In Posters: Women At War
Women played a vital role working for the war effort during World War One and World War Two while the men were away fighting.
Posters were issued to encourage women to sign up for volunteer and paid work, from farming to office jobs and the military, as well as encouraging those at home to plant a victory garden to aid the pressure on a dwindling food supply and boost morale (click on the images for more information on the posters listed on our website).
In many countries, women were able to work as nurses and in support roles for the military forces that did not involve any direct warfare during World War One. By the end of World War Two they were able to take on more active roles within the military, including on the front line and in anti-aircraft units.
The ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service, 1938-1949) was the women’s branch of the British Army during World War Two. The first women recruited to the Auxiliary Territorial Service worked as cooks, clerks and storekeepers. As time went on the range of duties expanded and women served as office, mess and telephone orderlies, drivers, postal workers, ammunition inspectors and signal operators. By June 1945, there were over 190,000 members of the ATS from all across the British Empire and Commonwealth.
The female branch of the Royal Navy, the Women’s Royal Naval Service, was formed during World War One (1917-1919), and established in 1939 at the beginning of World War Two. Wrens were employed for duties such as telegraph operators, electricians, cooks and air mechanics. They served on land and at sea and, in 1939 they were allowed to fly transport planes. The WAAF (Women’s Auxiliary Air Force) was established in 1939 as the female auxiliary of the Royal Air Force in the UK. WAAFs were needed on the Home Front to work at military bases and radar stations as wireless operators, aircraft maintenance workers, intelligence operators and to provide administration and transport duties, catering and other important non-combat jobs.
In America the Women’s Army Auxillary Corps (WAAC) was modelled on Britain’s ATS. WAACs were able to train as mechanics, switchboard operators, drivers, stenographers, cooks and seamstresses. They were required to be physically fit and willing to take on jobs to replace men during the war. A manual published in 1943 included advice on the importance of maintaining a personal fitness routine as well as skin care, hair style and make up.
Related (1940s-1950s):
__
Visit our website at www.antikbar.co.uk to browse all our original vintage posters from around the world. For more updates, follow us on:
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AntikBar
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/AntikBar
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AntikBar.co.uk
AntikBar is a Member of the International Vintage Poster Dealers’ Association (IVPDA), the London Art Deco Society (LADS) and The Association of Art and Antiques Dealers (LAPADA).
__
Recent Posts
Archives
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- November 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- June 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012