War Workers Collection (page 2)

Tanks under construction in A Erecting Shop, Swindon Works. 1941
One of the earliest tasks contracted to the GWR by the Ministry of Supply was the erection of tanks for supply overseas. Thousands of tank components were being made by all the British railway

War time work in Q Shop at Swindon Works, 1942
This image was taken in March 1942 and shows four women operating a large pressing machine in Q Shop. The women are making 4.5inch copper bands for ammunition shells

Production line for wartime shells in No. 24 Shop, Swindon Works, 1942
No.24 Shop, on the Carriage and Wagon side of Swindon Works was fitted out with two production lines for 25-pounder shells

No 3 Company Swindon Battalion Home Guard, January 1941
Marching alongside the Iron Foundry (J Shop)

Female permanent way workers, c1940
During the Second World War women were employed in various different roles within the GWR. The women here fixing track chairs to wooden sleepers as part of their role within the permanent way

Women workers at the Road Motor Department, Slough, March 1944
During the Second World War women were given jobs normally assigned to men. At the GWR Road Motor Depot at Slough this involved car maintenance and repair

GWR parcel van converted into an ambulance, 1940. The driver and another man in uniform are wearing gas masks. The van bears the GWR roundel branding

Woman pasting a billboard poster at Paddington station, 1943
Woman up a ladder pasting a billboard poster at Paddington station, 1943. The poster reads Remembrance Day FM Earl Haigs Appeal. Wear a Flanders Poppy. A locomotive in steam is in the background

Female Clerks at Swindon Works, 1916
A group shot of female clerks taken in May 1916. This group are from the Accounts Office at Swindon Works and were managed by Mr Kelynack, the Clerk in Charge

Norton Fitzwarren train crash, 1940
On the night of November 4th 1940 locomotive No. 6028 King George VI left Paddington Station hauling thirteen coaches heading for Penzance

Norton Fitzwarren train crash in 1940
On the night of November 4th 1940 locomotive No. 6028 King George VI left Paddington Station hauling thirteen coaches heading for Penzance

Servicemen drinking tea from a refreshment trolley on Paddington station, during WWII
A member of Refreshment Department staff serving tea to servicemen from her platform trolley at Paddington Station is the feature of this official photograph taken in 1943

Mobile emergency canteen at Paddington Station, during WWII
Paddington station in 1943 and a shot of the mobile emergency canteen, which was used to feed station staff, APR wardens, firemen

Women porters working in the left luggage office at Paddington station, during WWII
The Left Luggage Department at Paddington Station was, during the war, manned by female staff as can be seen in this image taken in 1943

Locomotive driver in air raid kit, during WWII
Locomotive no. 5085 Evesham Abbey with a locomotive driver on the footplate wearing a gas mask during WWII

GWR Works Home Guard passing out parade, December 1944

Female worker servicing a Thorncroft lorry at Slough Road Motor Department, 1944
During the Second World War women were given jobs normally assigned to men. At the GWR Road Motor Depot at Slough this involved car and lorry maintenance and repair

Shunter in the wartime blackout, c. 1940
Blackouts were challenging times for some GWR employees, as this image of a shunter taken at Bristol shows. Limited lighting during an air raid posed a serious health and safety risk

Swindon Works War Work, 23rd January 1942
Female workers sorting 25 PDR shells. Work issued by the Ministry of Supply

Female track maintenance workers during WW2

Women working on a locomotive boiler in Swindon Work during WW2

Retired staff returning to work at Didcot Station, 1917
These retired members of staff returned to work during the First World War to help out where there was a shortage of men. They are (L-R) James Stock, David Ireland and George Wilks

V Shop, 1943
Female worker drilling crown plate of boiler firebox. During World War 2 female staff were employed at Swindon Works to replace the men who had been enlisted

Women war workers making ammunition shells in 24F Shop, 1943
These women have been tasked with the pressing on of copper bands and insertion of base plates for 25-pounder quick firing, high explosive, streamline shells

Woman using steam press at Swindon Works, 1942
Although women were employed on the railways prior to 1939, work involving the operating of heavy machinery, as shown in this photograph, was considered to be unsuitable for the fairer sex

Women war workers stamping ammunition shells in B Shop, 1942

Swindon Works war work, 22nd January 1942
Female worker machining a 25 PDR shell. Work issued by Ministry of Supply

Swindon Works War Work, 26th June 1942
A female worker varnishing the inside of a 9.2" shell. This work was issued by the Ministry of Supply

Female employees working in the Permanant Way Department during WW2

Female Ticket Collector at Paddington Station during WW2
An official photograph of a ticket inspector at Paddington Station checking the ticket of a passenger on-board an outbound train in 1943

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