Wednesday, 11 November 2015

Poem ~ Women Crews on London Trams - Thursday 11 November 1915



Source: File: lady tram conductor asks a passenger for his fare on a Southampton tram in the summer of 1915.jpeg, [online] Available at: <http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/heritage/news/13770066.Answering_call_to_keep_city_moving_during_WWI/> Accessed: 11 November 2015].

On a day when 11th of the 11th meant
No more than any other day, a report
Told how women tram conductors began
A start on the London United Trams.

While happening in the capital for first
Time on 10 November, such sights
Of women in charge of these vehicles,
Had already occurred in other counties.

Before in May 1915, female tram guards
Had already stepped aboard in Salford -
With their prime difficulties being turning
Trolley's pole, to replace wheels on wires.

Working on the London United Trams
In November, women worked the Kingston
Route - tutored by a male conductor, this
Experiment to be extended to other routes.

As with regulations that defined London's
Police, women had to be 5ft 5 in., aged
25 to 35 and passed medically fit for duty-
A six day week would pay 29s 6d wages.

Previously a debate in Hull said women
Would be paid same rates as men - the city
Council in opposition by labour members
Dissatisfaction in tramway committees.

One opinion was lack of efforts had been
Made, to find men - a Dr Webster on the one
Hand had no problem - to believe physical
Reasons should bar women in certain work.

Amidst crowds, the act of running down
And up stairs summer and winter, would
Be taxing on females - the fear was how
The women would be held from marriage.

With this occupation women would suffer
In morals and mentally - womanly women
Were desired for men to marry - the result
Leading to a halt in population's growth.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. Women Tram Conductors. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 11 November. P.4. Col.5. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11975605/Daily-Telegraph-November-11-1915.html [Accessed: 11 November 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 11 November 2015). 



#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1London

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