Photograph details

© Transport for London
Collection of London Transport Museum
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Women painters on the Underground during the First World War.

Photographed by British Official Photographs, 1915 - 1918

Image no: 19468

Inventory no: 1998/37266

20th Century London caption: During the First World War women had to take on much of the essential work left by the men who joined the forces. This included many manual jobs that they would not normally have been associated with. This picture would have been taken to publicise the important role of women in wartime. A group of women are painting the outside of an Underground station. They are wearing trousers with long over-jackets which were supposed to 'protect their modesty' whilst allowing them enough movement to do the job.

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