I am running so late today , I have not had time to write a post for International Women’s Day. I thought I would re-post an SoCs from November 2016. In that post I paid tribute to the women of WW1 and WW2 who took over all the jobs that the men who had been sent off to war left empty here in what was known then as Great Britain.
Not only did the women do these , sometimes very dangerous jobs,but they looked after the families and homes. Now I do not wish in any way to detract from the huge sacrifice of all the men who fought for our countries during the two wars .
First a poem.

Remember the women left back home.
They made the ammunition for Tommy
Dangerous work,they died too, it was not funny.
Women became officers of the law
Something never heard of before.
Nurses, drivers even pilots for planes
Remember them we will never know their names
Someone had to give the farmers a hand
Remember the men were at war in a foreign land.
The members of the ” fairer sex ”
Drove the buses, trains and lorries
Kept all essential job going, however complex
They also fed the family and kept the Home Fires Burning

And then a song.
During the wars WW1 and WW2 women filled in the gaps that the men who had been sent off to war left. It is not always remembered that they worked in the factories drove buses , trains and flew planes and probably sailed ships. They became members of the forces, nurses at home and on the war front too. They were also seconded into the police these jobs were almost unheard of for women before the first world war. They also had to do hard farm labour on the farms to help keep the food supplies going.
Women worked in shipyards, built planes and also made ammunition, hard and dangerous work.
It was not just the fact that the bombs , shells or landmines could explode if mishandled but the TNT was dangerous to the women’s health.
Also some Facts.
” Munitions workers whose job was filling shells were prone to suffer from TNT poisoning. TNT stood for Trinitrotoluene – an explosive which turned the skin yellow of those who regularly came into contact with it. The munitions workers who were affected by this were commonly known as ‘canaries’ due to their bright yellow appearance. Although the visible effects usually wore off, some women died from working with TNT, if they were exposed to it for a prolonged period. As Ethel Dean, who worked at Woolwich Arsenal, recalled, ‘Everything that, that powder touches goes yellow. All the girls’ faces were yellow, all round their mouths. They had their own canteen, in which everything was yellow that they touched… Everything they touched went yellow – chairs, tables, everything.’ (IWM SR 9439) More imformation here
Women did so many jobs that before the first world war, those of the middle and higher class would never even contemplated. Many died of injury and of disease due to chemicals, asbestos used in badly ventilated buildings.
Also they played their part in SOE read here and also here .






All images from Google Images women at war WW1 and WW2
My tribute to all women past present and future. We have always and always will pick up the slack , support men and do our best. Today there are women leading full services lives in all our armed forces and police
Mar 09, 2020 @ 19:44:42
And as soon as the men came back from the front, the women had to go home. It’s astonishing that they could have been treated like that, that they were still not recognised as being perfectly capable of doing the same jobs as men.
Mar 09, 2020 @ 19:46:53
Yes I know, it happened to them after both wars, they gave so much and received so little 🌹🌹🌹
Mar 09, 2020 @ 19:52:56
I don’t understand how it could have been explained away, okay, while we’re at war you’re capable, but now the boys are back, you’re not. Bugger off back to the kitchen.
Mar 09, 2020 @ 20:13:26
Though some stood their ground, many just accepted what they were told…it was the culture in those days!
Mar 09, 2020 @ 20:19:00
Yes, women knew their place. Men were always pointing it out to them!
Mar 09, 2020 @ 20:24:09
Yes indeed that’s true 💜
Mar 09, 2020 @ 20:26:33
Some still do…
Mar 09, 2020 @ 20:30:08
Yes I know and it’s never going to improve because men are men …..bless them 💜
Mar 09, 2020 @ 21:00:58
I don’t know. Now that equal opportunity is enshrined in law they can only carry on brow-beating if we let them, and if mothers carry on telling their sons they are god’s gift.
Mar 09, 2020 @ 21:13:01
The circle must be broken 💜🌹
Mar 10, 2020 @ 12:31:17
Yep.
Mar 09, 2020 @ 19:47:47
💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼 women always will be the stronger sex… Look what they’ve put up with…
Mar 09, 2020 @ 19:49:06
Yes indeed and how little recognition they get 💜🌹
Mar 09, 2020 @ 19:49:33
💜💜💜
Mar 09, 2020 @ 20:41:06
Fab post, and lovely to re-read it
Mar 09, 2020 @ 20:49:20
Thank you, I was too tired to write another X💜💜💜
Mar 09, 2020 @ 21:04:43
It is fine to repost.it is always nice to read a good post, and be reminded of how beautifully written it was and how it captured history.
🤗🥰🙂
Mar 09, 2020 @ 21:14:08
Thank you that is so kind of you to say all that 🌹🌹
Mar 09, 2020 @ 23:48:56
Reblogged this on Darswords and commented:
I can’t think out a better post for this day!
Mar 10, 2020 @ 06:33:31
Thank you so much 💜
Mar 09, 2020 @ 23:49:38
Reblogged! This is perfect!
Mar 10, 2020 @ 06:33:49
Thank you so much 💜
Mar 11, 2020 @ 02:18:29
😍
Mar 11, 2020 @ 05:55:46
💜
Mar 10, 2020 @ 00:11:52
Women should receive a lot more credits for many reasons. You’re not late, Willow. Every day has to be an International Women’s Day.
Mar 10, 2020 @ 06:33:11
Well there a thought Miriam 💜
Mar 10, 2020 @ 14:31:40
Yes, indeed. Willow. ❤