Keighley'S first Great War women munitions workers were photographed whilst being trained at the Keighley National Shell Factory in Dalton Lane in 1915. Once this was fully operational, a workforce substantially of women and girls was to make a total of 714,000 high-explosive shells by the time of the Armistice - "more", in the words of Harry Smith, chairman of a Keighley and District War Munitions Committee, "than would have won the battle of Waterloo."

The Great War introduced many women to jobs which had previously been considered male preserves.

In 1915 Keighley Post Office took on a postwoman and two girl telegraph messengers, being able to report "satisfactory results."

Keighley Corporation Tramways employed conductresses, although when they began training women drivers the men threatened strike action!

In the event, the Tramways Manager felt that women were "not fitted temperamentally or physically for driving", poignantly adding that "only men with both hands, both legs and both feet should be entrusted with the driving of trams as at present designed."