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© Transport for London
Collection of London Transport Museum
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First World War women workers clean a B-type motor bus at London General Omnibus Company's Willesden garage.

Unknown photographer, 1916 - 1918

Image no: Ukn

Inventory no: 1998/84038

20th Century London caption: London General Omnibus Company workers clean a B.-type bus. The four women wear caps and overalls to protect their clothes. During the First World War (1914-18) when the men joined the Armed Forces, women were gradually hired to fill their jobs, not only as conductors, clerks and station staff, but also as maintenance staff, successfully building and repairing buses, trains and trams. They had never worked in such numbers and in such varied roles before. Despite their massive contribution to the war effort and keeping London moving, when the war ended the male workers returned to their old jobs, and the women were dismissed.

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