THE meeting was held on Wednesday June 4 at Plymouth Court, Headless Cross.

This was a very busy day in history. For example, in 1647 the Roundheads captured King Charles I; 1940, Dunkirk ended; 1944, Rome was liberated as 7,000 ships began loading for the D-Day invasion.

The month’s talk was instigated by Craig Polly and covered the ‘Total Conscription of Women in WW2’.

Historically, men and women were conscripted into the armed forces or reserved occupations but when Ernest Bevin became Minister of Labour and National Service in June 1940, he immediately made plans to totally conscript all of the nation’s womanhood into the war effort.

He included women from all walks of life by creating two new groups categorised as ‘mobile women’ and ‘immobile women’.

He would ensure that every woman in the land was involved in either full or part time war work. On top of that, he expected both sexes to participate in a part time, volunteer activity.

By the end of 1940, the greatest concerns of the over 100,000 women trades unionists were long shifts with poor hygiene and work facilities, unequal pay and injury compensation, unsafe working due to building standards and air raids and lack of time for shopping and housework.

All this against the background of shortages, rationing and air raids.

We should be very proud of what our womenfolk achieved in WW2, for without their efforts, Britain would have been in serious trouble.

Next meeting is Wednesday, July 2 and the topic is Up & Away – Ejector Seat History.

Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Normal £3 door charge applies. Contact Ron Gallivan on 01527 545450 or e-mail ronnieg33b@hotmail.

co.uk for full details.