World War II Coin Pack - Women on the Home Front

Product History

George VI - Silver sixpence.

Obverse - Bust of George VI     Reverse - Shield On Rose

During World War II a female trainee in a factory would be paid £1.18s per week.

Victory in World War II required an enormous amount of war materials including huge numbers of ships, tanks, aircraft, weapons and ammunition. Old factories were turned into war plants, iron railings in towns and parks were melted down for raw materials and factories which once made cars began to produce tanks and aircraft.

Women joined the labour force during World War II after the men left for combat. They worked in shipyards, aircraft factories, weapons and munitions factories and filled many jobs previously held only by men. Women also served as drivers, nurses, firewatchers, air raid wardens and in the voluntary services helping people who had lost their homes and belongings in the air raids.

Women replaced men on the farms as well as in the factories and helped to grow the crops that fed the allied troops. Some women served in the armed forces as mechanics, drivers, clerks, cooks and in other non combatant positions.

Front Image - World War II government poster to encourage women to work for the war effort in the factories.

Product Information