Introduction
Australian women played a significant part in the many wars Australia was involved in. They undertook a variety of jobs including cooking, making ammunition, nursing and active military roles. Posters were used to promote the various roles women could undertake during wartime. Many women became WAAC members and were acknowledged in service roles both at home and abroad. The VAD women played a major part in the Second World War, with cooking and nursing.The VAD nurse uniform was worn all throughout the Second World War with its blue cotton material. Medical kits were popular throughout war because people were getting sick, badly injured and killed. This kit fixed diarrhoea problems, a mixture contains of chalk and opium.
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1 - Artwork Description This art poster is just one of the many made during the war.
This one is aimed at the Second World War and trying to get women involved in the campaign. It was created by the company Bramley and Maurice for The Department of National Services in 1943. The six women on the front of it are from different services, from the army and civilian nurse and an army officer. At the front is a generic factory worker. Its bright and vibrant colours make it stand out from the others. This poster (ARTV00332) is designed to encourage women to join the services or become involved in industry to help in the war effort. Women made ammunition and artillery, worked in kitchens and took up nursing. The role of women during the war was crucial to ensure a variety of jobs continued. That is why art posters such as this one were so successful in promoting and advertising jobs especially targeted at women during the Second World …show more content…
War. Source 2 - Heraldry Description This badge represents the Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps (QMAAC). Initially called the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps or WAAC. The QMAAC was formed in Great Britain in 1917. So many men died on the Western Front which meant that roles such as administration clerks, cooks etc. needed to be filled by women. This allowed more men to be released to fight on the front line. And in turn it allowed women who were not qualified as nurses to play a service role in the war. Its members were primarily employed as clerks, telephonists, waitresses, cooks, and instructors, many of them serving in France. The women were not given military status. They were enrolled and not enlisted and they had no ranks. The WAAC badge (REL29756) is easily recognisable by the oval shape crest around it and the letters WAAC on the inside. The badge is made from brass which if looked after would stay in immaculate condition for many years. The badge was worn on the issue hat which was a tight fitting khaki cap. The WAAC badge symbolised the importance given to civilian women dedicating themselves to service roles during wartime. Source 3 Picture Description The three women in the picture are Voluntary Aid Detachment or (VAD) they are preparing meals in a hospital kitchen.
They play a major part in nursing and cooking for the soldiers. The Australian Army Medical Women's Services (AAMWS) made a vital contribution to the defence of Australia during the Second World War. Australian Army Medical Women's service was established in December 1942. The (AAMWS) grew out of the volunteer Red Cross and St John Ambulance Voluntary Aid Detachments (known as the VADs). Some 8,500 served in both categories during the war and many who served on the home front would later receive a Civilian Service Medal for their individual roles as an Australian VAD member. The woman played major parts in the war, whilst the men were soldiers the women cooked for them as seen in this picture (PD37772.001). Some women helped as nurses in rural towns in Australia and the other women served on the front line in World War 2. The VAD women helped in the war in kitchens and nursing, if it wasn't for their work we wouldn't have got through
it. Source 4 Clothing Description This nursing uniform was a popular in the Second World war worn by a VAD or Voluntary Aid Detachment. This overcoat is made from dark blue wool cloth, There are four pairs of silver Voluntary Aid Detachment Australia buttons down the front of the coat. All the buttons are made by K G Luke in Melbourne Victoria. A pair of gold braid rank stripes to represent a commandant. There are two vertical welt pockets above each hip, with a self fabric half belt across the back secured by two buttons, and a back vent for better air flow keeps you cool on those hot days . This coat (REL37863) in the picture was worn by Mary Hopper who joined the VAD in Mornington Victoria, during the Second World War Mary was appointed commandant at Mornington, known during the war as the 305 Mornington Detachment. Voluntary aid detachment was very popular in the Second World War, as well a cooks the VAD had nurses they wore the coat as a sign of who they are. Source 5 Medical kit Description This medicine kit was light and compact so it was easy to use on the battlefields. The four small beakers in the case contain chalk and opium. This mix of chalk and opium helped with fixing diarrhoea, the instructions say take as much as will cover a shilling and take it four times a day. The beaker is full of a white powdery substance which is the chalk and another beaker with opium which is a it seeds from and opium plant. The Dysentery caused by contaminated water was especially a problem in the early stages of the war. The main reason for this, was that it was some time before regular water supplies came out frequently. Soldiers were supplied with water bottles, that could be refilled. However, the water-bottle supply was rarely soldiers in the trenches often depended on the water from shell-holes or other holes in the ground. This was risky because of all of the contaminants it would have. The kit (RELAWM01109.003) would have been seen with paramedics and nurses, this one was made in Melbourne from a manufacturer call Chas Ogg and Co Pharmacists. This kit was found in the west front and used by a group of nurses. The box that they were kept in was built so it can handle harsh conditions and seen it the picture from this one brought back from war. It shows how small kit like this helped with fixing major symptoms of diarrhoea and that they use chalk as the cure. References "Home | Australian War Memorial". Awm.gov.au. N.p., 2017. Web. 28 May 2017. "Dysentery In The First World War". Spartacus Educational. N.p., 2017. Web. 31 May 2017.
The first draft of Sisters left Australia in September 1914 and throughout the war, the Nursing Service served wherever Australian troops were sent. A number were also sent to British medical units in various theatres of war.
Even though the real-life munitions worker was one of the basis of the Rosie campaign it took on a persona of its own. This persona was a fictitious character that was strong and bandanna-clad (“American Women in World War II”). Rosie was one of the most success recruitment tools in American history, and one of the most iconic images of working women during World War II. The most prominent image of Rosie the Riveter popularized in American culture was the version featured on the “We Can Do It!” posters created by the United States government (Hawkes). The Rosie the government made has a resemblance to Rockwell’s Rosie, but she is less masculine. This propaganda poster of Rosie the Riveter employed by the United States government was popular because she appealed to the sense of patriotism and common goal of the Second World War. Upgraded Rosie also showed that women could retain their femininity and womanhood in their service. Every Rosie the Riveter image played to this prevailing sense of patriotism that abounded in America during World War II. Patriotism was used as a primary motivator to recruit women for war work. Most American women had husbands, brothers, sons, and fiancés fighting on the frontlines of the war, so the women felt compelled to provide to make a contribution as citizens at home. Most of the time woman had to take care of their children and household while
One such propaganda poster that was spread across Great Britain features a female factory worker with her arms spread wide that reads: “Women of Britain come into the factories”. This particular poster targeted an audience of women and was used to persuade woman to become more involved in the workforce. By showing the young woman wearing a factory uniform while posing in a victorious manner, the poster has the effect of giving future female factory workers the impression that woman participating in factory work will lead to a victory for Great Britain and its Allies in the war.
During the World War II era, the outlook on the role of women in Australian society revolutionised. As a majority of men were at war, Australian women were encouraged to rise above and beyond their stereotypical ‘housewife’ status. They were required to take on the tasks that were once considered predominantly male roles, and also allowed the opportunity to join the armed services as well as enlist in the Women’s Land Army. Many women who doubted their abilities played their part by entering voluntary work. Women had the privilege of contributing in Australian society in many ways that they had never been able before. Thus, it is manifest that the role of women in Australian society had drastically changed.
“There was much more to women’s work during World War Two than make, do, and mend. Women built tanks, worked with rescue teams, and operated behind enemy lines” (Carol Harris). Have you ever thought that women could have such an important role during a war? In 1939 to 1945 for many women, World War II brought not only sacrifices, but also a new style of life including more jobs, opportunities and the development of new skills. They were considered as America’s “secret weapon” by the government. Women allowed getting over every challenge that was imposed by a devastating war. It is necessary to recognize that women during this period brought a legacy that produced major changes in social norms and work in America.
1939: Australia joins the war effort. During this year Australian women were given the opportunity to formally assist in the war effort through The Australian Comforts fund (ACF). This was initiated by the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) This fund enabled women to knit various essentials for soldiers such as socks, scarves or perhaps sweaters. This organisation did not really give woman the opportunity to directly assist in the war effort but instead fell into the ideology of a woman’s role (stay at home). Australian women were also needed in the war effort due injured soldiers. The traditional role of women acting as nurses therefore sprang up in the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS).
Many women during WWII experienced things that they had never done before. Before the war began women were supposed to be “perfect”. The house always had to be clean, dinner ready on the table, laundry done, and have themselves as well as their children ready for every event of the day. Once the war began and men were drafted, women had to take on the men’s role as well as their own. Women now fixed cars, worked in factories, played baseball, handled the finances, and so forth. So, what challenges and opportunities did women face on the home front during WWII? Women had many opportunities like playing baseball and working, they also faced many hardships, such as not having enough food, money, and clothing.
Generally, women did not have the final input in family decisions. The man of the family would direct the women and children, but with the man of the family being helpless, this poster would make people believe that it was up to the women to do something about their family situation. Seemingly, when German people would look at this poster, it would open their eyes and their heart. A major part of individuals heart is their family, so this created an emotional appeal to the people of Germany. With so many families in misery, they believed Adolf Hitler could be their only hope.
Firstly, women played key supportive roles in the army, even though they were not necessarily foot soldiers; they still contributed greatly to the allied victory in World War Two. When Canada finally decided to allow women to participate in the war, many did not hesitate and was willing to sacrifice their life to protect their country. There were a total of 16221 women enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), 20497 in the Canadian Women’s Army Corps (CWAC), 6665 in the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (WRCNS), and later on in the war about 4439 women entered the nursing servic...
Subsequently, women volunteered through national or local associations or by getting permission from a commanding officer (“Nursing”). In April 1861, Dorothea Dix assembled a collection of volunteer female nurses which staged a march on Washington, demanding that the government distinguish their desire to assist the Union’s wounded soldiers. She organized military hospitals for the care of all sick and wounded soldiers, aiding the head surgeons by supplying nurses and considerable means for the ease and aid of the suffering. After she recruited nurses; nursing was greatly improved and her nurses were taken care of under her supervision (Buhler-Wilkerson). During the Civil war, most nurses were women who took care of the ill and injured soldiers. Both male and female nurses have cared for the soldiers in every American war. The majority of nurses were recruited soldiers pressed into duty. Civil war nurses worked in hospitals, on the battlefield, and in their homes (Post). The first carnage of the war made it possible for nursing to become a professional occupation. The women who proved themselves as capable volunteers established nursing as an acceptable field of employment for women after the war. The contributions of the thousands of female nurses helped to alter the image of the professional nurse and changed American nursing from a male-dominated to a largely female profession (Woodworth). Clara Barton, one of the nurses who contributed to the Civil War, founded the American Red Cross, brought supplies and helped the battlefronts before formal relief organizations could take shape to administer such shipments (Buhler-Wilkerson). The religious orders given responded to the new opportunity for servicing the injured by sending t...
started to produce more and more, and many men that worked in the factories were drafted into the army, leaving open jobs. With such high demands came propaganda that would call for one unlikely group of people, who were believed that their place was inside the home, women. One poster that delivered “The Need to Work” theme greatly and was able to be “… shouting at people from unexpected places with all urgency...” (Every Citizen a Soldier) was the “Soldiers Without Guns” poster. This poster depicted three strong and proud looking women who work attire for jobs usually given to men, such as welding or a factory job. The poster successfully encouraged women to take on such jobs because if the ladies in the poster were able to look this strong and have such equality, then any women could too. When it depicted the equality for women, it pushed other women to go out and find work because that was one thing wanted during that time. The propaganda successfully conveyed a convincing message because women would see it and be drawn to the idea of the equal opportunity for jobs and fill the much needed openings. These jobs that needed workers to aid the war effort eventually were filled up by millions of women, “…the female percentage of the U.S. workforce increased from 27 percent to 37 percent, and by 1945 nearly one out of every four married women worked outside the home.” ( www.history.com). The need for work was not
World War II propaganda posters were used mainly for three reasons: to invoke public sympathy for the war cause, to help finance the war, and by encouraging people to support the war. Many t...
The images created by propaganda poster had a dramatic effected on convincing many women to choose nursing as a career and dedicate their efforts to serve their country by enlisting in the Red Cross and the United States military. “Over 350,000 American women volunteered to serve in the armed forces during World War II. More than 59,000 of those women were registered nurses, who volunteered to serve in the United States Army Nurse Corps” (Monahan and Greenlee pg.
Plan of Investigation This investigation will evaluate the question, to what extent did the British Women’s Auxiliary Air Force assist the Allies’ war efforts during the Second World War? This question is important because in World War 1 British women were active in the war effort but to a limited extent, acting as nurses on the battle field and working in munitions factories, but resumed their traditional roles in society after the war. In World War 2 women were more active in the military through auxiliary groups, such as Women’s Auxiliary Force (WAAF) and it is important to understand how much of an impact their work made on the Allies war effort.
They were the grease in the gears of war, the individuals working behind the scenes so that the men would be prepared, ready to fight with functioning weapons and operational gear. Many women decided not to stay at home and, rather, accompany their husbands or male relatives with the army. They "traveled with the army to sew, nurse, and wash clothes (Volo 170)." Again, the women did the dirty work to ensure the men were always relatively ready for battle.... ... middle of paper ... ...'