During WWI, munitions factories were critical to the war effort, producing the weapons needed on the frontline. The Munitions of War Act was passed in July 1915 in response to the Shell Crisis of 1915, which saw a shortage of ammunition shells on the frontline. The Act was designed to increase munitions production to meet the demands of the British armed forces and led to the creation of the Ministry of Munitions.
One of the new initiatives that was introduced to boost production was to hire women to work in the munitions factories across the country, especially as men were needed to join the army. It is estimated that around one million women joined the munitions workforce, becoming known as ‘munitionettes.’