The women rat-catchers of World War II

During World War II, rat catching was one of the traditionally male jobs that was taken over by women. At least in the UK. I like the part of this article that details the "grim satisfaction" the women got from smashing rats with shovels:

The anti-rat workers have had some peculiar first reactions on meeting their adversaries. One, seeing her first dead rat, exlaimed: "Oh, you poor darling."
Despite all their modern training and equipment, it's sometimes necessary to rely on primitive methods — like bashing out the enemy's brains with a spade. The girls get grim satisfaction from this hand-to-hand combat. They know they're doing every bit as much to help win the war as are their brothers and sweethearts who are hunting rats in uniform.

Source: Miami Daily News-Record (Miami, Oklahoma) - Nov 18, 1943

     Posted By: Alex - Sat Jun 14, 2014
     Category: Jobs and Occupations | 1940s





Comments
Too bad they didn't get a nice small WWII sub-machine gun like a Thompson or "grease gun". Rat-a-tat-tat.
Posted by BrokeDad in Midwest US on 06/14/14 at 04:12 PM
Overheard later that evening at the Larcombe dinner table.
Mr.L, What's for after's dear?
Mrs.L, Your choice dear, We've got Rat cake, Rat pudding, Rat pie, Rat sorbet or Strawberry tart!
:lol: :coolsmile:
Posted by Tyrusguy on 06/14/14 at 10:21 PM
I liked all the war jargon applied to the job.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 06/14/14 at 11:32 PM
I wonder if this was Terry Pratchett's inspiration for his Rat Catchers guild?
Posted by Billy on 06/16/14 at 10:52 AM
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