At the dawn of the twentieth century Liverpool had eight miles of docks
thronged with cargo ships loading or discharging cargoes. The city
prospered through its maritime trade, and this led to the Cunard Line
and other illustrious transatlantic passenger carriers making Liverpool
their home port. As the storm clouds of war gathered, few would perceive
the conflagration would change the political and social make-up of
Britain including the emancipation of women.
When Britain declared war on Germany in the summer of 1914, Liverpool's
geographical position demanded it be one of the chief home bases of
wartime operations. It was a challenge the city accepted with relish and
went on to become one of the most significant home front contributors to
the Allied victory.
Justifiably, the city cenotaph proudly declares 'out of the north parts
came a great company and a mighty army, ' but there is a forgotten army
of patriotic civilians whose endeavors played a key role in the Allied
victory. Despite an acute shortage of skilled labor, Liverpool led the
way in the construction of munition factories and developed the required
skills to 'feed the guns.' Initially men who were too old for military
service produced shells, a local factory became the first in the country
to introduce women shell makers, this initiative was replicated
throughout the nation. As the men made the transition from street to
trench, Liverpool and district developed into a vast arsenal employing
approximately 30,000 women and producing a million shells monthly.
Civilians were also actively involved in tending the wounded,
fund-raising for hospital equipment and ambulances and the provision of
home comforts for those at the front.
When the German submarine onslaught almost severed Britain's maritime
trade routes food rationing was introduced. Damaged ships limped into
Liverpool where their precious cargoes were salvaged and large swathes
of Liverpool were ploughed up as the nation 'dug for victory.'
The city was also a portal through which thousands of American troops
passed; they stayed briefly at Springfield Park Rest Camp before
entraining south. Liverpool opened the first hospital in the United
Kingdom for the treatment of American servicemen. Another first occurred
on Independence Day 1918, when the first post-revolution march past of
American troops took place on British soil.
This is the fascinating but largely forgotten story of how Liverpool
provided the sinews of war.
