WOMEN AND
CHILDREN IN
WORLD WAR ONE
TO UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF WOMEN
AND CHILDREN IN WORLD WAR ONE
WOMEN BEFORE THE
WAR
Women had a set role in life before World
War One. They were in charge of everything
around the home. Their job was to make
sure the household ran smoothly, whilst the
men went out to work. Children would help
out around the home but the main jobs
were for the women.
Jobs included:
 Making sure the house was fully clean.
 Cooking tea for the whole family and
making sure tea was ready when the
husband came home from work.
 Caring for and bringing up the children
in the home.
 Cleaning and washing the clothes.
WOMEN DURING WAR
As the war started and more and more men
signed up to fight for their “king and
country”, the factories and offices needed
more women to go to work to keep Britain
running. More than 1 million women began
to work between 1914 and 1918.
WHAT JOBS DID
WOMEN DO?
Typical jobs these women took were:
 Working on the land
 Typists and office staff.
 Working in the factories to produce weapons, bullets and
other war related items.
 Working for the government to keep the country running.
 Working in the shops owned by the men.
These jobs were dangerous and many women were hurt. In
January 1917 an explosives factory in East London exploded
and killed 73 people, destroying hundreds of homes in the
process.
WHAT HAPPENED
AFTER THE WAR!
At the end of the war, these women had to
go back to their old lives and many were
unhappy about this.
Why do you think they were not happy?
WHAT DID CHILDREN
DO DURING THE WAR?
Everyone in war had to do their bit, even
the children. They had an important role in
supporting society in the war. The things
they had to do include:
 Queuing for food in the shops – people
could only have a certain amount of food
so queues were long at shops.
 Helping their mothers around the home.
WHAT JOBS COULD
THEY DO?
Organising flag days
Children sold little flags and badges on the streets
for extra money for the war. If people were seen
wearing them it was a badge of honour to say they
were supporting the war effort.
Recycle, Reduce, Reuse
Children helped to save materials for the war. They
would collect anything that could be reused or
recycled, including old pots and pans, rubber from
wellington boots and tyres and even glass bottles.
SCHOOL DURING THE
WAR!
School didn’t change a lot. Lessons were
still as strict and teachers would punish
naughty children with the cane. Growing
your own vegetables in school became
huge as children would plant vegetable
patches.
YOUR TASK
You are to write a diary of a woman or child who is
helping out in the war.
You need to include:
1. Details of what they are doing to help the war.
2. Information about the war and why you need to
help.
3. Information about what helping will do for the
country.