THE CROWN: WOMEN IN THE WORKFORCE

When WW1 appeared, many women began to join the War Effort. They became cooks, stretcher bearers, motor-car drivers, interpreters and munitions workers. Some women even ran and attended Red Cross Aid and Bandaging classes. These same women, also enlisted to work in the nurse department, helping wounded soldiers where the war was going on. The Red Cross Nurses were then known as the Blue Birds, because of the vital service that they provided.
Several of these wonder women received the Military Medal for Bravery under Fire, but many did die of disease. Many volunteered to provide comfort, teachers and fundraising for injured troops, at home, and on the war front.
The amount of women in the workforce also rose from 24% in 1914, to 37% in 1918. They  were working in clothing, footwear, food and printing sectors, but they then began to contribute to cleric, shop assistant and teaching areas . In total, 2139 women served with the Australian Army Nursing Service, and 130 worked alongside the Queen Alexandra imperial Military NUrsing Service. 423 nurses served within Australia, and 23 of these women died in service.
Unions were also originally opposed to rising numbers of women in the workforce, because they were afraid that this would lower wages. 

'They came in an endless stream, some walking

holding arms, hands covered with blood, some on stretchers

with broken legs, some shivering & collapsed through loss

of blood & some faces streaming with blood...'
Some even set up canteens in Egypt, providing facilities for soldiers on leave.



Cartoon from 'The Worker' 10 February 1916. The cartoon depicts a situation in which a returned soldier is being rejected for employment because the business is able to pay lower wages for females.
The government proceeded to discourage women participating in these further jobs, but they were Wonder Women, and they could do anything.