In 1914, over 100,000 Scottish workers relied on the Clyde’s shipyards for their weekly wage, and built over 25% of the world’s ships. But due to falling demand and foreign competition, the shipbuilding industry was in decline. However, the outbreak of World War One created an urgent need for munitions and warships, reversing this decline. Clydeside experienced a bonanza! The shipyards won orders worth over £16 million and built major warships that helped defend Britain from the Germans. With this increase in production came huge technological advances. New machinery and assembly-lines meant that ships could be built more efficiently than ever before. And it brought other changes too: with men leaving to fight, 30,000 women were employed to take their place. Between 1914 and 1918, a total of 481 warships were built on the Clyde. However, the boom was only temporary. After the war, orders plummeted and many jobs were replaced by automation. During the 1920s, employment in Scottish shipbuilding fell by 90%.
Description
Scotland’s shipyards were crucial to the British war effort during WW1. The war effort required hundreds of new ships, and most were built on the Clyde.
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