WWI – The Home WWI – The Home FrontFront

The role of women, food The role of women, food shortages, bombing raids and shortages, bombing raids and how Cheshunt was affected.how Cheshunt was affected.

Before the war, the most Before the war, the most common common

employment for a woman was employment for a woman was as aas a

domestic servant. However, domestic servant. However, womenwomen

were also employed in what were also employed in what werewere

seen to be suitable seen to be suitable occupations e.g. teaching, occupations e.g. teaching, nursing, office work.nursing, office work.

Before the First World War

The introduction of conscription in 1916 led to an increase in thenumber of women employed in allsectors of the economy.There had been a Trade Union decree that women would only be employed for the duration of the war so that there would still be jobs for those men returning from the military.

The outbreak of war

Many women were paid good wages,

especially in munitions factories, but

in most cases they were paid lower

rates than men.

Improved wages did allow more independence for some women.

Women became more visible in Women became more visible in the the

world of work. They were seen world of work. They were seen to beto be

doing important jobs.doing important jobs.

The armed forces also employed The armed forces also employed Women to do a variety of work, Women to do a variety of work, many jobs were of a clerical and many jobs were of a clerical and domestic nature though.domestic nature though.

Women were in great demand Women were in great demand for for

the ‘caring’ side of employment the ‘caring’ side of employment and and

became nurses in the First Aid became nurses in the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry, and drivers Nursing Yeomanry, and drivers

andandclerks in Voluntary Aid clerks in Voluntary Aid

Detachments.Detachments.

After the WarAfter the War

• Women were expected to give way to men Women were expected to give way to men returning from the forces and return to pre-returning from the forces and return to pre-war ‘women’s work’.war ‘women’s work’.

• The assumption that ‘a woman’s place is in The assumption that ‘a woman’s place is in the home’ returned.the home’ returned.

• The percentage of women at work returned to The percentage of women at work returned to pre-war levels.pre-war levels.

• More women than before worked in offices.More women than before worked in offices.

After the WarAfter the War

• From 1918 women over the age of 30 who From 1918 women over the age of 30 who owned property were allowed to vote in owned property were allowed to vote in elections.elections.

• Shorter skirts and hair became fashionable.Shorter skirts and hair became fashionable.

• Women went out with men without a Women went out with men without a chaperone.chaperone.

• Women smoked and wore make-up in public Women smoked and wore make-up in public for the first time.for the first time.

• In 1919 being female or married was no In 1919 being female or married was no longer allowed to disqualify someone from longer allowed to disqualify someone from holding a job in the professions or civil holding a job in the professions or civil service.service.

ShortagesShortages The outbreak of war led to inflation The outbreak of war led to inflation

[increase] in prices, particularly of food.[increase] in prices, particularly of food.

Poor families couldn’t afford to pay Poor families couldn’t afford to pay more, by the end of the war many were more, by the end of the war many were suffering from malnutrition.suffering from malnutrition.

Germany’s U-Boat campaign in the Germany’s U-Boat campaign in the Atlantic – sinking supply ships from Atlantic – sinking supply ships from America - led to food shortages in America - led to food shortages in Britain.Britain.

April 1916 – Britain only had 6 weeks of April 1916 – Britain only had 6 weeks of grain left!grain left!

People were encouraged to convert People were encouraged to convert their gardens into allotments.their gardens into allotments.

RationingRationing Fuel was also in short supply and was Fuel was also in short supply and was

rationed.rationed.

From January 1918 sugar was From January 1918 sugar was rationed, from April butter, meat, rationed, from April butter, meat, cheese and margarine were added to cheese and margarine were added to the list.the list.

Ration cards were issued and people Ration cards were issued and people had to register with butchers and had to register with butchers and grocers.grocers.

It worked! Malnutrition disappeared It worked! Malnutrition disappeared and no-one in Britain actually starved and no-one in Britain actually starved during WWI.during WWI.

Britain under attack!Britain under attack! December 16December 16thth 1914 – German 1914 – German

Navy attacked Hartlepool, Navy attacked Hartlepool, Scarborough and Whitby, killing Scarborough and Whitby, killing 119 people, including children.119 people, including children.

For the first time EVER the lives of For the first time EVER the lives of British civilians were at risk during British civilians were at risk during wartime.wartime.

May 31May 31stst 1915 – London was the 1915 – London was the first British city to be bombed by first British city to be bombed by German Zeppelins (air ships).German Zeppelins (air ships).

These air attacks continued until These air attacks continued until late 1916 when pilots from the late 1916 when pilots from the Royal Naval Air Service flew night Royal Naval Air Service flew night patrols to protect London.patrols to protect London.

The Cheshunt ZeppelinThe Cheshunt Zeppelin September 2September 2ndnd 1916 – 16 Zeppelin’s crossed the 1916 – 16 Zeppelin’s crossed the

channel carrying 32 tons of bombs aiming for channel carrying 32 tons of bombs aiming for targets in London, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.targets in London, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.

Royal Flying Corps pilot, Lieutenant William Leefe Royal Flying Corps pilot, Lieutenant William Leefe Robinson flew his bi-plane under one of the SL11 Robinson flew his bi-plane under one of the SL11 airships over North London and fired his machine airships over North London and fired his machine gun ‘into its belly’, he shot the airship in the side gun ‘into its belly’, he shot the airship in the side and at the back which eventually set the craft on and at the back which eventually set the craft on fire.fire.

The wooden framed airship fell into a field behind The wooden framed airship fell into a field behind the Plough Inn Pub in Cuffley. The explosion was the Plough Inn Pub in Cuffley. The explosion was seen 40 miles away and the fire burned for over seen 40 miles away and the fire burned for over 2hrs.2hrs.

The crew were all killed but no civilians were hurt.The crew were all killed but no civilians were hurt.

Leefe Robinson – the Hero!Leefe Robinson – the Hero! This was the first airship to This was the first airship to

be destroyed on British be destroyed on British soil.soil.

All the other airships saw All the other airships saw this event and fled back to this event and fled back to Germany.Germany.

Leefe Robinson’s heroic Leefe Robinson’s heroic deed marked the END of deed marked the END of German zeppelin attacks German zeppelin attacks on Britain!on Britain!

Cuffley made famousCuffley made famous 60, 000 sightseers came to 60, 000 sightseers came to

Cuffley to see the Cuffley to see the wreckage of the airship.wreckage of the airship.

Leefe Robinson was hailed Leefe Robinson was hailed a national hero and given a national hero and given the Victoria Cross for the Victoria Cross for ‘conspicuous bravery’.‘conspicuous bravery’.

99thth June 1921 a service was June 1921 a service was held and a permanent held and a permanent memorial to the event was memorial to the event was erected at Cuffley on the erected at Cuffley on the spot where the zeppelin spot where the zeppelin fell.fell.

TASKTASKYou have the rest of this lesson to create a You have the rest of this lesson to create a

power point (min 3 slides) about the Home Front power point (min 3 slides) about the Home Front in WW1. Try to say which you think was worse, in WW1. Try to say which you think was worse, life in the front lines or on the home front – life in the front lines or on the home front – remember to give your reasons. Include remember to give your reasons. Include information and images about;information and images about;

the role of womenthe role of womenshortages during the warshortages during the warCheshunt during the war.Cheshunt during the war.

Use the web links provided and information Use the web links provided and information from your own research (e.g. Google).from your own research (e.g. Google).

Be prepared to present your work to the rest Be prepared to present your work to the rest of the class – make sure any information is of the class – make sure any information is written in your own words and you make note of written in your own words and you make note of the websites you use for information!the websites you use for information!

Web LinksWeb LinksSearch for Women in WW1 and/or try the following links;Search for Women in WW1 and/or try the following links;http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/britain_wwone/women_employment_01.shtmlhttp://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/world_war_one_and_women.htm

Search for WW1 rationing in Britain and/or WW1 shortages in Britain, Search for WW1 rationing in Britain and/or WW1 shortages in Britain, or try the following links;or try the following links;http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/rationing_and_world_war_one.htmhttp://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWrationing.htm

Search for Cuffley Zeppelin attack 1916 and/or try the following links;Search for Cuffley Zeppelin attack 1916 and/or try the following links;http://www.worcestershireregiment.com/wr.php?main=inc/http://www.worcestershireregiment.com/wr.php?main=inc/vc_w_l_robinson_page1vc_w_l_robinson_page1http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=950CE2DF143BE633A25755C0A96F9C946796D6CF_r=1&res=950CE2DF143BE633A25755C0A96F9C946796D6CF

http://www.hertfordshire-genealogy.co.uk/data/postcards/t065-event-http://www.hertfordshire-genealogy.co.uk/data/postcards/t065-event-postcards.htmpostcards.htm

OtherOtherhttp://www.webhistorian.co.uk/pages/index.php?id=71http://www.webhistorian.co.uk/pages/index.php?id=71

http://www.thisishartlepool.co.uk/history/bombardmentofhartlepool.asphttp://www.thisishartlepool.co.uk/history/bombardmentofhartlepool.asp

How do I reach my target How do I reach my target level?level?

Level 5 – Describe in as much detail as possible, try to give at least 3 examples.

Level 6 – Explain in detail, giving at least 3 reasons. Include all the reasons/causes and try to say how they fit together.

Level 7 – Compare sources/reasons/causes and show how they are linked together. Explain which are the most or least important/reliable.