VERY RARE BRITISH WWII FEMALE MUNITIONS WORKERS HEAD-DRESS. CANARY GIRLS.

We are very pleased to offer for sale an Authentic Original Rare British WWII Female Munition workers headdress munitionettes or Canary Girls. A nice original lightweight cotton cap in khaki with light green facing, elasticated rear. Heavily stamped to the interior 'O.F' broad arrow over 'RY', the cap is in very good condition for its age, during WWII Female Munition workers were also known by the nick name the canary girls. The nickname arose because exposure to TNT is toxic, and repeated exposure can turn the skin an orange-yellow colour reminiscent of the plumage of a canary.!!! It was not only the UK's female munitions workers that were affected by the TNT, but also their unborn babies. Hundreds of "Canary Babies" were born with a slightly yellow skin colour because of their mothers' exposure to dangerous chemicals in the munitions factories during World War One. Nothing could be done for the babies at the time, but the discolouration eventually faded away. A wonderful example of an authentic WWII Female Munition workers headdress. Please note the photos of the women working are for reference only and does not come with the sale of the headdress.
About the Canary Girls
The Canary Girls were British and Irish women who worked in munitions manufacturing trinitrotoluene (TNT) shells during the First and Second World War. The nickname arose because exposure to TNT is toxic, and repeated exposure can turn the skin an orange-yellow colour reminiscent of the plumage of a canary.!!! It was not only the UK's female munitions workers that were affected by the TNT, but also the unborn babies. Hundreds of “Canary Babies" were born with a slightly yellow skin colour because of their mothers' exposure to dangerous chemicals in the munitions factories during World War One. They were also known as “munitionettes," often faced severe health issues—including jaundice and breathing issues—and worked in hazardous conditions to fill millions of shells. Key Aspects of Canary Girls in WW2: The Yellow Stain: Handling TNT and other chemicals without protective equipment caused a yellow, sulfur-like staining on skin and hair, earning them the nickname. Health Hazards: Beyond skin discolouration, they suffered from toxic liver poisoning, respiratory issues, digestive disorders, and severe scarring from hot TNT. Some mothers gave birth to "yellow babies". Dangerous Work: The work was highly volatile, carrying risks of explosions, accidents, and severe injury. The Workforce: Nearly 950,000 British women were involved in munitions manufacturing, with many working 12-hour shifts to produce bombs, shells, and bombs. Size. No size inside and is hard to measure due to its design, it would have been suitable for most female heads at that time Condition: great condition