| Area | Evidence of Change | Numbers |
|---|---|---|
| Munitions factories | Women took over from men who had enlisted; "munitionettes" worked 12-hour shifts, often with toxic materials (TNT turned skin yellow — "canary girls") | Nearly 1 million women in munitions by 1917 |
| Transport | Women drove buses, trams, and ambulances; worked as railway porters and ticket inspectors | By 1918, women were 37% of the civil service workforce |
| Nursing | VAD (Voluntary Aid Detachment) nurses worked in field hospitals close to the front; experienced horrors previously considered "unsuitable for women" | Over 90,000 women served in VAD roles |
| Agriculture | Women's Land Army provided essential farm labour; by 1918 around 260,000 women worked on the land | Women's Land Army: ~260,000 by 1918 |
| White feather campaign | Some women handed white feathers to men not in uniform to shame them into enlisting — not all women supported this; the NUWSS opposed it | Controversial, sometimes given to wounded veterans or men in essential war work |
This key facts covers Key Evidence: Women and the Home Front within Britain in Peace and War, 1900-1918 for GCSE History. Revise Britain in Peace and War, 1900-1918 in Component Group 3 — British Depth Studies for GCSE History with 14 exam-style questions and 18 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 9 of 17 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Practice questions for Britain in Peace and War, 1900-1918
Describe four features of the wealth and class divide in Edwardian Britain around 1900. [4 marks]
Describe four features of the Liberal reforms introduced between 1906 and 1911. [4 marks]
Quick recall flashcards
How did the National Insurance Act 1911 work?
Workers paid 4d/week, employers 3d, state 2d. Part 1 (health): sick pay and medical treatment for ~13 million workers. Part 2 (unemployment): 7 shillings/week for up to 15 weeks for 2.5 million workers in seasonal trades.
What did the Old Age Pensions Act 1908 provide?
5 shillings per week (7s 6d for a couple) for those aged 70 or over with incomes below £21/year. Paid at the post office — no need to enter the workhouse. Lloyd George called the recipients 'God's children.'