Description
Object description
British schoolchild in London, GB, 1914-1916; munitions worker at Woolwich Arsenal in London, GB, 1916; joiner with Palmers Travelling Cradle and Scaffold Company and Peacock Joinery Ltd in London, GB, 1916-1919
Content description
REEL 1 Background in London, GB, 1902-1914: family; education; ambition to become joiner; age on leaving school. Aspects of period as schoolchild in London, GB, 1914-1916: outbreak of First World War, 4/8/1914; brothers' enlistment in armed services; public attitude towards Germans; lack of war news; food queues; leaving school, 1916. Aspects of period as munitions worker at Woolwich Arsenal, London, GB, 1916: obtaining employment; redirection to Woolwich Arsenal; work packing small arms ammunition; rate of pay; shifts; reasons for leaving through ill health; night work pay; travel to work.
REEL 2 Continues: spending pocket money; theatres and cinema newsreels; rest days and bank holidays; meal breaks; canteen facilities and method of heating food; knowledge of Suffragettes; tea provision; fellow workers and dispute with another worker; sight of Imperial German Army Air Service Airship Schütte-Lanz SL-11 shot down over Cuffley, 3/9/1916 and effect on munitions workers; evacuation of shop during raid.
REEL 3 Continues: minor explosions at Woolwich Arsenal; accidents; first aid provision; redirection to Palmers Travelling Cradle and Scaffold Company, 1916; German air raids; lack of facilities at Woolwich Arsenal; lack of trade unions and acceptance of working conditions; introduction of health certificates; later treatment of Spanish Influenza epidemic; obtaining health certificate to leave Woolwich Arsenal 1916; wartime employment of women.
REEL 4 Continues: Recollections of period as joiner with Palmers Travelling Cradle and Scaffold Company and Peacock Joinery Ltd in London, GB, 1916-1919: articles produced by Palmers Travelling Cradle and Scaffold Company; women's role and attitude to working with them; separate departments and composition of workforce; learning trade; hours; breaks; shop boy's duties; swearing and nicknames; buying tools; application to leave job 1918; aircraft construction work in Peacock Joinery Ltd joiners' shop; wartime pay rates for engineers and woodworkers; engineers' war bonuses; woodworkers' pay; pay tins.
REEL 5 Continues: feelings at end of First World War, 11/11/1918; Armistice Day celebrations in Trafalgar Square, 11/11/1918; employment uncertainties and losing job at Peacock Joinery Ltd, 1919; subsequent career as joiner and enjoyment of varied nature of work.