Worker of the Week is a series of blog posts which highlights the workers at H.M. Factory Gretna that our volunteers researched for The Miracle Workers Project. This project aimed to centralise all of the 30,000 people who worked at Gretna during World War One and, although it may be over, our amazing research volunteers are continuing to uncover more stories about H.M. Factory Gretna workers to be added to this database. We are always looking to learn more about H.M. Factory Gretna workers. If you know anything about a H.M. Factory Gretna worker please feel free to get in touch with us by contacting info@devilsporridge.org.uk A huge thank our research volunteers as always and a particular thanks to Marylin for researching this Week’s Worker of the Week!
This week’s Worker of the Week is Percy Toplis.
Please be aware there is some content in this blog which may not be suitable for young readers.
Early Life
- On 22nd August 1896 in Chesterfield, Derbyshire Francis was born to Herbert and Rejoice Elizabeth nee Walker. He was their eldest child.
- In 1901 census, the family are living in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.
First Job and First Imprisonment
- In the 1911 census, Percy is living in Westhouse, Nottinghamshire and his job is a pony driver underground in a coal mine. Farther, Herbert is a coal miner hewer.
- Prior to the war, according to Wikipedia, Francis was imprisoned for attempted rape. [1] [2]
World War One
- In 1915 he served with the Royal Army Medical Corps in the Balkans. [1] [2]
- In 1917, he was allegedly involved in and possibly amongst the leaders of the Estaples Muntiny in France, according to claims of the authors of the 1978 book ‘ The Monocled Muntineer.’
- This book was adapted into a BBC television production of the same name in 1987. [5]
- However, this accuracy of both the book and the on screen adaptation may be debatable. It seems to have been the source of much discussion in the past. [2] [1]
- It seems as though the conclusive evidence of what may have happened during the Estaples Muntiny in France from the National Archive may have already been destroyed. [4]
H.M. Factory Gretna
- In 1917 he seems to have worked at H.M. Factory Gretna very briefly, but we don’t know what he did at the factory.[3]
- According to The Penrith Observer newspaper was convicted of theft and fraud in Annan when he worked at H.M. Factory Gretna. [3]
Theft and Fraud
- This does not seem to be Percy’s only conviction. There seem to be many convictions for theft and fraud.[1] [2] [3]
- However, only one seems to be from when he worked at H.M. Factory Gretna. [3]
“TOPLIS AT CARLISLE. In the police description of Toplis a long list of convictions for fraud and theft was given the last case being at Annan, in 1917, when Toplis was believed to have been working at the Gretna munitions factory.”
– The Penrith Observer newspaper, Tuesday 8th June 1920.[3]
(Although, referred to in the article as the “Gretna munitions factory” it is important to note that the nine-mile rural site of H.M. Factory Gretna stretched from Longtown in England to Dornock in Scotland. Eastriggs and Gretna were both vital the factory; built to house the factory workers and accommodate their needs. The administration buildings were located in Gretna too.)
- After this it seems that Percy was posted overseas with the military. [1] [2]
- However, it seems that he was back in the UK by the time of his father’s death in August 1918 and Percy deserted the military. [1] [2]
- In November 1918, he was imprisoned again for fraud. [1] [2]
- Percy was released in 1920. [1] [2]
- Then, he seems to join the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) and would later dessert again. [1] [2]
Murder?
- On the Saturday 24th April 1920, taxi driver Sidney George Spicer, was shot dead and Francis was the last person seen in his car. [2]
- As a result, Francis was wanted for murder. The case was well covered in the press and a manhunt was commenced to find him. [2]
- On 6th June 1920, Francis was shot by police at Plumpton, near Penrith. [2]
Sources and Further Reading
If you would like to find out more about Percy Francis Toplis we would strongly suggest the following information sources and websites. Please be aware many of these are not in The Devil’s Porridge Museum’s archive or collection.
[1] Percy Toplis Wikipedia page – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percy_Toplis
[3] Toplis at Carlisle, The Penrith Observer newspaper, Tuesday 8th June 1920.
Photo source: By Unknown. Photograph Nottingham Evening Post, taken on occasion of wartime revisit to Blackwell, fraudulently dressed as a British Army Captain. The newspaper later released this photograph to police for his ‘Wanted’ notice in 1920. – Nottingham Evening Post, PD-US, Link
Read Francis Percy Toplis’ online database entry here>
Do you have a relative who worked at H.M. Factory Gretna? We would love to hear from you! Please feel free to contact us by emailing info@devilsporridge.org.uk. You never know maybe your relative feature in a future Worker of the Week blog post! You can also have a look at some more H.M. Factory Gretna workers on our online database here>
