At the turn of the century, the women of Britain knew their place: in the domestic sphere. British society was structured around maintaining a woman’s role cleaning the house, cooking meals, and raising children.

All this was, quite literally, blown out of the water with the arrival of the First World War, the world’s first industrialized conflict. Total war amongst Europe’s most powerful nations demanded millions of soldiers to server in the bloody trenches.

Women were suddenly needed, in large numbers, to fill the typically masculine professions that they were previously denied access to. Thousands began serving in munitions factories, farms, and in offices.

Thousands of others also signed up to numerous uniformed organizations, which served alongside the British Army, Royal Navy, and newly formed Royal Air Force. These women would be found working close to the front line in the WAAC, attending to major docks in the WRNS, serving airbases in the WRAF, and tending to the wounded in the QAIMNS.

Truly inspirational, these women served their country proudly, and brought the role of women in society into the limelight, resulting in subsequent advances in equality, including winning the right to vote.

 
• world war i
 
• women