When Women were drafted in as Ticket Collectors at Paddington Station and Railway Porters at Marylebone Station in 1915

The following article appeared in ‘The Illustrated War News’ on 14th April 1915:

‘Since the Government instituted the ‘Register of Women for War Service’, with a view to filling up gaps in the ranks of labour for making war material, and also for releasing men of military age for the Army, large numbers of women have registered as willing to undertake work of various kinds, and some have already entered on their new duties.
1915 2

The left-hand photograph, (above), for instance, shows one of four girls appointed as ticket collectors at Paddington. It was arranged that they should eventually wear a uniform.

The right-hand photograph, (below), shows two of the first batch of women to be employed as railway porters – though many were already engaged as carriage cleaners. The photograph was taken at Marylebone; at Glasgow some women are acting as tram conductors.’
1915

The War created new career opportunities for women and a number of ladies also volunteered to run a buffet at Paddington Station to cater for the large number of servicemen that passed through.

Steve Russell

One thought on “When Women were drafted in as Ticket Collectors at Paddington Station and Railway Porters at Marylebone Station in 1915

  1. Great pictures Steve.
    Of course the War changed the attitude to women and many ended up in metal working/munitions jobs and other previously male dominated jobs with the shortage of male employees.

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