h e S omme .

H i s b r o t h e r - i n - l aw , T h om as G a l l a gh e r , wa s r e c ommen d e d fo r h ome s e r v i c e wh en h e en l i s t e d in 1915 a t th e a ge o f 36 . H e s e r ve d w i t h a L a b ou r C ompa n y u n t i l Ju l y 1918 h e wa s

compu l s o r i l y t r a n s f e r r e d t o t h e 18 t h S co t t i s h R i f l e s a n d s e n t t o F r a n c e . He su r v i v e d t h e wa r a n d w as d i s ch a r g e d i n

Ma r c h 1919 .

P t e ARTHUR ANDERTON 8 th B tn D uk e o f W e l l i n g t o n ' s R e g i m e n t

A r th ur f i r s t s aw s e r v i c e a t G a l l i p o l i w h e r e h e d i s emb a r ke d o n 24 Nov emb e r 1915 . T h e 8 t h B t n We s t R i d i n g Re g t wa s w i th dr aw n in Ja n ua r y 1916 , t r an s f e r r e d t o E g y p t a nd th e n t o F r a n c e i n Ju l y 1916 . A r t h ur d i e d on 14 S ep t emb e r a n d

i s r ememb e r e d o n t h e T h i e p va l Memor i a l t o th e Mi s s i n g o f S omme .

P t e HERBERT LAKE 1/6 th D uk e o f We l l i n g t o n ' s R e g i m e n t

H e r b e r t a n d h i s b r o th e r Se t h en l i s t e d i n th e We s t R id i n g T e r r i t o r i a l s i n 1914 a n d c r o s s e d t o F r a n c e i n A p r i l 1 915 . Se th w a s k i l l e d s i x wee ks l a t e r l e a v i n g a w i d ow an d t h r e e ch i l d r e n i n K e i g h l e y . Th e i r o l d e r b r o t h e r , W i l l i e , s e r v e d a s

a d r i v e r w i th t h e We s t R i d i n g A r t i l l e r y . H e r b e r t d i e d on 18 th S e p t emb e r d u r i n g a s a t t a ck on th e

T h i e p va l R i d ge wh i ch wa s t o f a l l t o B r i t i s h t r o o p s o n 25 t h Se p t e mb e r .

H i s b od y w as r e t r i e ve d f r om t h e b a t t l e f i e l d i n M ay 1919 w i th 5 o t h e r s f r om h i s Compa n y . T h e y a r e n ow b u r i e d t o g e th e r a t L on s d a l e C eme t e r y , A u t h u i l l e .

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S g t JAC K INGHAM Mi D 3005 , 6 t h B tn W es t Y o r k s h i r e R e g im en t

(B ra d f o r d T er r i t o r i a l s)

Wh i l s t J a c k ' s a d d r e s s wa s Ch a r l e s t own , Ba i l d o n h i s p a r e n t s l i v e d o n S t S t e p h e n ' s R oa d , Bow l i n g . On 15 J u l y 1916 Ja c k ' s b a t t a l i o n wa s a t t a c k i n g t h e L e i p z i g Sa l i e n t f r om Au t h u i l l e o n c e a g a in . F o ur o f f i c e r s a n d 50 o t h e r r a n ks b e c ame ca s ua l t i e s . On t h e s ame d a y th e b a t t a l i o n wa s

s t r e n g th e n e d b y t h e a r r i va l o f 289 men o f t h e D LI : s uc h wa s th e a t t r i t i o n r a t e i n t h i s s e c on d p h as e o f t h e B a t t l e o f

t h e Somme . Ja c k ' s n ame i s o n th e T h i e p v a l Mem or i a l .

P t e ARTHUR ANDERTON 8 t h B t n Du k e o f W e l l i n g t o n ' s Re g i m en t

O n 14 t h Ju l y A r t h u r ' s B a t t a l i o n a t t a c k ed en em y t r e n c h e s k n o wn a s t h e Wund e r W e r k a t 6 . 30pm h a v i n g a r r i v ed in p o s i t i o n a f ew

h o u r s e a r l i e r . T h e a t t a c k r ea c h ed an d h e l d t h e e n em y t r e n c h an d wa s r e g a r d e d a s ' a c o m p l e t e s u c c e s s ' b u t t h e c o s t w a s h i g h . E i g h t o f f i c e r s a n d 25 0

m e n we r e c a s u a l t i e s . A r t h u r ha s n o k n own g r a v e b u t i s rem em b e r ed o n th e T h i e p v a l

M em o r i a l t o t h e M i s s i n g o f t h e S omme .

P t e GEORGE ARC HER 5 th B tn Yo r k sh i r e R e g i m e n t

T h e Yo r ks h i r e Re g im e n t ( k n own as t h e G r e e n Howa r d s) r e c r u i t e d l a r g e l y i n E a s t a n d Nor t h Yo r ks h i r e a n d G e o r ge ' s

r o o t s i n Sc a r b o r o u gh ma y h av e l e d h im t o ch o o s e t h i s r e g im en t . G e o r g e h a s n o kn ow g r a v e a n d i s r ememb e r e d o n

t h e T h i e p va l Memor i a l t o th e Mi s s i n g .

H i s w i dow Amy w as ma r r i e d a ga i n i n 1918 t o Ch a r l e s C op l a n d , a w id owe r w i t h f ou r c h i l d r e n .

P t e ERNEST A DDI SON

10 t h B t n T h e K in g ' s (L i v e r p oo l R e g i m en t )

On 9t h A u gu s t 1916 E r n e s t ' s Ba t t a l i o n wa s o r d e r e d t o a t t a ck t h e v i l l a g e o f G u i l l e mon t a t 4. 20 am . C as ua l t i e s we r e v e r y h e a v y , e s p e c i a l l y amo n g s t o f f i c e r s a n d t h e m en

we r e w i th d r awn b y a 2n d L i e u t e n an t b a ck t o t h e i r own f r on t l i n e t r e n ch . Th e v i l l a g e wa s v e r y s t r o n g l y d e f e n d e d w i t h

we l l - p l a c e d ma c h in e gu n s . No t u n t i l Se p t e mb e r we r e Br i t i s h t r o o p s a b l e t o t a ke th e v i l l a g e .

E r n e s t h a s n o k n own gr a v e a n d i s r e memb e r e d on t h e T h i e p va l Memor i a l t o th e Mi s s i n g o f t h e S omm e .

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PleasetellusaboutyourPrimarySchoolprojectscommemoratingWW1

Thisisaninter-generationalprojectfromthe

Golden-OldiesCharity(1121600).Youcanfindoutallaboutourworkwitholder

peopleacrossEnglandandWaleson:

www.golden-oldies.org.uk

thewebsiteforthisWW11916-1918programmeis:

www.ourmemories.org.uk

contactuswithyourprojectdetails:

[email protected]