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With around 30,000 men signing up to serve their country every day by the end of August 1914, there were fewer workers carrying out vital work at the home front.

And with munitions work a necessity for the war effort, manager of the Cunard Shell Works in Bootle, Alexander Galbraith came up with a solution – why not employ women?

This paved the way for a female workforce in factories across the country, and by 1918, nearly a million women were working in munitions and engineering.

Galbraith was praised by his staff for his foresight and untiring energy in organising the works. He was presented with the first eight inch shell made by female labour in the country upon his departure from the factory.

Location: Bootle L20 4JT
Image shows six and eight inch shells, courtesy of Ian Boumphrey