600,000 women took on roles in mills , laboratories and factories to help First World War effort on Home Front . 1,000 of these were working at Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti in Oldham , Greater Manchester , by end of war in 1915 . His firm had previously made meters and transformers , but switched production to fuses and 18-pounder shells .
600,000 women took on roles in mills , laboratories and factories to help First World War effort on Home Front . 1,000 of these were working at Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti in Oldham , Greater Manchester , by end of war in 1918 . His firm had previously made meters and transformers , but switched production to fuses and 18-pounder shells .