The Munitionettes: Women who risked everything to help win WWI

By early 1915, British forces in France had begun experiencing alarming shortages of shells and other essential ammunition.

The Second Battle of Ypres in April and May of that year exposed the extent of the problem.

Soldiers lacked the firepower to hold positions or launch effective counterattacks.

Commanders sent desperate appeals for supplies, but the domestic factories could not meet the demand.

A political outcry grew following reports in newspapers like The Times, which accused the government of failing the troops.

The scandal, known as the Shell Crisis, forced Prime Minister Asquith to create the Ministry of Munitions in June 1915 under the leadership of David Lloyd George. 

Through the Ministry’s central control, the British government rearranged wartime industry and introduced major changes to boost output.

Factories received new machinery, raw materials were rationed, and regulations standardised working conditions.

The government also began recruiting women into heavy industry in large numbers to compensate for the absence of men.

Thousands of women responded and entered hazardous and unfamiliar workplaces to help supply the front lines.

They would become the backbone of Britain’s war production effort for the remainder of the conflict. 

Within converted textile mills, purpose-built facilities, and repurposed warehouses, Munitionettes handled high explosives, mixed chemical compounds, and loaded shells.

Their work required accuracy and speed, especially under the pressure of wartime quotas.

The chemicals used in TNT production included picric acid and cordite, both of which stained the skin and caused long-term health effects.

Longer exposure to these substances often turned the skin a yellowish hue, which earned some of the women the nickname “canary girls.” 

The physical dangers inside munitions factories were constant and deadly.

Accidental explosions claimed hundreds of lives during the war. In January 1917, the Silvertown explosion in London destroyed part of the Brunner Mond chemical plant, killing 73 people and injuring over 400.

Investigations revealed that safety standards had often been compromised in the rush to meet production targets.

Many Munitionettes endured burns, long-term illness, and mental stress as part of their daily reality.

Despite the risks, few left their posts. Their work became a point of pride and a direct contribution to the national struggle. 

The amount of output achieved by munitions factories after 1915 owed much to the women who filled the assembly lines.

Between 1914 and 1918, Britain increased shell production from roughly 500,000 per year to over 187 million.

Women worked around the clock in shifts, sometimes exceeding twelve hours, to ensure that front-line units received steady supplies of ammunition.

The Ministry of Munitions reported that by 1917, over 700,000 women had been employed in war industries across the country. 

Their contribution extended beyond shells. Munitionettes manufactured fuses, bullet casings, and aircraft components.

In some facilities, women also took on tasks related to vehicle repair and engine testing.

The consistent flow of equipment from the home front allowed British and Allied commanders to maintain pressure on German forces through continuous attacks, such as the Battle of the Somme and the later Hundred Days Campaign.

The war of attrition demanded continuous resources, and the factories never ceased operations.

Without the Munitionettes, Britain would have struggled to maintain the firepower necessary to achieve military objectives. 

Women who worked in munitions faced physical dangers, and social obstacles also loomed.

Many came from domestic service or textile work and faced hostility from male supervisors and union leaders.

Some men accused women of taking their jobs or undermining wages. Others doubted their ability to perform heavy industrial tasks.

Although official propaganda praised the patriotic service of female workers, daily experiences included harassment and discrimination, and many suffered unequal pay. 

Outside the factory, Munitionettes challenged social norms simply by working long hours in public roles.

Some wore trousers, smoked in public, or travelled alone. Traditionalists considered this behaviour unladylike.

Others feared that wartime roles would permanently upset the gender order. In 1916, the government passed the Munitions of War Act.

The legislation restricted strikes and wage bargaining and provided some protections for women.

Nevertheless, workplace rights for female workers remained limited, and few received training or advancement.

Most women knew their employment might end once the war concluded. 

Following the Armistice in November 1918, the British government began dismantling the wartime economy.

The winding down included removing women from industrial positions to make room for returning soldiers.

Many Munitionettes lost their jobs within months. Factories closed or returned to civilian production, and women were urged to return to traditional roles.

In speeches and public campaigns, the state praised their wartime service but made clear that their presence in heavy industry had been a temporary necessity. 

Despite the abrupt end to their wartime employment, the Munitionettes helped shift perceptions about women’s capabilities.

Their labour proved that women could work in engineering, manage machinery, and endure hazardous conditions.

However, the war accelerated debates around women’s rights, including suffrage.

In 1918, Parliament granted the vote to women over 30 who met property qualifications, a change that recognised their contribution to the war effort.

The Munitionettes never received medals or formal honours, but their sacrifices had helped bring victory and forced a reconsideration of women's role in British society.