Victory in World War II required an enormous amount of war materials including huge numbers of ships, tanks, aircraft, weapons and ammunition. Old factories were turned into war plants, iron railings in towns and parks were melted down for raw materials and factories which once made cars began to produce tanks and aircraft.
Women joined the labour force during World War II after the men left for combat. They worked in shipyards, aircraft factories, weapons and munitions factories and filled many jobs previously held only by men. Women also served as drivers, nurses, firewatchers, air raid wardens and in the voluntary services helping people who had lost homes and belongings in the air raids.
This reproduction George VI sixpence is attached to a card with an image of a government poster encouraging women to work for the war effort on the front and historical information on the reverse.