During World War Two seven hundred women worked in the Sunderland shipyards carrying out dangerous and backbreaking jobs such as welding, riveting, burning and rivet catching, as well as general labouring, operating cranes, and painting.
The work, which had previously only been deemed suitable for men, was not only carried out by unmarried young women, but also by married mothers, many of whom had just waved the men in their family off to war.
These women chose to undertake such difficult and often perilous jobs in the yards, not only because they needed to work – but also because they wanted to be a part of the war effort – often working time and a half, seven days a week in order to repair and build ships desperately needed to win the war.
Many war babies and children were looked after by neighbours and older siblings so that their mother could work long shifts in the shipyards – and sometimes even a second job at night.
The conditions in which the women laboured were harsh and hazardous, with scant regard paid to health and safety. They also had to contend with constant air strikes by Hitler’s Luftwaffe, and many of the women workers would do so with the added worry that their children were in another part of the town.
The yards in the ‘Biggest Shipbuilding Town in the World’ produced a quarter of Britain’s merchant shipping at the time, causing it to become one of the most heavily bombed towns during the war.
It is believed that without the shipyards, the country would have been forced to surrender, as the cargo vessels being built were essential for the transportation of vital food, fuel and minerals, as well as taking troops to wherever they were needed in the fight against the Axis alliance of Germany, Italy and Japan.
During the war years, Sunderland’s shipbuilding industry won Royal and political praise, and the town was also credited with producing Doxford Engines, known for their efficiency and reliability, while J.L. Thompson developed the prototype of the American Liberty Ship.
Initially the women’s induction into the yards was made even more difficult by the authorities who were opposed to the idea. A lot of men in positions of influence were very keen to protect the traditions of shipbuilding on the Wear. They wanted to protect the jobs for men returning from service and so were opposed to offering the jobs to women as they did not know what would happen when the men returned.
Women were eventually offered work in the yards, even if some people were reluctant. Many, however, were referred to as ‘dilutees’. This title was given to imply that one woman could not offer the same skills as one man and so ensured the women would not be able to continue in the jobs when the men returned.
Interestingly, in a report in the Sunderland Echo in 1942 it revealed: ‘At keeping the place tidy, sweeping up and so on, the women are, not surprisingly, better than the men. But those in skilled and semi-skilled work have also done well, and I have heard of machinists who have turned out far more work, of as good quality, than the men. Indeed, I have been told of one woman who produced as much work as six men – and she was a married woman who, after her day’s work, went home to look after her family.’
It is perhaps a sad omission in our history books that the remarkable women who did some of the most dangerous work in both the First and Second World War, have now died with little recognition or praise for the work they did and the conditions they encountered.
Let us not forget the brave and inspirational women who played such an important role in such a crucial period of our history.