Two members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service check lend-lease Vickers machine guns, Central Ordnance Depot, Weedon, Northamptonshire, 1942

Official photograph by Lt Puttnam, 23 March 1942.

Over 250,000 women served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) during World War Two. The women photographed here are examining unpacked machine guns sent from the United States as part of the Lend-Lease agreement. 7,000 .30 inch Calibre Colt-Vickers guns were shipped to Britain with many being used to equip Home Guard units.