‘United We Stand’ Motto of Women’s Defence Relief Corps

Across the country, women also volunteered to help in the war effort. New branches of the armed services were set up and by the end of war, 80,000 women were performing support roles such as nursing, driving and cooking. A training hostel was opened in a hotel on Whiteladies Road in 1917 where 500 women learnt drill and received their uniforms.

Civilian organisations such as the Women’s Defence Relief Corps trained volunteers in first aid and signalling. Members helped as needed in offices, shops and on farms. The Women’s Land Army was formed in March 1917, and around 250,000 women nationally worked the land in 1918 to help alleviate food shortages.

Many of these women had never worked before.