Lady gasmen

Women at War: 'Lady Gasmen'

The importance of the gas industry

The gas industry played a vital role on the home front during both the first and second world wars. Gas and coke were two essential fuels for industry and the chemical by-products of tar, ammonia, benzole and sulphur provided raw material for the manufacture of motor fuel, explosives and drugs. Some of the larger works started to produce phenol and pharmaceuticals, and some gas company workshops produced shell﷓cases.

Traditionally, employees on the gasworks were men used to hard labour and they had a reserved occupation in times of national emergency. However, many of them volunteered for the services and this left a big gap in the workforce.

Copyright 2002, Barry Wilkinson, Editor, Historic Gas Times

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