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Illustration of Bristol Scout plane.

WW1 Plane Postcards

By Collections blog

These postcards are currently being kept in the Museum’s store. They are information postcards about planes from World War One. We have many more of the postcards which we will make posts about in the coming weeks. This is the Bristol scout which was produced from 1914-1916 with 374 being made in that time.

 

 

Bristol Scout

The Bristol Scout, powered by an 80hp Gnome engine, first flew on 23d February 1914. After modifications to the undercarriage, wings and rudder, Scouts were sent to the Western Front for operational testing in September 1914 and orders were soon place by RFC (Royal Flying Corps) and RNAS (Royal Naval Air Service). Those for the RFC were delivered in March 1915 either singly or in pairs to reconnaissance squadrons where their duty was to protect the unarmed two-seaters. Armament varied at first from a fixed Lee-Enfield or carbine, a Mauser pistol, rifle grenades to an obliquely aligned Lewis gun. Then a Lewis gun was fixed mounted on the entire centre section firing forward over the propeller and, eventually, the Scout appeared with a Vickers gun installed using interrupter gear, enabling the machine gun to be fired through the propeller. Bristol Scouts also served with the RFC in Palestine, Macedonia and Mesopotamia. They were flown by the RNAS in the Dardenelles campaign and from coastal stations at home.

Gretna Township Education Authority certificate.

Gretna School Certificates

By Collections blog

While looking through our items in the Museum store we stumbled upon some old certificates from the Gretna Township Primary School from the 1920’s just after the First World War.

We also have some photos of the old school and even a photo of one of the registers from the school with some of the pupils names on it from 1917!

 

 

The certificates are all from the same person and were given to them each year. We only have three of them from 1920, 1921 and 1924.

 

 

We also have some from Annan Academy with the same name on them but we will share these at a later date.

Below you can see some of the old images of Gretna Township School which we have in our archives.

 

This is an old photo of the Gretna Township school

 

 

This is the old register for the class at Gretna Township school from 1917.

 

Watch our social media accounts to see more old photos and documents from the local area in Dumfries and Galloway!

Map shows location of British Honduras in red.

British Hondurans in D&G during World War Two

By Collections blog

Judith Hewitt, the Museum Manager writes…

A little while ago, the Museum was contacted by a gentleman researching British Hondurans and their role in World War Two.  Specifically, he wanted to know if we knew anything about people coming to Kirkpatrick Fleming (a village which is less than five miles from the Museum).  None of the current staff knew anything about this and we sent out the inquiry to interested (and knowledgeable) volunteers and Trustees (many of whom have lived in and researched the history of the area for decades).  What we discovered was really interesting and we thought would share it here.

 

Andrew Dill, who volunteers with us every Tuesday in the office (with the help of Key Support in Annan) takes up the story and shares what he found out…

gravestones for british hondurans at kirkpatrick fleming

Three gravestones in Kirkpatrick Fleming cemetery are for British Hondurans.

British Hondurans in Kirkpatrick Fleming, Dumfries and Galloway

In September 1941, about 100 Hondurans arrived in Kirkpatrick Fleming from Central America. The people who came over helped manage Scotland’s forests as there was a big demand for timber in the War. Out of nearly 2000 men applied, only 541 were recruited and placed at East Linton, Duns and Kirkpatrick Fleming.

Did you know for a 48-hour week they got paid £3!

The Hondurans were housed in huts down from the church.  The huts weren’t finished and in a poor condition, there were problems with heating, electricity and inadequate clothing supply.

Museum volunteer Andrew points towards the field where the huts were located in World War Two.

After a few weeks the weather worsened. The Hondurans started to catch colds and flu, they had a lack of experience and knowledge of illnesses. They began to fear the worst and they may have thought they’d been brought to Scotland to die.

 

Visit to Kirkpatrick Fleming

On the 10th March, I visited Kirkpatrick Fleming to help with this research about British Hondurans.  I got to visit the cemetery where the four forestry workers are buried and found some very interesting and useful information.

There are 4 graves for British Honduran forestry workers are located in Kirkpatrick Fleming churchyard. Kirkpatrick house is in the background.

The 4 workers were called: R Law, C.A Trapp, O Lemon and V Baker.

The workers stayed at Mossknowe in the huts. However, when we visited Kirkpatrick Fleming, there was no sign of any huts remaining. We got to see the land where the huts would have been built on.

I would like to say thank-you to Eleanor (one of the Museum’s Trustees) for taking us to Kirkpatrick Fleming and for sharing her knowledge with us.

Andrew in the cemetery at Kirkpatrick Fleming with the three gravestones of the British Hondurans.

Sam Martinez’s experiences

Sam was a woodcutter from the forests of British Honduran- now known as Belize (he wasn’t based in Kirkpatrick Fleming but his experiences were probably quite similar).

He always worked hard and was used to hard labour. He was sent to many different places to continue the forestry work.  He went to Ullapool, Golspie,  Duns, Tranent and Kinlochewe. He retired at the age of 94 and lived in Edinburgh until he died at the age of 106.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-47049573

Other useful links to websites regarding British Hondurans:

https://canmore.org.uk/site/273036/mossknowe-estate-honduras-camp-german-working-camp-no-612

https://forestryandland.gov.scot/learn/heritage/world-war-two/british-honduran-forestry-unit

A book has been published on this subject:

hondurans at kirpatrick fleming

If you are interested in World War Two in Dumfries and Galloway, the following book (researched by the Museum team and available from our online shop) may be of interest to you:

The Solway Military Coast book

 

 

Some of the museum's team with Easter hats on.

Easter on the Ration

By Archive

Everyone is familiar with the Easter tradition of chocolate eggs but what happens when chocolate and other sweet treats are rationed?

 

During World War Two, in an attempt to reduce the strain placed upon the merchant fleet and other vessels supplying Britain with food from around the world, rationing was introduced effecting all aspects of life in Britain. Cloths were rationed as was petrol, wood and other raw materials and fuel required for the war effort were also short in supply and subject to rationing, all of which came into force January 8th, 1940 just a few months after the outbreak of war.

 

However, food is probably the first thing people think of when rationing is mentioned, and all sorts of both essential and non-essential items were added to the ration list. Some food items were not rationed such as potatoes and carrots. Other fruit and vegetables that could be grown in Britain were also not subject to rationing although they did become scarce and harder to find in the shops.

 

But what about sweets and chocolate eggs for Easter? The rationing of sweets and chocolate began in July 1942. Even before chocolate rationing came into force Cadbury’s had ceased production of their ‘Dairy Milk’ as the government had banned the use of fresh milk in manufacturing in 1941, instead they produced ‘Ration Chocolate’ which was a poor substitute and definitely did not come in the form of an Easter egg! Shops sold carrot lollies and other vegetables on a stick as a replacement Easter treat.

 

The stringent rules of rationing began to be loosened in 1948 but it was not until 1953 that the rationing of sweets and chocolate was finally over. As well as sweets and chocolate: eggs, cream, butter, cheese, margarine and cooking fats were all taken off the rationed list almost a decade after the end of World War Two.

 

To celebrate the end of rationing one sweet shop in Clapham common gave 800 children 150lbs of lollipops during their midday break from school; and another London factory opened its doors to hand out free sweets to all comers. It was not just school children that delighted in the end of the restrictions, many adults queued on their lunch breaks to be able to get boiled sweets and boxes of chocolates to take home.

Romany Society Certificate

Romany Society Certificate

By Archive

Judith Hewitt, the Museum Manager, was given an award by the Romany Society to thank her for organising a talk on Romany on the BBC (G Branwell Evans) at the Museum in 2019. The talk was by David Barnaby who has written about Romany quite widely and donated his archive of Romany research to the Museum. Before finding fame as ‘Romany of the BBC’, G Branwell Evans was a Methodist Minister in Carlisle. He had strong views on the State Management of alcohol scheme (which he published about) and also set up a mission for the workers at HM Factory Gretna with his wife Eunice. They were amongst the people who met the King and Queen during their state visit to the Factory in 1917. Thanks to the Romany Society for recognising the Museum’s work in celebrating anyone connected with HM Factory Gretna in World War One.

 

We have a book about him available from our online shop: https://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/product/reading-romany

Old Parish Church at Gretna Green.

Old Postcards of Gretna

By Collections blog

Recently the Museum was donated a large amount of postcards. Some had old photos of Carlisle and the surrounding area on them which we have already posted on our website, some had funny cartoons on them which we will post soon. These postcards have old photographs of Gretna on them and show images of the Blacksmiths shop, Gretna Hall and the old Parish Church and War Memorial. There is also an image of the Blacksmiths shop which is shown above at the top of the article.

This image shows a photo of Gretna Hall in Gretna

The image below shows the old blacksmiths shop in Gretna

 

 

The final image shows the Parish Church in Gretna with the War Memorial and Prince Charlie’s Cottage

 

 

You can see all of the old photos of Carlisle here: https://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/old-postcards-photos-of-carlisle

Group of Gretna Girls.

Munition Workers Poems Part 2

By Archive

This is another of the poems from the book which we have in the Museum’s shop. We are posting poems from this book written by women for Women’s History Month this month. This one was written by Elizabeth Easthaugh about the munitions factory in Gretna and is called “Farewell, Cordite!”.

 

You can see the poem below:

 

If you would like to purchase the full book you can see it here:

Munition Workers’ Poems

Castle Gateway in Carlisle on a postcard.

Old Postcards Photos of Carlisle

By Collections blog

Recently the Museum was donated lots of postcards. Some of the postcards have photos of Carlisle and the surrounding area, some have photos of Gretna (will be posted at a later date) and some have cartoons and birthday wishes etc.

 

 

Many of the postcards which we have showing Carlisle during the First World War with one even showing the Carlisle Women Munition Workers Football Team (shown below).

 

 

The two images below show the interior and exterior of the Gretna Tavern in Carlisle.

 

 

The photo below is of Warwick Road in Carlisle from 1923

 

The photo below is of the War Memorial Bridge in Carlisle

 

Two Gretna Girls including Alexina Ross Dickson.

Photo of Gretna Girl: new donation

By Collections blog

 This photograph shows two young women who worked at HM Factory in World War One.   Women were employed in all sorts of roles within the Factory (the greatest one on earth at that time) including working in the bakery, laundry, in the hostels, with chemicals, as nurses, as women police officers and so much more.

Gretna Girl Alexina Ross Dickson

The lady who is standing is Alexina Ross Dickson, who was born in 1897.  The photograph has the following written on it, “Wishing you a Merry Xmas, 1917” so she was probably 20 years old at the time.

We are very grateful to the people who recently donated this photograph to us.  We do not currently have a complete list of all the workers at HM Factory Gretna (one may exist somewhere but it has not yet come to light) and so we are largely reliant on people who donate photographs and tells us the names of their family members and share their involvement.

We have an archive of this material and add any new accounts to a book called ‘Gretna Girls Memories’ on display within the Museum.  It is also good to know the name of one more young women who did their war work and made their contribution here.

If you would like to know more about the Gretna Girls and their experiences, this booklet might interest you:

Lives of Ten Gretna Girls booklet

 

A storage area full of boxes.

New display featuring objects from Eastriggs and Longtown munitions depots

By Archive

This article was written by Alastair Ritchie, who is one of our young volunteers.  He recently completed The Prince’s Trust Award while volunteering in the Museum.

Ammunition Line Display 

A while ago the museum was kindly donated 2 rollers and 4 trestles which we believe were used at the Eastriggs or Longtown depot. Since then we have sought to find a place for them, which we have now found (thanks to Neil McGarva for this suggestion). The items have been arranged in a way which will help to demonstrate their use, under the stairs in front of the window so it will be something for people to see when coming in from the car park or walking round the building.

Alastair near the display (which is hard to photograph due to being behind glass). He is holding an ammunition storage box.

Thanks to the efforts of our volunteers  Alastair and George along with Digital Marketing Modern Apprentice Morgan, the area has been cleared, cleaned and arranged to ensure it both looks good and gives some insight into how these items might have been used.

If you are interested in some more information on our display then here are a few facts about it…

  • The rollers were used in both WW1 and 2 (some would have been mechanised by the Second World War though) to assist in moving all types of ammo, firstly from the train to the magazine and secondly from one part of the factory to another.

  • The rollers were able to make moving large amounts of tank shells, bullets of all types, artillery shells, bombs though these were limited in type and navy shells more efficient.

  • In order to improve the rollers longevity they were made very durable, requiring little maintenance beyond the occasional greasing and replacing of the yellow and black paint which could easily be done by the women and men who worked with them.

    A group of people of load their crate onto the line that then leads into storage where it will stay until use.

  • Rollers could also be set up in long lines that might run up to 6 rollers long, allowing multiple teams to work on different parts, doing a varied tasks including….

  • placing empty open boxes onto the line

  • placing shells into boxes or removing ones from the line to be placed in storage or shipped out

  • sealing boxes

  • taking boxes off to be either placed in storage or on a train to be taken away for use

  • We have been told by Robin, a Trustee at the Museum (he worked within Eastriggs and Longtown depots for many years and is a former Inspector in the Ministry of Defence Police) that at the depot the process was referred to as “hand-balling” by some staff.

  • The rollers were a earlier version of the modern assembly lines without power and were used throughout the depot until the introduction of forklifts and other modern equipment.

  • In total the Rollers could hold somewhere between 13-15 tons which was vital as the Eastriggs depot could house up to 10–30,000 tons of material while Longtown could hold almost twice that amount as it was split between the COD (Central Ordnance Depot) which stored inert material such as boxes and packaging for various forms of ammunition and the CAD (Central Ammunition Depot) which stored various types of small arms to artillery shell ammunition.

 

Group of worker using multiple rollers to assist them in moving crates around. This was essentially the rollers job to make moving heavy object safer, easier and most importantly faster.

The following book may be of interest if you would like to know more about the depots and the local area in World War Two:

The Solway Military Coast book

After this article was published, a member of the public came forward with the following information and photographs, we thank him for sharing this with us:

  • The beginning of the process in what was known as the In-Transit this is where the ammunition/explosives are received into the building

  • Operatives would breakdown the pallets and load the containers/boxes onto the rollers and they would then be pushed through a hatch into the Process area where Ammunition Examiners would carry out various tasks:

  • Safety Inspection

  • Modification

  • Repairs

  • A pedestrian gate in the rollers where examiners could work on both sides of the rollers

  • Once this was done the containers/boxes would be moved along the rollers to the Out-Transit, here operatives would add markings

  • The rollers were used in all types of industry including the ships for deep sea dumping

 

Just after the war some of the excess ammunition was thrown into the sea

This process was known as Deep Sea Dumping fortunately it is now Banned

 

 

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