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Florence Cordell was one of London鈥檚 first bus conductresses.

With men signing up to fight in their thousands women were called upon to fill many of the roles left unfilled.

Before the war, Florence had worked for a company making lampshades. When war broke out she tried to get a job on the London Underground but ended up training for work on the buses.

Women had to be aged between 21 and 35 to work on buses and they needed to be at least 5 feet tall. Before being allowed to train for any role they had to pass a medical and an IQ test.

Florence worked on a number of routes around the capital. Women conductors earned less than men and went on strike to demand equal pay.

The end of the war meant the return of men to the jobs they had left behind. Like thousands of other women, Florence lost her position on the buses.

Location: Willesden Bus Garage, London NW10
Image: Florence Cordell, courtesy of London Transport Museum