Optical Munitions

From Woman’s Weekly, 2nd March 1918.

The Eyes Of The Army

How to Become an Optical Munitions Maker.

JESSICA'S mother had come to consult me; she is an old friend, and pretty, shy Jessica is my god-daughter. 

“She's seventeen next week, and leaving school this spring,” said the anxious mother; “and I can't think what to get her to do.  You see, she had set her heart upon fancy millinery or art needlework, but, as her father says, it is those luxury trades that are bound to be hard hit by the war as time goes on.  And the girl herself would like to help in war-work if she could; but she’s not strong enough for rough work, you know.  And it would be a pity to spoil her hands for millinery and needlework later, if one can avoid it, that is,” she added, for she is a good, patriotic soul, is Mrs. Browne, “Her eyesight is good?”  I inquired.

“Splendid!” said Jessica, who had slipped unnoticed into the room.

She came up and kissed me, and I looked fondly at her; I am very fond of Jessica.

She is not exactly pretty, but she has two “points”—beautiful hands, with long, sensitive fingers, and blue-grey eyes with long, dark lashes that are as clear as truth itself.

“So you would like to help, lassie, would you?” I said softly.

I knew that there was a budding romance already in Jessica's life, and “he” " was out in France with a machine gun corps. 

The girl nodded.

“Well, then, why not help to make Robin ‘eyes’ for spotting the enemy?”  Then, seeing both mother and daughter were puzzled, I explained, “Go in for making those wonderful lenses and prisms that are used for the range-finders, the directors, the periscopes, and the binoculars, you know.  They have to be most accurately ground and polished, or the submarines and the gunners and the air-men are ‘blind,’ and their weapons useless.  And it is work that girls and women can do well, with their delicate, sensitive fingers and their keen, patient eyes.  Just where your talents lie, lassie,” I said.  “Even after the war there will be plenty of work in this way for telescopes, microscopes, photographic lenses, and all the other optical instruments we use.  It isn't a ‘blind alley’ occupation, as some war jobs are bound to be, you see.”

HOW A GIRL CAN TRAIN. 
“BUT the fees for training?  Are they very heavy?” said Mrs. Browne anxiously.  “You see there are the boys still ——”

“There aren't any fees,” I reassured her.  “Jessica would be trained for nothing and given a good maintenance allowance into the bargain while learning.  Ten to twenty weeks should see her skilled enough for a position which will be found for her quickly enough.  In return, she must promise to work where she is sent, and stick to optical munitions until three months after peace is signed.  And though she may be sent to any part of the United Kingdom, her wishes for a special district will be given consideration.”

THE PROSPECTS OFFERED. 
“WHAT about my age?”  asked Jessica.

“Just right; sixteen to thirty is the limit.  Over thirty is possible if the case is considered suitable.  And the wages are good, for some clever girls on piece work, at the end of six months in the factory, have earned 35s. to 40s. weekly.

“Better than millinery or art needle-work, that?”  Jessica nodded.

“There is no physical strain; the work is usually done standing, but it is not heavy, and the day is not longer than nine and a half hours.  Why not write to the Director, Optical Munitions Training School, Northampton Polytechnic Institute, 280, St. John's Street, London, E.C. 1?  And at once, for there is no time to be lost.”

“She's young enough still,” objected Mrs. Browne, rather astonished.

“I meant the hurry for the other side of the question,” I said gravely.  “The boys in the trenches, the men afloat, the lads in the air, and the doctors on research work—they are the ones who cannot afford time to be lost for want of our Jessica.  Every new, keen worker means so much to them, you know.”

“And to us,” said Jessica very softly.

I smiled.

“I see you can fulfil the ‘willing’ bit,” I said.  “A girl candidate must be willing to:

“Stand while working; “Stick to the job; “Go, when trained, where she is needed;“Wait for a vacancy, if a special locality is desired.”

“Yes, I am willing,” said Jessica, and she meant it.

She had seen how she could help, not only “him,” but “them!”