1918 FUZE Girls, Women Workers, Woolwich Royal Arsenal WW1, danger building factories, ROF 1.

This high quality video takes us back to 1918, during World War I, at the Woolwich Royal Arsenal in London (ROF - Royal Ordnance Factory Number 1). The Woolwich Arsenal was a major factory for the manufacture of munitions during the war, and the video shows us a glimpse of the dedicated women who worked there.

As the song "Keep The Home Fires Burning" by Laura Wright plays, we see a somber-looking woman worker, perhaps thinking about her loved ones fighting in the war. Then, the video takes us to a view inside the factory where we see women working to manufacture fuses.

The rare video shows the different stages of fuse production, from punching discs for primers to ganging primers for 18-pounders, boring and screwing high explosive fuse bodies, and cleaning operations with emery band. The women are shown working with precision and dedication as they assemble a time fuse. The work is labour-intensive and requires a high level of skill and attention to detail.

During World War I, many women took on jobs traditionally held by men, as the men were off fighting in the war. At the Woolwich Arsenal, women played a vital role in producing the munitions that were crucial to the war effort. The video highlights the importance of the work done by these women in producing the fuses that were vital to the war effort, and provides a glimpse into the lives of women during wartime.

Halfway through the video, the music changes to "It's a Long Way to Tipperary" and "Pack up Your Troubles (March Medley)" to give the video some life. These songs were popular during the war and would have been familiar to the workers at the Woolwich Arsenal.

This video is a tribute to the sacrifices made by the women and the men who fought in the war, and to the important role that women played in the war effort. It shows us a fascinating glimpse into the past and reminds us of the bravery and dedication of those who fought and worked to protect their country.

for more videos like this.

For family research, rare footage, rare photos and documents can be found here:

[christopherjohnbowkett]

`I always love to see this video as my grandmother is there making ganging primers for 18 pounders, as (we think) a supervisor, doing her bit.