What Women Really Looked Like in WW2

It was rather of a relief when I found these photos to realise that 1940s women didn’t all look as impossibly movie-star-ish as we tend to think. Far from the easy ‘glamour on a shoe-string‘ that we read about so often, these photos show the hard-working ordinary women of wartime Britain during their daily lives. And don’t they look refreshingly normal?

Above: A draughtswoman at work on a drawing of a 25-pounder gun, 1942.

What Women Really Looked Like in WW2

Miss M Greatorex, a war worker involved in the manufacture of 17-pounder anti-tank guns, 1943.

What Women Really Looked Like in WW2

Mrs C Graham, a war worker involved in the manufacture of 17-pdr anti-tank guns, 1943.

What Women Really Looked Like in WW2

Woman war worker milling breech blocks for Sten Guns in Britain, 1943.

What Women Really Looked Like in WW2

The Auxiliary Territorial Service in Britain during the Second World War A voluntary domestic science course for service women based in the London area, organised by the London District of the Army Education Scheme, with the co-operation of the London County Council, at Avondale Park School, Notting Hill Gate, London. In this picture Private Margaret Jones learns the correct way to distemper a room.

What Women Really Looked Like in WW2

Head and shoulders portrait of Mrs Chaulkey, a war worker in Britain, 1943.

What Women Really Looked Like in WW2

The Auxiliary Territorial Service in Britain during the Second World War
A voluntary domestic science course for service women based in the London area, organised by the London District of the Army Education Scheme, with the co-operation of the London County Council, at Avondale Park School, Notting Hill Gate, London. In this picture Corporal Jean Russel using a mangle during the course.

Image source and copyright: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, This artistic work created by the United Kingdom Government is in the public domain.