{"product_id":"learning-a-trade-1944-1949-paperback-1","title":"Learning A Trade 1944-1949 - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eGordon Jr. Smith\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\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\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 252\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.68 x 8.27 x 5.83 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e December 05, 2025\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47277570687225,"sku":"9781763836822","price":21.58,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0789\/2782\/3097\/files\/eGmDwji_Sj9781763836822_901d2a93-3c39-4028-bfa3-6d5618e644b1.webp?v=1768998481","url":"https:\/\/bookscloud.io\/products\/learning-a-trade-1944-1949-paperback-1","provider":"BooksCloud Book Dropshipping","version":"1.0","type":"link"}