No other class of women workers,
Than girl typists - had felt the harder
Pinching effects on them from war.
Closure of the Stock Exchange
And other financial business’
Caused cause a great demise
In employment of many women.
The end of English Agents offices,
In the trade for foreign goods,
Has also added to the big effect.
Finding themselves in a pitiful plight,
With promise of a dreary winter ahead,
Were ladies with any other skills.
The National Patriotic Association
Chairman, Sir George Pragnell,
Devised a particular scheme -
By his knowledge of organising,
Of the wholesale drapery trade.
Knowing of strains in manufacturing
Sir Pragnell had insight to see 300,000
Army webbed belts being quickly used.
The Queen's appeal to all the women
Of the Empire, had well met the target
For the patterned belt - with more needed.
Sir Pragnell's keen and able abilities
Convinced the War Office for the best
Belt pattern would be the French -
Made of double flannel, was a protective,
Warm field garment, for all their soldiers.
Progress came with the Committee,
On Unemployment and a War Office
Contract, for such garments.
The easily crafted belts, could provide,
Opportunities for any girl typists
With no effect on workers,
In any other current industries.
Word spread as wild fire in the city,
Of exclusive employment for girls,
Provided by the Patriotic Association.
At their offices at St Paul's Churchyard,
Came the call - hand or machine sewers
Aimed at lady typists out of work -
Or any other means of livelihood.
On production of good references,
Each applicant was given a card
To complete; name, statement,
Typing skills and shorthand speed,
And knowledge of sewing possessed.
Each girl given enough cloth to make,
Four belts at home overnight – returned
To earn them 3d each, if finished well.
These belts were formed of flannel straps
Being 1 and 1/2 yards in total length -
Wider at the front, tapering at the ends.
Two lengths of the flannel - to be neatly
Sewn together, with stout webbing, either
End - making with an over sewn slit upon
One side, for the other end to pass through,
Giving an adaptable belt, for any sized man.
In satisfactory receipt of said made belts,
The sewer received another bundle of ten-
In completing these, receiving a half crown.
The process repeats for 5 days a week -
So 12s and 6d can be earned, it’s believed.
Any able girl can make two belts per hour.
While those with a sewing machine
Can complete one every 20 minutes.
Each belt is expertly checked -
Attention made to the webbings strength.
200 girls are then daily employed
Between them making 2000 belts daily,
With a grand total of 10,000 per week.
Continued preparations are needed
For men in the field and in training.
So needs for these are likely to last.
Supplies of flannel start to shrink
With requisitions of the navy arm -
As Red Cross, Russia and France
Make requisition for woollen goods -
So is the need to build reserves.
This process creates growth
Of registering girls for work -
When a young man answers
His country's call, a girl is chosen
To take his place -for some organisers'
It is a surprise how many ladies
Possess exceptional abilities.
An employer requesting a girl with able
Knowledge of figures – after an hour’s exam
One girl’s skills changed a city man’s mind.
Another lady proved her worth; a rapid
Shorthand writer of Spanish and French.
Viscountess St Cyres, representing
Association of Women Clerks,
And Secretaries joined panel for
Professional Classes War Relief Fund.
Her purpose; to find women clerks
Work in their profession - with particular
Attentions given to highly trained,
And most competent women.
Funds from one philanthropist provided
Trained secretaries for schemes
Of public relief - that
might have
Only found volunteers or untrained clerks.
On occasions when work cannot be found,
Younger members are to be trained,
For other posts in colonies or elsewhere.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1914. Girl Typists - Scheme of Paid Work. The Daily Telegraph.
[online] 6 Nov. p.4. Col.1-2 . Available at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11208699/Daily-Telegraph-November-6-1914.html
[Accessed: 6 November 2014].
Mann, J., 2014. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 6 November 2014).
#WW1London WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #ww1centenary
#worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered
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