midday
There was the same marvellous order and cleanliness and perfect discipline , wherever one turned . On leaving the works the men all marched in step , as if on parade . Inside , they saluted their ` officers , ' but the salute was of a special kind -- the hand was raised to the shoulder only , so as to avoid a sweeping motion which might have brought it in contact with some object . One of the triumphs of organisation , to which Lickrod called my attention , was the arrangement whereby the workmen reached their work at the proper time , got their midday meal , and reached home in the evening without any congestion . Each separate workshop had its appointed time for beginning work ; some began as early as 6 , others at 6.15 , the last to begin were a few that had a comparatively short day , starting at 7.30 . The midday meal began at 11.30 , and was taken by relays until about 1.30 . All the women employed in the canteens were the wives and daughters of workmen , who spent the rest of their time in household work at home .