Female munition worker preparing shells in a factory, 1916 (c)

Photograph, World War One, 1916 (c).

During World War One women volunteered for essential work in order to release men for service in the armed forces. Between 1914-1918, around two million women volunteers replaced men in employment. Many female munition workers suffered from the chemicals they worked with, which turned their skin yellow, prompting the nickname 'canaries'.

Photograph from an album of 76 official photographs, 1916-1917.