Struggle and Suffrage in Chelmsford by Stephen Wynn

Author:Stephen Wynn [Wynn, Stephen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, Women, Europe, Great Britain, 20th Century, Political Science, Women in Politics
ISBN: 9781526716088
Google: iU4IEAAAQBAJ
Barnesnoble:
Goodreads: 41093298
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Published: 2019-02-28T01:11:21+00:00

CHAPTER FIVE

Second World War

In some respects the Second World War mirrored the First in relation to what women contributed to the war effort on the home front. They still had to deal with the worry of their loved ones away fighting in the war, whether that was a husband, father or son. They had to go about their everyday lives as best they could, but just twenty years after the end of the First World War, the world had become so much more developed. Horses were no longer an integral part of military life, and the Second World War certainly wouldn’t see the British Army undertaking any cavalry charges. Aviation had dramatically improved. There were no more zeppelins or flimsily made bi-planes, these had long ago been replaced by large bomber aircraft that could carry massive payloads, with some of their bombs weighing 500 pounds. There were also fast-moving fighter planes with automatic machine guns that spewed out hot, molten lead at a frightening rate, from both of their wings.

As in the previous war, women in the Second World War once again played a vital role, only this time some had no choice in the matter.

In May 1939, as part of the Military Training Act, the government had announced plans for limited conscription for single men aged between 20 and 22 years of age. On 3 September 1939, this was amended by the implementation of The National Service (Armed Forces) Act 1939, which imposed conscription on all males, married or single, who were between the ages of 18 and 41. Those men working who were employed in the baking industry, farming,engineering and the medical profession, were exempt as these men were deemed to be working in ‘key industries.’

As this is a book about women, you might be wondering why I am writing about conscription in the Second World War. Well, a little-known fact was that women also faced conscription as a result of a second National Service Act in December 1941. The women it affected were those aged between 20 and 30, and this included all unmarried women and childless widows. The reason why women now faced conscription was that there were insufficient numbers of women volunteering for auxiliary units of the armed forces.

Women were given the option of working in industry, such as munitions factories, or joining one of the country’s auxiliary services, of which there were three: The Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS); the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF); or the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS). Those who chose the ATS initially undertook such roles as cooks, clerks, orderlies, working in stores, dispatch riders or drivers, but as the war continued their work could also include serving in anti-aircraft batteries. Some 250,000 women served in the ATS during the Second World War.

Women serving in the WAAF carried out a variation of roles including compiling important weather reports, the maintaining of aircraft and intelligence work. The number of women who served with them was 182,000.

There were some 75,000 women working

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.