Motherhood
Perhaps one of the most altered roles of the time was that of mothers. Not only did these women have to overcome the social prejudices of the time in order to properly provide for their families, they had to adjust to the absence of their husbands or sons and uphold great strength in order to support their children. When their husbands departed for the war, mothers were suddenly burdened with the responsibility to provide for and nurture their children, whilst simultaneously educating and disciplining them. She was required to provide for her family and be the sturdy figure on which they leaned in times of hardship.
During World War I, many families were left fatherless – the children turning towards their mothers to fulfil the roles of carer and provider for the family. Such mothers were required to act as both the compassionate maternal figure and dominant male of the house – automatically assuming the role of authority. The lack of an older male presence was hard on many young men left behind because of their age, and therefore the mother was required to become such a figure for them. They strived to support their children in all their endeavours and allowed their sons to mature into grown men. The absence of the families’ figurehead became apparent immediately, and this void needed to be filled. Determined to do whatever they could to maintain the sanctity of their families, mothers stepped up to the challenge and suddenly became the breadwinners for their families. Although employing women was a relatively rare occurrence for businesses of the times, when the lack of suitable males for certain tasks became apparent, the employment rate of women rose considerably. This change was evident in many war-affected countries. In Britain, the employment rates of women had risen 24% by July 1914, 37% again by the July 1918, and another 28% by July 1920. (Spartacus Educational, http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWemploy.htm) Such figures were similar in Australia. Although some military compensation was provided for the families of soldiers, mothers had to work in order to sufficiently provide for their families. For those unfortunate many whose fathers were killed in action, the mother’s role of provider was ongoing.
Battle Cry of the Mothers
Angela Morgan
Bone of our bone, flesh of our flesh,
Fruit of our age-old mother pain,
They have caught your life in the nations’ mesh,
They have bargained you out of their paltry gain
And they build their hope on the shattered breast
Of the child we sang to rest.
On the shattered breast and the wounded cheek –
O, God! If the mothers could only speak! –
Blossom of centuries trampled down
For the moment’s red renown.
The absence of a husband was a hard obstacle to overcome, and many women were unable to cope with the pressures this challenge presented. Those who successfully managed their enforced circumstances often relied on the support of their children as much as their children relied on them. Family and friendship were key elements to successfully coping with the desperate and saddening times. Many bonds were formed between mothers during these trying times, as they congregated to grieve with and assist one another. Although mothers of the time were concerned about the education of their children, it often was not a priority. Many times children left school in their early teens to begin working in order to assist their mothers in providing for their families. One such child was Helen Burrey, who left school at the age of fourteen and joined her older sister working in a department store. They worked to support their widowed mother.
“Of she and her 8 brothers and sisters, only three survived into adulthood. I remember her telling us that while her mother was giving birth to her in an upstairs room, her sister Maisie was ‘laid out’ in the parlour below, having died at an early age.” (http://www.murphsplace.com/mother/main.html)
Their story is one of many. Unfortunately, there was little balance between education and the work force, as providing for the family took precedence over whatever education was offered to the children of the times.
Pulse of our pulse, breath of our breath,
Hope of the pang that brought to birth,
They have flung you forth to the fiends of death,
They have cast your flesh to the cruel earth,
Field upon field, tier upon tier
Till the darkness writhes in fear.
And they plan to marshal you more and more –
Oh, our minds are numb and our hearts are sore! –
They are killing the thing we cherish most,
They are driving you forth in a blinding host,
They are storming the world with your eager strength
But the judgment comes at length.
(A. Morgan, 1915)
Established in 1914 following the commencement of World War One, the Australian Red Cross provided for both the soldiers of the war and the women they left behind. Many such women sought consolation from the scores of volunteers who aimed to support the men in conflict. They offered up their time in order to give back to those who were sacrificing their lives to protect the country, and formed many bonds with women in similar situations. Mothers became friends with other mothers with whom they shared their tears, stories and love. This part of the mothers’ lives became equally as important as their time with their children, for the council they shared with fellow Red Cross volunteers helped them maintain their purpose and sanity.
Overall, motherhood was drastically changed by the First World War, with mothers of many ages and stages automatically assuming the roles of both maternal and paternal figures for the family that was left behind. They found consolation and distraction through their work and caring for their children and friends. The friendships and bonds that were formed during this time allowed the women to stay strong and hold fast to their beliefs in such a trying time of their lives.
By L. Jurss
During World War I, many families were left fatherless – the children turning towards their mothers to fulfil the roles of carer and provider for the family. Such mothers were required to act as both the compassionate maternal figure and dominant male of the house – automatically assuming the role of authority. The lack of an older male presence was hard on many young men left behind because of their age, and therefore the mother was required to become such a figure for them. They strived to support their children in all their endeavours and allowed their sons to mature into grown men. The absence of the families’ figurehead became apparent immediately, and this void needed to be filled. Determined to do whatever they could to maintain the sanctity of their families, mothers stepped up to the challenge and suddenly became the breadwinners for their families. Although employing women was a relatively rare occurrence for businesses of the times, when the lack of suitable males for certain tasks became apparent, the employment rate of women rose considerably. This change was evident in many war-affected countries. In Britain, the employment rates of women had risen 24% by July 1914, 37% again by the July 1918, and another 28% by July 1920. (Spartacus Educational, http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWemploy.htm) Such figures were similar in Australia. Although some military compensation was provided for the families of soldiers, mothers had to work in order to sufficiently provide for their families. For those unfortunate many whose fathers were killed in action, the mother’s role of provider was ongoing.
Battle Cry of the Mothers
Angela Morgan
Bone of our bone, flesh of our flesh,
Fruit of our age-old mother pain,
They have caught your life in the nations’ mesh,
They have bargained you out of their paltry gain
And they build their hope on the shattered breast
Of the child we sang to rest.
On the shattered breast and the wounded cheek –
O, God! If the mothers could only speak! –
Blossom of centuries trampled down
For the moment’s red renown.
The absence of a husband was a hard obstacle to overcome, and many women were unable to cope with the pressures this challenge presented. Those who successfully managed their enforced circumstances often relied on the support of their children as much as their children relied on them. Family and friendship were key elements to successfully coping with the desperate and saddening times. Many bonds were formed between mothers during these trying times, as they congregated to grieve with and assist one another. Although mothers of the time were concerned about the education of their children, it often was not a priority. Many times children left school in their early teens to begin working in order to assist their mothers in providing for their families. One such child was Helen Burrey, who left school at the age of fourteen and joined her older sister working in a department store. They worked to support their widowed mother.
“Of she and her 8 brothers and sisters, only three survived into adulthood. I remember her telling us that while her mother was giving birth to her in an upstairs room, her sister Maisie was ‘laid out’ in the parlour below, having died at an early age.” (http://www.murphsplace.com/mother/main.html)
Their story is one of many. Unfortunately, there was little balance between education and the work force, as providing for the family took precedence over whatever education was offered to the children of the times.
Pulse of our pulse, breath of our breath,
Hope of the pang that brought to birth,
They have flung you forth to the fiends of death,
They have cast your flesh to the cruel earth,
Field upon field, tier upon tier
Till the darkness writhes in fear.
And they plan to marshal you more and more –
Oh, our minds are numb and our hearts are sore! –
They are killing the thing we cherish most,
They are driving you forth in a blinding host,
They are storming the world with your eager strength
But the judgment comes at length.
(A. Morgan, 1915)
Established in 1914 following the commencement of World War One, the Australian Red Cross provided for both the soldiers of the war and the women they left behind. Many such women sought consolation from the scores of volunteers who aimed to support the men in conflict. They offered up their time in order to give back to those who were sacrificing their lives to protect the country, and formed many bonds with women in similar situations. Mothers became friends with other mothers with whom they shared their tears, stories and love. This part of the mothers’ lives became equally as important as their time with their children, for the council they shared with fellow Red Cross volunteers helped them maintain their purpose and sanity.
Overall, motherhood was drastically changed by the First World War, with mothers of many ages and stages automatically assuming the roles of both maternal and paternal figures for the family that was left behind. They found consolation and distraction through their work and caring for their children and friends. The friendships and bonds that were formed during this time allowed the women to stay strong and hold fast to their beliefs in such a trying time of their lives.
By L. Jurss