{"product_id":"learning-a-trade-1944-1949-gordon-jr-smith-9781763836822","title":"Learning A Trade 1944-1949","description":"\u003cp\u003eMy apprenticeship as a fitter and turner at the Newport Workshops from 1944 to 1949 were no ordinary years. World War II was in a critical stage, and the workshops were manufacturing a huge range of armaments, as well as keeping the VR railways running. This book is not only about my apprenticeship, but is a history of how Victorians coped with life, particularly during the war years of 1944 to 1945.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen the war ended in 1945, a campaign by the unions for a 40-hour workweek began almost immediately. This resulted in many strikes, during which the railway system was shut down. As an apprentice, I was not on strike, but like many other Victorians, I could not get to work. Because of this, I had to make up for the 38 days lost during my apprenticeship, extending it to 1949, when I finally completed my five years and became a tradesman fitter and turner. The 40-hour work week was eventually won in 1947. The war and strikes interrupted my apprenticeship, but through them I gained valuable lessons in politics, human relations and newspaper reporting.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDuring my apprenticeship, my weekends, holidays and annual leaves were very exciting times for me, hiking, and skiing with the Rover Scouts and Youth Hostels Association, which I felt were a very important adjunct to my apprenticeship, because I learned a number of extra skills, learning to ski and carpentry skills making a pair of skis.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Gordon Jr. Smith\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1763836827\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781763836822\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Tale Publishing\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 12\/05\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 252\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.90lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.27h x 5.83w x 0.68d","brand":"Gordon Jr. Smith","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48089501499647,"sku":"9781763836822","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_a63952ab-8ccd-46a9-a965-516538fd07dc.jpg?v=1769110660","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/learning-a-trade-1944-1949-gordon-jr-smith-9781763836822","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}