How did women survive financially when their husbands were away in the world wars?

ADuring both wars, the

British government established a system of universal allowances to support the dependants of fighting men. The alleviation of concerns for loved ones back home boosted recruitment efforts and maintained morale.

But despite widespread agitation for a more generous provision, the allowances were minimal. In both wars, they only maintained women at a near-subsistence level. And these allowances were not a right. In the First World War they could be withdrawn from wives for “immoral” conduct such as drunkenness, child neglect or infidelity.

Evidence of the effectiveness of this system is mixed. Some working-class women benefited from a regular, weekly income, whereas others complained of great hardship.

Many were obliged to turn to paid work to augment household incomes. In the Second World War, demand for workers in munitions and essential industries accelerated this trend, supported by the greater availability of part-time jobs, nurseries and canteens.

The mobilisation of women’s labour in 1941 transformed the makeup of the workforce. By 1943, 43 per cent of the estimated 7,750,000 working women were married – up from 16 per cent in 1931.

But not all women were compelled to work – a third had children under 14, and would therefore have been exempt from conscription.

Female welders in 1943. War work was one way for women to support themselves financially while their husbands were away fighting