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Potatoes, some corn beef, a box of matches and a replica munitions workers uniform from H.M. Factory Gretna.

Worker of the Week: Thefts at the Factory

By Collections blog

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 you goes to our amazing research volunteers, as always!

First, we must admit that this week’s Worker of the Week blog is a wee bit different to usual, because instead of focusing on one person connected to the H.M. Factory Gretna we are sharing a compilation of stories we’ve uncovered about thefts at the factory.  Naturally, this compilation is far from conclusive, but it will feature hats, corn beef and potatoes stolen by people who worked at H.M. Factory Gretna! Notably, they all faced consequences for their actions, so read on to find out more!

 

1. The Gretna “Fried Fish” Shop Heist.

  • One Winter Sunday evening, a local shop in Springfield, Gretna was busy with girls who worked at the factory.
  • This wasn’t unusual, but this time something was different.
  • Suddenly, the lamp was blown out leaving the shop in darkness.
  • After this, the next morning in fact, Baldi Toni, the owner of the shop, found some of his stock had disappeared!
  • The items which had vanished were:
  1.   9 cheese plates;
  2.    2 cans of corned beef;
  3.    6 boxes honey;
  4.    and 3 bottles of Worcester sauce

 

Graphic of Worcester sauce, corned beef, honey and cheese.

  • Fast forward, “five or six weeks” and we come to a court case in Dumfries.
  • Five munitions workers from the nearby factory, Lily Brown (20), Ellen Doran (19), Christina Langan (19) Minnie Turnbull (18) and Isabella Kennedy (19) were accused of theft.
  • As a result they all admitted to their part in what we have titled here ‘The Gretna “Fried Fish” Shop Heist and were charged with the crime.
  • Notably, solicitor Mr I. F. Edgar made a statement on their behalf. (Look out for him popping up a few times in this blog!)[1]

(Recently, someone has suggested that the food they stole could have been ingredients for Welsh Rarebit. What do you think?)

2. Disappearing Potatoes.

  • For some time food had been mysteriously disappearing from the factory central kitchen.
  • To find the reason for this unexplained mystery, a keen watch was started.

 

  • Then, one morning, just as all the people in the kitchen were tucking in to breakfast, a bag of around 10 stones of potatoes was taken from the kitchen.
  • Suspiciously, Bertha and George Bradly were seen to be entering the stable after just being in the kitchen at around this time…
  • After this, John Irving found a mysterious bag of around 10 stones of potatoes in a lorry and took it to the stable.
  • Seemingly, John claimed he thought it contained carrots and had no intention of taking the potatoes for his own use. Could John have just been in the wrong place at the wrong time?

 

Lots of potatoes. This photo is from Canva.

  • Resultingly, George, Bertha and John all ended up in court accused of pinching:
  1. Approximately 10 stones of potatoes;
  2. About 3 stones of carrots;
  3. Around 3 lbs of beetroot;
  4. 3 leeks;
  5. and the small straw bag.
  • We know that George and John “pleaded guilty to taking ten stones of potatoes, but the female accused pleased not guilty.” “The Fiscal accepted this plea, and deserted the diet against the female accused.” Bertha Bradly was innocent.
  • Meanwhile, George and John, who both worked as carters at the factory, were charged with “each pay[ing] a fine with the alternative of fourteen days imprisonment.”

 

3. The Hostel Heist.

  • Munitions worker Annie Nailas (referred to as Annie Nailes in The Dumfries and Galloway Standard) was found to have stolen items from  at “Hostel N, East 2, Gretna”.
  • Between the 9pm on the 4th January and 4pm on 5th January 1917, Annie was alleged to have stolen:
  1.  A leather purse with 8s in from Agnes Wright’s coat pocket;
  2. A blue serge skirt, a lady’s tweed coat, a leather lunch case, another leather purse with 10s 8d, belonging to Isabelle Alexander from a locked cupboard;
  3. A camisole, an underskirt, a silk blouse and a lady’s hat from Ina Scoon’s locked cupboard;
  4. And a white silk scarf belonging to Emma Holman from another locked cupboard.

 

Illustrations of coins, a leather purse, a blue skirt, a lady's hat and a white silk scarf with a photo of an on War Service Badge. There is some lined paper in the background,

Could Annie have stolen items similar to the ones illustrated in this photo?

  • Significantly, all the people stolen from were munition workers living at Hostel N, East 2
  • At the time of the theft in  1917 “the total value of the articles was between £3 and £4.”
  • However, Annie was found out.
  • She was defended by solicitor Mr I. F. Edgar at court, but she pled guilty and had three other convictions from prior to her time at the factory.
  • Ultimately, “The Sheriff said it seemed to be a determined case of stealing and passed sentence of thirty days imprisonment.” [3]

 

4. A Hat Trick.

  • If only we knew why munitions worker Sarah Carter stole another munitions workers hat.
  • Alas, may never know why for sure, but we do know that Sarah pled guilty to stealing the hat at court in Dumfries.
  • Consequently, she was given 10 days in prison.

 

Replica munitions workers uniform and hat on display in The Devil's Porridge Museum.

Could Sarah Carter have stolen a hat like this one?

  • The sheriff at the time reflected “they must put a stop to these thefts at Gretna if possible.” [4]

(We do not know for sure where this hat theft took place, or exactly what happened. Despite H.M. Factory Gretna’s name, it is significant to note that the nine-mile rural site of the factory stretched from Longtown in England to Dornock in Scotland. The townships of both Eastriggs and Gretna were also vital; both were built to house and facilitate all those who came to work at the factory. Often the factory location is referred to simply as “Gretna” in past newspaper articles, perhaps as they did not want to risk telling everyone publicly exactly where it was during World War One, so do you think the Sherriff’s reflection refers to the factory as a whole or just Gretna township?)

5. Matches in a Munitions Factory?!

  • Although this is technically not a theft, there were very strict rules regarding what people could bring on to the factory site.
  • According to the ‘Regulations Governing Employment:

““No person shall bring within the Factory, or have in his possession, whilst in the factory, any match or apparatus for producing light, or any lamp, light or fire of any description.”

– The Regulations Governing Employment for H.M. Factory Gretna.

  • Additionally, the Women’s Police Force used to search munitions workers on the way into the factory site.
  • If any contraband such as matches, or metal items like hairpins, buttons or knitting needles were found they would be removed (yes, that does include cutting metal buttons off clothing too!) and the culprit fined.

 

Florence Annie Tinkler in her munitions worker uniform.

Florence Tinkler. This photo is from Ancestry Public Members tree.

  • One example is Florence Tinkler, who was fined £2 for bringing matches into the factory grounds, who:

“Immediately after paying the fine the accused collapsed in her seat and had to be carried out of the courtroom by a police officer.”

  • Dumfries and Galloway Standard newspaper, 8th December 1917
  • Additionally, another factory worker found to have matches on the way into the factory was Reginald Ezra Parry.
  • Reginald worked as a chemist and he plead guilty to having a box of matches within the factory fence in, similarly in late 1917.
  • However, Reginald’s charges were dismissed with an admonition!

 

Reginald Ezra Parry M.Sc., University of Melbourne

Reginald Ezra Parry M.Sc., University of Melbourne, 1915

  • Obviously, these were far form the only two munitions workers who were found to have contraband inside the factory grounds.
  • Significantly, members of the Women’s Police Force at the factory would also search munitions workers on the way back out to check they hadn’t stolen anything from inside.

 

Sources and Further Reading

[1] Account of ‘The Gretna “Fried Fish” Shop Crime’ is based upon The Dumfries and Galloway Standard newspaper article, “THEFTS BY GRETNA GIRLS” from Wednesday 21st February 1917.

[2] Account of ‘Disappearing Potatoes’ is based upon The Dumfries and Galloway Standard newspaper article, “POTATO STEALERS FINED” from Saturday 2nd June 1917.

[3] Account of ‘The Hostel Heist’ is based upon an article from The Dumfries and Galloway Standard newspaper, Wednesday 24th January 1917.

[4] Account of ‘A Hat Trick’ is based upon The Dumfries and Galloway Standard newspaper article, “THEFTS BY GRETNA GIRLS” from Saturday 10th March 1917.

[5] ‘Matches in a Munitions Factory?!” sources follow:

 

Do you have a relative who worked at H.M. Factory Gretna? If so, 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! As well as this you can also have a look at some more H.M. Factory Gretna workers on our online database here>

A table with doorways into a bedroom. This is inside a hostel for H.M. Factory Gretna in the past.

Worker of the Week: Georgina Little

By Collections blog

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  We would like to thank our research volunteers and the relatives of this week’s Worker of the Week, who kindly shared some information.

This our Worker of the Week is Georgina Little, who was a maid at one of the factory hostels.

Early Life

  • On 3rd January 1897, in Asprita, Cumberland.
  • Georgina was the youngest of seven children to George and Mary Little.
  • Additionally, her father George worked in coal mines according to census records.
  • A relative has kindly shared with us that was “known as Ina.”

 

  • Following this, the 1901 census shows the family to be living in West End, Asprita.
  • At this point, Georgina would have been 4 years old.

 

  • Later, the 1911 census shows Georgina to be living at the same address with her parents.
  • However, some of her siblings have moved out, as only one of her brothers and her nephew appear on the census.

H.M. Factory Gretna

  • We first came across Ina’s connection to the factory, due to one of her relatives who kindly contacted us, thinking they had worked at the factory.
  • As well as this, they kindly shared that thought that “she was a maid for a manager Miss Tom.”
  • Christina Muddie Thom was a matron of one of the hostels at the factory [1]. Could it be that Ina worked with her?
  • Yes! The electoral register and the valuation rolls for Eastriggs in 1918 to 1919, show us that she worked as a maid at this hostel with Christina Muddie Thom.[1]

 

  • For many of the young munitions workers who lived in hostels it would have been there first time living away from home.
  • Matrons like Christina Muddie Thom would have helped look after them and we think it is likely that Ina assisted with this.[1]
  • Hostels also provided food for lodgers. Perhaps, Ina would have even helped to serve food in the messrooms and clean up afterwards. What do you think?

 

Messroom inside one of the hostels at Gretna from the past. Some people are sitting at tables.

Messroom inside a Hostel.

  • Ina worked as a maid at Drake house hostel, 47 -61 Dunedin Road, Eastriggs.

(Many of the hostels for the factory were named after real people, such as Edith Cavell and Florence Nightingale. The hostel that Christina worked in was named after Sir Francis Drake, who is often recognized for circumnavigating the globe and his role in defeating the invading Spanish Armada. However, Drake was involved in piracy, colonialism and slave trade.[2] [3])

Here's a photograph of Edith Cavell Hostel in Gretna.

Edith Cavell Hostel in Gretna from our archive. The buildings here would have been similar to Drake’s Hostel in Eastriggs.

Married Life

  • It seems that Ina returned to Asprita after her time working in Eastriggs.
  • In 1936 she married John Thomas Metcalfe.

 

  • Following this, the 1939 census shows Ina and John living at a cottage in Asprita.
  • John appears to be working as a horse man on a nearby farm.

Later

  • On 24th February 1954, John died.
  • At this point John and Ina were still living at the same farm as the 1939 census.

 

  • Ina died in February 1988.

Sources and Further Reading

[1] Worker of the Week: Christina Muddie Thom – https://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-the-week-christina-muddie-thom

[2] Sir Francis Drake Information and Blog Post, The Golden Hind – https://www.goldenhinde.co.uk/discover/sir-francis-drake and  https://www.goldenhinde.co.uk/blog/278-drake-was-a-slave-trader

[3] Sir Francis Drake, History of England Historic UK – https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Sir-Francis-Drake/ 

 

Read Georgina Little’s Online Database Entry by clicking 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 could 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>

Group of people holding musical instruments in the factory band for H.M. Factory Gretna with a portrait of James Prentice underneath it. Both these photos are from the Dornock Farewell Magazine.

Worker of the Week: James Prentice

By Collections blog

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  Thanks goes to all our research volunteers.

This week’s Worker of the Week is James Prenctice who was in the factory band. 

Early Life

  • On 27th June 1855, in Dalziel, Lanarkshire, Scotland, James Prentice was born.
  • James became the eldest in a large family with ten other siblings.
  • Additionally, James parents were Harriet and Joseph Prentice.

First Marriage

  • Some time after this, in appears that James married Margaret (Maggie) Carlder.
  • Together they had 6 children.
  • According to the 1891 census they lived in Harriettville, West Calder, Midothian, Scotland.

***

  • Strikingly, many years later, one of James children, also named James Prentice, joined the Royal Flying Corps.[3]
  • Unfortunately, he was flying aeroplane in Ayr, when he collided with another plane and died.[3]
  • As this is likely to happen during World War One, do you think that his father could have been working at H.M. Factory Gretna at this time?

Travels

  • Following this first marriage, James left Scotland for South Africa in 1893, which was heading for Cape Town according to Outward passenger lists.

 

  • Whilst in South Africa, on 6th June 1911, he married Margaret Ross Phipps.
  • Presumably, James first wife had died, as he is described as widower on his marriage register.

 

  • Next, we found James returning to UK, on board the ‘Saxon’ ship with his wife and children. It seems that he would have arrived at London.

H.M. Factory Gretna

  • Apparently, it seems that James Prentice came back to the UK to work at H.M. Factory Gretna.
  • From what we have found, James appears to have worked at the Resident Engineer at the Dornock section.
Portrait of Resident Engineer in Dornock, J. Prentice from the Dornock Souvenir Magazine.

James Prentice’s photo appears in the Dornock Farewell Magazine.

(Notably, the rural site of the factory actually stretched from Dornock in Scotland – where James worked – all the way to Longtown in England, unlike Gretna as the name suggests. However, Gretna and Eastriggs did play a vital part, as both were built to house and facilitate the people who moved into the area to work at H.M. Factory Gretna. Many of the administration buildings were also located in Gretna. However, James is more likely to have lived in Eastriggs, as according to The Factory Manual at the time, Eastriggs “provides for the accommodation of those workers chiefly engaged on the Dornock section,” or so was the initial intention from what the Manual suggests.)

  • James also appears to have been involved in more than one recreational activity at the factory.
  • It appears as though he was a member of the Factory Social and Athletic Committee too.
  • The Factory Social and Athletic Committee controlled the recreational activities and facilities at H.M. Factory Gretna.

Dornock Band

  • According to the Dornock Farewell Magazine, the Dornock area of the factory had its own band made up from workers from that section.
  • Although, the Factory Social and Athletic Committee seemed initially reluctant to allow this.

“Some two years ago the workers on the Dornock area of the Factory thought they would like to start their own Band and the purposal was put before the Factory Social and Athletic Committee, but after consideration turned it down. However, the failure of the promoters only increased the desire of Dornock workers to have at least one musical organisation…”

– Factory Band, Page 24, The Dornock Farewell Magazine. [1]

 

Group of people holding musical instruments sitting in front of a building. This is the Factory Band.

J Prentice sat in the middle of the factory band.

 

  • It appears that James was apart of the factory band and, more than that was an integral in helping to get the band up and running.
  • As described in The Dornock Farewell Magazine:

“The transfer of Mr Prentice to Dornock as resident engineer gave great support of the purposal for the band, he being Director of all musical organisations under the Committee. When the purposal was put before him he at once prepared a scheme for the formation of a Band (brass and reed instruments), and submitted to the Committee personally.”

– Factory Band, Page 24, The Dornock Farewell Magazine.[1]

  • Significantly, he Dornock Farewell magazine appears to be very complimentary to James Prentice, noting the “skilful and patient tuition” [1] he gave and how he was “appointed Musical Director by the Commitee.” [1]
  • However, it is important to note that the author of this article seems to be a certain J. P. Could it be possible that James Prentice himself wrote it?

 

Tuba used by the factory band on display on a wall in The Devil's Porridge Museum.

Today we have a Tuba used by the Factory Band on display in The Devil’s Porridge Museum.

 

  • Either way, there still seem to have been many successful performances from The Factory Band, most notably when:

“The first call upon the services of the Band was on Armistice Day, when on short notice, they turned out and headed the procession round the two Factory Townships [Eastriggs and Gretna], and also provided dance music for the large number of munition workers assembled to rejoice on such an important occasion. The playing of the Band was a great surprise and a source of pleasure to all.”

– “Factory Band”, Page 25, The Dornock Farewell Magazine. [1]

The Gondoliers

  • Perhaps unsurprisingly, given James apparent Social and Athletic Committee standing, he was also involved in at least one performance given by The Gretna Choral and Operatic Society.
  • In December 1918, The Gretna Choral and Operatic society gave a performance of The Gondoliers at the Border Hall in Gretna. [2]
  • “MR J. PRENTICE” is listed as the “MUSUCAL DIRECTOR” for this performance. [2]

 

Front cover of a programme for the Gretna Choral and Operatic Society at The Border Hall Gretna in 1918.

The front of The Gondoliers programme.

  • In this position he would have worked alongside stage manager and performer for this production Alexander Lupton, who helped to instigate the society.
  • Although, Stewart Clifford Phipps was a violinist and therefore, unlikely to be in the brass and reed instrument factory band, he appears in the programme as one of the leaders of the orchestra, which means James was likely to have worked with him for this show.
  • Additionally, Egerton Sayer and Thomas George Dippie would have featured in the performance.

 

Paper programme for a performance of The Gondoliers at The Border Hall, Gretna in December 1918. A.M. Lupton appears as stage manager and in the cast list. There is also information about the special trains for the performance.

 

  • Do you think that James Prentice would have been involved in any of the other performances given by The Gretna Choral and Operatic Society?
  • As a member of the Social and Athletic Committee could James have even been involved in other performances at The Border Hall in Gretna, such as Cheerio Gretna (this was preformed by members of the Women’s Police Force in 1917)? [9
  • So far we have found no further evidence either way, so what do you think?

 

A large, wide, hall building with two rows of windows. In front of the building is a road. A driveway encircles the building. Text on the photo reads 'Border Hall, Gretna Township.' This photo is in black and white.

 

  • What we do know is that is that James Prentice is mentioned in a poem in The Dornock Farewell magazine:

“There’s worthy Prentice, King o’ reeds.
Weel may his callants hing their heids,
Nae mair they’ll chord his canty screeds
At Dornock.”

– “At Dornock,” Page 37, The Dornock Farewell Magazine. [8]

  • Consequently, it seems he must have been well known at the factory.
Illustrated page from the Dornock Souvenir Magazine. Two people stand either side of a circle with a house inside a a border featuring circle illustrations of different buildings in each corner.

An illustrated page from the Dornock Souvenir Magazine.

Later Life

  • Following this it seems that James returned to South Africa.
  • Accordingly, in the Dornock, Farewell magazine he left his forwarding address as Pretoria, South Africa. [9]

 

  • Lastly, James died in August 1931 in Pretoria, South Africa.

 

 

Sources and Further Information

[1] “Factory Band,” Page 24 – 25, The Dornock Souvenir Magazine.

[2] Gretna Choral and Operatic Society, The Gondoliers programme, December 1918 from The Devil’s Porridge Museum’s archive.

[3] “Young Aviator’s Death” newspaper article, The British Newspaper Archive.

[4] Worker of the Week: Alexander McKenzie Lupton – https://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-the-week-alexander-mckenzie-lupton

[5] Worker of the Week: Stewart Clifford Phipps – https://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-the-week-stewart-clifford-phipps

[6] Worker of the Week: Egerton Sayer – https://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-the-week-egerton-sayer

[7] Worker of the Week: George Thomas Dippie – https://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-the-week-thomas-geroge-dippie

[8] “At Dornock” Poem, Page 37, The Dornock Souvenir Magazine.

[9] Page 68, The Dornock Souvenir Magazine.

Read James Prentice’s online database entry by clicking 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 could 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>

Ethel and Florence in their munitions workers uniforms.

Worker of the Week: Ethel and Florence Tinkler

By Collections blog

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  Thanks to all our research volunteers!

For this Week’s Worker of the Week we are sharing the story of two sisters, Ethel and Florence Tinkler, both of which worked at H.M. Factory Gretna.

Early Life

  • Ethel Mary Tinkler was born on 25th September 1895 in Penrith, Cumberland.
  • Following this her younger sister Florence was born on 25th March 1985 similarly, Penrith.
  • The sisters had four other siblings.
  • Their parents were Thomas Kendal Tinkler and Isabella nee Alderson.

 

  • Accordingly, by the 1901 census, the family are still living in Penrith and their father is a joiner.
  • By 1911 the family is still living in Penrith and Thomas is still described as a joiner.

World War One

  • During the World War One, Ethel and Florence’s brother served in the military.
  • Sadly, he was killed in action in France during 1916.
  • We don’t know when Ethel and / or Florence started working at H.M. Factory Gretna, but it is possible that they were working at the factory when this happened.

Time at H.M. Factory Gretna

  • By 1917, we have found evidence of the sisters working at H.M. Factory Gretna.
  • Florence appears on the electoral role living in Annan. It could be possible that Ethel lived there too, although we have found no evidence of this. What do you think?
King George walking past a row of cheering, excited munitions workers. This is a black and white archive photo.

King George visiting H.M. Factory Gretna.

  • Significantly, on the 18th May 1917, King George V & Queen Mary visited H.M. Factory Gretna in recognition of the factory’s exceptional performance.
  • At this time both the sisters would have been working as munitions workers.
  • It seems that Ethel was even presented to Queen Mary during their visit! [1]
  • We can imagine that this must have been very exciting for Ethel and it would be lovely to think that Florence was one of the many munitions workers lining the streets for the royal visit, but alas, we cannot know for sure…
May McIver presents Queen Mary with a bouquet of flowers.

May McIver presents Queen Mary with a bouquet of flowers.

Ethel’s Marriage

  • Next we catch up with the sisters in 1st August 1917 at Ethel’s wedding.
  • Apparently, Ethel married Private Frederick Charles Dobinson of the Durham Light Infantry at St Andrew’s Church in Penrith. [5]
  • Strikingly, Ethel and Frederick both worked at H.M. Factory Gretna. Do you think that they could have met through their work there?
  • According to the local newspaper:

“The bride [Ethel] has for a considerable time been employed at the Gretna factory, and a few months ago had the honour of being presented to the Queen during their Majesties northern tour. The bridegroom has seen service in France, and is now working at munitions factory.”

– Penrith Observer, Tuesday 7th August 1917.

(Although, described in the article as the “Gretna factory” the actual nine-mile rural site, stretched from Longtown in England to Dornock in Scotland. The two vital townships of Gretna and Eastriggs were constructed to house and support the influx of people who came to the area to work at the factory and did not exist prior to this. Perhaps it is possible that this newspaper article and indeed the authorities at the time did not want to give away H.M. Factory Gretna’s exact location! What do you think?)

 

Ethel Mary Tinkler in her munitions workers uniform.

Ethel Mary Tinkler. This photo is from Ancestry Public Members tree.

 

  • Notably, it seems that Ethel was well-liked at the factory.
  • Not only did she have the honour of being chosen to present to the Queen, but she received a gift from the munitions workers she worked with.

“Among the many presents was a silver tea service from the girls at the factory, bearing the inscription: ‘Presented to Miss Tinkler by fellow workers and staff on the occasion of her marriage, August 1st 1917.”

– Penrith Observer, Tuesday 7th August 1917.

  • Meanwhile, Florence was a bridesmaid at the wedding, not to be left out she would soon be in newspaper for much less agreeable reasons.

Florence’s Matches

  • Munitions workers were searched on their way in (and out) of the factory site by members of the Women’s Police Force.
  • Importantly, this would stop munitions workers bringing in any contraband, which could potentially trigger an explosion in their dangerous work environment.
  • Contraband included metal items, such as knitting needles, hairpins, buttons and matches, as described in The Regulations Governing Employment for the factory:

“No person shall bring within the Factory, or have in his possession, whilst in the factory, any match or apparatus for producing light, or any lamp, light or fire of any description.”

-The Regulations Governing Employment for H.M. Factory Gretna. [3]

  • If any munitions workers were found with these items they would be confiscated (there’s even a record of metal buttons being cut off a munitions worker’s corset at the factory!) and the worker fined.

 

Florence Annie Tinkler in her munitions worker uniform.

Florence Tinkler. This photo is from Ancestry Public Members tree.

 

  • Unfortunately, it seems that Florence fell foul of this rule.
  • She was caught bringing matches into the factory!
  • As a consequence:

“Florence Tinkler, munition factory worker, 41 Johnstone Street, Annan, was fined £2. Immediately after paying the fine the accused collapsed in her seat and had to be carried out of the courtroom by a police officer.”

– Dumfries and Galloway Standard newspaper, 8th December 1917.[2]

  • Although, it may seem dangerous to bring matches into a munitions factory, it did happen!
  • Another, example is Reginald Ezra Parry, who plead guiltily to having matches inside the factory fence. [4]

 

  • According to The Bank of England’s inflation calculator’s estimate, Florence’s £2 fine in 1917 could have been equivalent to around £120.67, as of July 2025. [6] What do you think of this?

Later Life

  • Following this, we know that Florence had a daughter in 1921.
  • According to the 1939 census Florence was living her daughter and parents in Penrith.
  • At this time Florence was employed as a domestic servant.

 

  • Meanwhile, Edith was living in Durham.
  • Her husband, Frederick was and electrician and they had three children, one of which was born in 1918.

 

  • In May 1975, Edith died in Durham.
  • In March 1985 Florence died in Penrith.

 

Sources and Further Reading.

[1] A Penrith War Worker’s Wedding, Penrith Observer newspaper, Tuesday 7th August 1917.

[2]Dumfries Workers Court, Use of Matches, Dumfries and Galloway Standard newspaper, 8th December 1917.

[3] The Regulations Governing Employment for H.M. Factory Gretna.

[4] Worker of the Week: Reginald Ezra Parry – https://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/reginaldezraparry

[5] Fredrick Charles Dobinson, Miracle Workers Database entry. – https://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/hm-factory-gretna-workers-database/name/frederick-dobinson

[6] Inflation Calculator, Bank of England – https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/monetary-policy/inflation/inflation-calculator

Ethel Mary Tinckler photo source: Ancestry, public member tree.

Florence Tinkler photo source: Ancestry, public member tree.

 

Read Ethel Mary Tinkler’s online database entry by clicking here>

Read Florence Tinkler’s online database entry by clicking 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 could 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>

An illustration with three factory workers in the middle and two additional munitions workers either side. A ribbon curls decoratively around the two munitions workers and forms the words "Farewell Mossband."

Worker of the Week: John Benns

By Collections blog

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 you as always to our research volunteers.

This week’s Worker of the Week is John Benns, we think he was the manager in the stationary department at H.M. Factory Gretna.

Early Life

  • John Benns was born on 30th November 1872.
  • When he was born, John already had six older siblings.
  • His parents were Robert Benns and Lydia Frances Bowness.
  • Robert worked as a Corn Miller.

 

  • Following this, census records indicate that 1891 John was working as a Stationer’s clerk.

Marriage

  • After that, John married Ellen Eliza Rees in Woolwhich in 1901.
  • By this point, John was working as a Commercial Stationer’s Traveller, as also indicated on the census records for 1901 and again in 1911.
  • Additionally, We know that John and Ellen had two children.

Time at H.M. Factory Gretna

  • Both John and Ellen are registered as living at 10 S West in Gretna in the Gretna Electoral Roll. [1]
  • John’s occupation is given here simply as “manager”.[1]

(It is worth noting that Gretna, were John and Ellen lived was one of the two townships, with the other being Eastriggs built to house the influx of people who came to work at the factory. Despite it’s namesake with the largest of the two townships, Gretna, the rural site of the factory actually stretched from Longtown in England to Dornock in Scotland).

  • However, this is not the only mention of John.
  • He is mentioned in the Mossband Farewell magazine and described as working in the “Stationary Department” amongst some thank yous. [2]
  • Accordingly, we think John could have been the manager of the stationary department at the factory.

 

It is our enjoyable task in this paragraph to render our thanks to all who have, by their co-operation in various matters, enabled us to raise this Magazine to the high standard of excellence attained. Mr Emmet for the cordial reception he gave to the idea originally, and the active support he has since rendered. Miss Webster, for the accurate manner in which all records were kept. Mr F. W. Tassell, Devonshire Street, Carlisle for the excellence of his photographs and the record speed with which he provided the reproduction proof. Mr Benns, stationary department for much valuable information and assistance in the production of the Magazine. Lastly by so means the least of our thanks are due to the Mossband girls - the English maidens and wee Scotch lassies - for the great support provided while the Magazine was still in its infancy. This backing gave the necessary encouragement to battle on against the trenches of Discharge, with Discontentment in close support.

Mr Benns is mentioned on page six of The Mossband Farewell Magazine [2].

  • The Mossband Farewell magazine was created by those who worked in the Mossband – or Longtown – section of the factory to commemorate their time working there.
  • Similarly, The Dornok Farewell magazine was created by those who worked in the Dornock section of the factory.
  • Although the factory rural site stretched 9-miles, Mossband and Dornock and were the two main sites with many of the buildings spread out to avoid chain-reactions from any possible explosions.

 

Two munitions workers stood at a drying stove with a draw pulled out in the Mossband section of H.M. Factory Gretna. This is a black and white archive photo.

Two munitions workers at work in the the Mossband section of the factory.

 

 

An illustration with three factory workers in the middle and two additional munitions workers either side. A ribbon curls decoratively around the two muntions workers and forms the words "Farewell Mossband."

Illustration from The Mossband Farewell Magazine.

Life After Gretna

  • Next, John appears to have worked as Stockbrokers’ cashier from what the 1939 census indicates.
  • We know that John must have moved back to London at some point after his time at the factory, but we are yet to find out exactly when. If you know more please feel free to get in touch!

 

  • On 7th October 1947, John died in London.

 

Sources and Further Information

[1] Page 323 (digital page 32), Parish of Gretna Electoral Roll 1918 to 1919.

[2] Page 6, The Mossband Farewell Magazine from The Devil’s Porridge Museum’s Archive.

[3] Mossband Farewell: Workers’ Writings and the Mossband Farewell Magazine, online talk given by Professor Kristie Blair on The Devil’s Porridge Museum’s YouTube – https://youtu.be/BR2jhKFb86w?si=xo5t3dCwYgue0JtN&t=1061

 

Find John Benns online database entry by clicking 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 could feature in a future Worker of the Week blog post! If you would like to you can also have a look at some more H.M. Factory Gretna workers on our online database here>

Illustrations of coins, a leather purse, a blue skirt, a lady's hat and a white silk scarf with a photo of an on War Service Badge. There is some lined paper in the background,

Worker of the Week: Annie Nailas (Nailes)

By Collections blog

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  Another gigantic thank you goes to all our research volunteers as always! This week’s Worker of the Week Annie Nailas was charged with theft during her time working at H.M. Factory Gretna!

Early Life

  • Annie was born January 1895 in Dudley, Tynemouth, Northumberland.
  • Her parents were Patrick and Mary nee Jordan.
  • Patrick was a coal miner putter and Annie had five siblings.
  • After that, by the 1901 census, the family were continued living in Dudley.

 

  • Significantly, the census records appear to refer to her as Annie Nailas, but a later Dumfries and Galloway Standard newspaper article she is “Annie Nailes.” [1] Do you think this could have been a typo?

Hexham Court

  • Annie appeared at Hexham court and was given a month’s hard labour for stealing.[1]
  • Admittedly, we don’t know the exact date this happened, but we think it would make sense if it happens before 1911, considering how she ends up in a convert which seems equivalent to a industrial or reform school after this. What do you think?

“Home for Friendless Girls”

  • Either way, the 1911 census shows us that Annie is now in Carlisle.
  • She is at Duran Hill Lodge, which was a convent described as a “home for friendless girls” with a laundry.
  • Annie was a laundrymaid here.

Time at H.M. Factory Gretna

  • In November 1916, Annie started working at H.M. Factory Gretna as a munitions worker.[1]
  • She was living at Hostel N, East 2, Gretna. [1]

 

Messroom inside one of the hostels at Gretna from the past. Some people are sitting at tables.

 

(Although, Annie appears to have lived in Gretna, it is important to note that the rural site of the factory actually stretched from Longtown in England to Dornock in Scotland. However, the townships of Eastriggs and Gretna were vital to the factory. Markedly, both were built to provide housing and facilities for all those who came to work at the factory and didn’t exist prior to the factories construction!)

Thefts at Gretna

  • During her time at the factory, it seems that Annie was found to be stealing from the fellow residents at Hostel N, East 2 Gretna. [1]
  • Between 9pm on the 4th January and 4pm on 5th January 1917, Annie was alleged to have stolen:

 

  1. “From a coat pocket a leather purse containing about 8s, the property of Agnes Wright, munitions worker residing there;”
  2. “By means of a key opened lockfast cupboard and stolen a lady’s tweed coat, blue serge skirt, a leather lunch case, a leather purse and 10s 8d, the property of Isabella Alexander, munition worker, residing there;”
  3. “By means of key opened, a lockfast locker and stolen a camisole, an underskirt, a silk blouse and a lady’s hat, the property of Ina Scoon, munition worker, there;”
  4. “Opened lockfast box and stolen white silk scarf, property of Emma Holman, munition worker there.”

– The Dumfries and Galloway Standard newspaper, Wednesday 24th January 1917. [1]

  • Therefore, this newspaper article reveals that at that time in 1917 “the total value of the articles was between £3 and £4.” [1]
  • Accordingly, from the Bank of England’s Inflation calculator’s reckoning, this would be between around £181.01 and £241.35 as of July 2025. [2] What do you think or can you suggest any other ways to calculate this?

 

Illustrations of coins, a leather purse, a blue skirt, a lady's hat and a white silk scarf with a photo of an on War Service Badge. There is some lined paper in the background,

Could Annie have stolen items similar to these?

  • The Dumfries and Galloway Standard also reveals that Annie was defended by solicitor I. F. Edgar at court and pleaded… guilty.
  • Additionally, Annie revealed she had three previous convictions, the last being given in Hexham.
  • Ultimately, “The Sheriff said it seemed to be a determined case of stealing and passed sentence of thirty days imprisonment.” [1]

Other Thefts at the Factory

This is not the only theft that happened at the Factory. We are are also aware of:

  • A group of munitions workers including 18 year old, Minnie Turnbull, stealing 9 cheese plates, 2 cans of corned beef, 6 boxes honey and 3 bottles of Worcester sauce from a Gretna “fried fish” shop. They admitted to the theft and were defended by solicitor I. F. Edgar. [3]

 

  • Husband and wife duo Bertha and George Bradly were accused of stealing approximately 10 stone of potato’s, 3 stones of carrots, 3lbs of beetroot, 3 leeks and a small straw bag from the factory kitchen. Significantly, George plead guilty and was charged. Bertha was not. [4]

 

  • Munition worker, Sarah Carter pleaded guilty to stealing another munition workers hat. Accordingly, at the time the Sheriff said “they must put at stop to these thefts at Gretna [probably meaning at the factory] if possible.” [5]

What Happened Next?

  • So far we don’t know what happened to Annie after this theft. Could she have changed her name, got married, moved elsewhere or something else? What do you think?
  • If you know what happened to Annie Nailas and have more evidence about her life or even photos of her, we would love to hear from you! You can contact us by emailing info@devilsporridge.org.uk

Sources and Further Reading

[1] Dumfries and Galloway Standard newspaper, Wednesday 24th January 1917.

[2] Bank of England, Inflation Calculator – https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/monetary-policy/inflation/inflation-calculator

[3] Worker of the Week: Minne Turnbull – https://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-the-week-minnie-turnbull

[4]Worker of the Week: Bertha and George Bradly – https://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-the-week-bertha-and-george-bradley

[5] Worker of the Week: Sarah Carter – https://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-the-week-sarah-carter

 

Read Annie Nailas (Nailes) online database entry by clicking 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 could 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>

Front cover of "The Gondoliers" programme from performances at The Border Hall of Gretna, a violin in front of a piano, a spotlighted violin and the inside of The Border Hall in Gretna with a stage curtain at the other end of a large hall in a collage of four photos.

Worker of the Week: Stewart Clifford Phipps

By Collections blog

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 thanks to all our amazing volunteers as always. This week’s Worker of the Week, Stewart Clifford Phips worked as a clerk for H.M. Factory Gretna, who played the violin. 

Early Life

  • Stewart was born on 9th February 1880 in Birkenhead, Merseyside.
  • Born Clifford Stewart Phipps, Stewart seems to have reversed his name. Possibly for professional reasons.
  • His parents were Alexander James and Elizabeth (Betsie) Phipps.
  • Alexander was a professor of music.
  • It seems Stewart went to Brikenhead College of Music and Organ School.

Musical Career

  • The 1911 census shows that Stewart was a violinist in Hartlepool.
  • In 1913, he seems to have become the musical director at Clarence Picture House in Newport.
  • In 1916 he appears to be the musical director at King’s Cinema in Perth.

Marriage?

  • We have not found many details about Stewarts marriage so far, but it appears he was married to Catherine Chalenor Phipps.
  • We do not know when or when they married yet.

H.M. Factory Gretna

  • Stewart is on the Gretna Electoral Roll as a Clerk for the munitions factory.
  • As a Clerk it is possible that Stewart would have worked the administration buildings in Gretna.

(It is important to note that the nine-mile rural site of H.M. Factory Gretna actually stretched from Longtown in England to Dornock in Scotland. It’s namesake Gretna, where Stewart would have been likely to work, and Eastriggs also played a vital part; being the two townships built to house as well as provide facilities to those who moved to the area to work at the factory.)

Performances at The Border Hall, Gretna

  • There were many recreational activities that H.M. Factory Gretna workers could get involved with.
  • This includes musical performances given in the Border Hall in Gretna. [1] [3]
  • We know Stewart was involved in at least two of these performances.
Exterior of the Border Hall. This is a archive photo from the past.

Exterior of the Border Hall.

  • Stewart was the Leader of the Orchestra and violinist in a performance of Cheerio Gretna in 1917. [1]
  • This was preformed by members of the Women’s Police Force at H.M. Factory Gretna, including Constable Hermione Feildon, who also wrote the performance. [2]

 

Front cover of a programme for the Gretna Choral and Operatic Society at The Border Hall Gretna in 1918.

The front of The Gondoliers programme.

 

  • Similarly, Stewart appears to have been involved in at least one performance of The Gretna Choral and Operatic Society. [3]
  • In a December 1918 performance of The Gondoliers, a “MR. S. C. PHIPPS” is listed in the programme as one of the “LEADERS OF THE ORCHESTRA.”[3]
  • Based on this evidence and his history we think Mr S. C. Phipps is Stewart. What do you think?
  • If so, Stewart would have worked alongside performers Egerton Sayer [4], Thomas Dippie [5] and instigating member of The Gretna Choral and Operatic Society (besides an actor and the stage manager for this performance of The Gondoliers) Alexander McKenzie Lupton.[6]

Paper programme for a performance of The Gondoliers at The Border Hall, Gretna in December 1918. A.M. Lupton appears as stage manager and in the cast list. There is also information about the special trains for the performance.

  • We know that The Gretna Choral and Operatic Society held at least three prior performances.[3]
  • Given Stewart’s musical credentials could he have also been involved in these? We don’t know for sure and have found no further evidence so far. What do you think?
Inside The Border Hall in Gretna. This is an archive photo.

Inside The Border Hall in Gretna where Alexander and Thomas would have preformed with The Gretna Choral and Operatic Society.

Later Life and Teaching

  • By 1923 Stewart had become a violinist and the Futurist Cinema in Rhy.
  • In 1939 he changed his job again to become a music teacher in Liverpool.

 

  • Stewart Clifford Phipps died in 1977 in Liverpool.

 

Sources and Further Reading

[1] Dumfries and Galloway Standard newspaper,  25th July 1917.

[2] Worker of the Week: Mary Hermione Feildon – https://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-the-week-mary-hermione-feildon

[3] Gretna Choral and Operatic Society, The Gondoliers programme, December 1918 from The Devil’s Porridge Museum’s archive.

[4] Worker of The Week: Egerton Sayer – https://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-the-week-egerton-sayer

[5] Worker of The Week: Alexander McKenzie Lupton – https://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-the-week-alexander-mckenzie-lupton

[5] Worker of The Week: Thomas Dippie – https://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-the-week-thomas-geroge-dippie

 

Find Stewart Clifford Phipps Online Database Entry by clicking 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>

Martha Hannah Beech in her munitions workers uniform.

Worker of the Week: Martha Hannah Beech

By Collections blog

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  Thanks goes to all our research volunteers!

For this week’s Worker of the Week, we are taking the time to remember Martha Hannah Beech, who sadly died as a result of an accident at the factory.

Early Life

On 14th May 1899, Martha Hannah Pigg was born in County Durham to William Charles and Margaret Jane nee Walker.

According to the 1901 census, Martha’s father, William is a steel moulder. At this point the family appear to still be living at Washington in Durham.

By the 1911 census, he is a deputy overman underground and Martha is the eldest of 10 children, 7 of which survived. The family were living at Seaham Harbour, Durham.

Marriage

In July 1915, Maratha Hannah Pigg married George Henry Beech. [3]

George Henry Beech was a soldier. We have found records, which suggest he was in Staffordshire Regiment living at Eden Hostel in 1917. [3]

They had one son in December 1915. Sadly it seems that their son may have died only a year later.

H.M. Factory Gretna

Martha Hannah Beech in her munitions workers uniform.

Photo source: https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7673298

During World War One, it seems that Martha worked at a munitions factory. We think this is highly likely to have been H.M. Factory Gretna, as the nine-mile rural site of the factory stretched from Longtown in England to Dornock in Scotland (with Eastriggs and Gretna townships being built to accommodate those who came to work there), especially she seems to have spent time in Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle after the accident, which wasn’t that far away from the H.M. Factory Gretna. [1]

On 25th May 1917, Martha died as a result of burns from an explosion in a munitions factory in Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle. [1]

H.M. Factory Gretna did have its own hospitals and we don’t know why Martha was sent to the hospital in Carlisle instead one of these. Could it be due to the nature of Martha’s injuries, the proximity she was to the nearest hospital, because the Factory hospitals were full,  or was it an attempt to reduce rumours around the Factory? What do you think?

Inside Gretna Works Hospital. Photo from The Devil's Porridge Museum Archive.

Inside Gretna Works Hospital. Photo from The Devil’s Porridge Museum Archive.

This was not the first fatal explosion at H.M. Factory Gretna, only around two months before on the 27th March 1917, Roberta Robertson sadly died in an explosion.[2] So far we haven’t found any evidence to suggest that Martha’s death was reported as much in the local newspapers. This could be purely coincidental, but could it be a possibility that information about another fatal accident at the factory so soon after the first could have been seen as damaging to morale? What other reasons do you think could explain this?

Remembering Martha

There is a memorial to Maratha in Seaham Church and Seaham War Memorial where she once lived, prior to her time working at the Factory. [1]

The Imperial War Museum’s website also has a page remembering Maratha Hannah Beech, which can be found below.[1]

We’re proud to have been able to remember Maratha in this blog post and on our Miracle Workers Database.

Sources and Further Reading

[1] Lives of the First World War Martha Hannah Beech, The Imperial War Museum – https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7673298

[2] Worker of the Week: Robert Robertson, The Devil’s Porridge Museum – https://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-the-week-roberta-robertson

[3] George Henry Beech Online Database entry – https://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/hm-factory-gretna-workers-database/name/george-beech

Photo source: The Imperial War Museum. – https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7673298

Find Martha Hannah Beech’s 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>

Munition girls going off duty Gretna township station. This photo is from the museum's archive. Some text at the top read "returning form work- Gretna Township station."

Worker of the Week: Harry Ainsworth

By Collections blog

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  This week’s Worker of the Week, Harry Ainsworth, who seems have been involved in some “unbuisness- like methods” during his time at the factory. As always thanks to all our amazing research volunteers.

Early Life

  • On the 10th June 1883 in Wakefield, Yorkshire, Harry was born to George Ainsworth and Eliza nee Land.
  • He had 9 surviving siblings.
  • George worked as a lamplighter and chapel keeper.
  • According to census records, the family seemed to move between several different addresses in Wakefield.

Wire Fitter

  • By the 1901 census, Harry is the oldest of the children living with his parents at 17.
  • He worked as a ‘wire winder,’ as did one of his younger brothers.
  • At this time there were three wire / rope manufactures in Wakefield.

Married Life

  • On 22nd November 1909, Harry married Annie Hudson at Wakefield and one of Harry’s younger sisters was a witness.
  • Annie was a widow and already had 4 sons prior to her marriage with Harry.
  • In May 1910, Annie and Harry had another son, this record shows that they were still living in Wakefield.
  • By 1911, the family are living in three rooms. Harry is working as an “iron founder moulder and economiser pipe maker” according to the census.

“Unbuisness-Like Methods” at H.M. Factory Gretna

  • Next we find Harry living C2 Hostel, Ottawa Road in Eastriggs. [1]
A table with doorways into a bedroom. This is inside a hostel for H.M. Factory Gretna in the past.

Could the inside of Harry’s hostel have looked similar to this photo, which was taken inside a hostel for H.M. Factory Gretna?

  • It seems he was employed as a fitter at H.M. Factory Gretna under the management of Mr Auld. [1] [2]
  • Although, we don’t know when he started at the factory, according to the Dumfries and Galloway Standard newspaper he must have been there in 1918:

“In Dumfries Sheriff Court on Friday, Harry Ainsworth, Fitter, C 2 Hostel, Owttawa Road Eastriggs, was charged with having defrauded the Ministry of Munitions of the sum of 14s 6d, with respect that he on 21st February at the clocking station at the clocking station in the gun-cotton drying area, clocked his card at 11.23a.m., and at the fitters’ shop, inside area, entered in the time book 11.23a.m., as the time at which he commenced work on said date; the fact being that he did not commence work until 6p.m. Accused pleaded not guilty…”

– ‘”Unbusiness-Like Methods” at Gretna’, The Dumfries and Galloway Standard newspaper, Wednesday 20th March 1918. [1]

  • This goes on to explain that after receiving his calling up notice, Harry went to Gretna to make the military authorities aware of his protection certificate (presumably from working at H.M. Factory Gretna) with the permission of his supervisor, Mr Auld. [1] [2]
  • However, Harry clocked on before he left the factory, which meant this was recorded as a 19 hour shift. [1]
  • Mr Auld revealed that whilst he had given Harry a train ticket to go to Gretna, he had not given Harry permission to do this in the Ministry’s time and did not agree with him having done so.[1]
  • Despite this accusation Harry pleaded not guilty, arguing that it was custom for men to go to Gretna in the Ministry’s time after they were called up and it was done with the knowledge of superior officials! [1]

 

Munition girls going off duty Gretna township station. This photo is from the museum's archive.

The train station at Gretna township. Could Harry have been here while he had clocked on at the factory?

  • According to the newspaper, the Sheriff Champion, found the case unproven and seemed somewhat disapproving as can be seen below. [1]

“He was afraid very casual customs might prevail at Gretna. Probably they would be better of revision: but bringing up any particular individual and charging him with an offence under the regulations was not the fairest way to institute reform. Anything more unbusiness-like than this practice one could scarcely imagine, and it was little wonder that expenses ran up at Gretna if this was the way they did business.”

– ‘”Unbusiness-Like Methods” at Gretna’, The Dumfries and Galloway Standard newspaper, Wednesday 20th March 1918. [1]

(Although, referred to in the article as the “at Gretna” 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. It’s unlikely that they would wish to reveal the exact location of the munitions factory in the press at the time, which could be perhaps the reason for this.)

  • The same newspaper reported that an inquiry should be made into business methods at the Factory, in response to the Sheriff Champion’s comments. [1]

Royal Engineers

  • Following this in March 1918, Harry joined the Royal Engineers after being called up.

Later Life

  • According to the 1939 Register, Harry is working as a fitter’s mate at the railway and living in Wakefield with Annie.
  • Similarly, it appears that some of his siblings were also involved in the railway as were his and Annie’s children.

 

  • In 1950, Annie died.
  • Harry died in October 1966, aged 83 years old.

Sources and Further Reading

[1] ‘”Unbusiness-Like Methods” at Gretna, The Dumfries and Galloway Standard newspaper, Wednesday 202th March 1918.

[2] James Cecil William Auld, Miracle Workers Database Entry – https://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/hm-factory-gretna-workers-database/name/james-auld

Find Harry Ainsworth’s online database entry by clicking 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>

The inside of a hostel, the outside of one of the hostels, a hostel messroom and some cubical in a hostel in a collage of four photos.

Worker of the Week: Christina Muddie Thom

By Collections blog

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 you goes out to our amazing team of research volunteers for making this possible!

This week’s Worker of the Week, Christina Muddie Thom was a matron of one of the factories hostels.

Early Life

  • On 21st June 1873, in  Elgin, Morayshire, Christina was born to John Thom and Annie nee Fisher.
  • In 1876, Christina’s older sister 6 year old Mary died.
  • In the 1881 census, the family are still living in Elgin. Christina is 7 years old and her father is a commercial traveller working with cloth.
  • By 1890, Christina was part of a large family of around 12 surviving children.

Schooling

  • According to The Elgin Courant and The Morayshire Advertiser newspapers, Christina attended West End School, Elgin. [1] [2]

“Christina M Thom, West End School, Elgin. Geography and History 54, Scripture 44, Mathematics 40.”

– Junior Certificates, Friday 8th August 1890, The Elgin Courant newspaper and The Morayshire Advertiser newspaper.

[1][2]

  • In the 1891 census,  17 year old, Christina is a governess pupil at Westby House, Lytham.

A Teaching Background

  • According to The Glasgow Evening Post newspaper from Friday 10th May 1895, it seems as though Christina had continued to actively work in education after her time as a governess pupil.
  • It seems that a lot happened in Christina’s family in 1898. One of her sisters, Annie married a miner. Later that year one of her brother’s James Duncan died aged 19. A year later Annie had a child, but her husband died shortly after this.
  • In the 1901 census, Christina, aged 27 years old, is a governess.
  • After this some of Christina’s siblings seemed to have married and moved to South Africa or Canada. No record of Christina traveling here has been found.
  • In 1908 another of her brother’s married in Glasgow.
  • In 1909, her brother John Fisher died in Canada.
  • On 7th April 1910, Christina’s father John died in Glasgow Infirmary.
  • During World War One, one of her brothers, Randolph  was in the Cameron Highlanders. James Duncan had previously served in Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders prior to his death from tuberculosis.

H.M. Factory Gretna

  • From both the electoral register and the valuation rolls for Eastriggs in 1918 to 1919, we know that 45 year old Christina Muddie Thom worked as a matron.
  • As a matron Christina would have been in look after the young munitions workers living in her hostel. For many of the girls who lived there this would have been their first time living away from home.
  • In addition to providing accommodation, hostels would provide food to those that lodged there. Matrons would also issue meal vouchers for any food that the lodgers were entitled to during their shifts at H.M. Factory Gretna, which could be redeemed in the factories canteen. [5]
Messroom inside one of the hostels at Gretna from the past. Some people are sitting at tables.

Hostels had there own messrooms were lodgers would eat outside their time on shift at the Factory.

  • The valuation rolls and that Christina had an assistant to help, as well as maid, Georgina Little.
  • She was a matron of Drake house hostel, 47-61 Dunedin Road, Eastriggs.

(Many of the hostels for the factory were named after real people, such as Edith Cavell and Florence Nightingale. The hostel that Christina worked in was named after Sir Francis Drake, who is often recognized for circumnavigating the globe and his role in defeating the invading Spanish Armada. However, Drake was involved in piracy, colonialism and slave trade.[3] [4])

Here's a photograph of Edith Cavell Hostel in Gretna.

Edith Cavell Hostel in Gretna from our archive. The buildings here would have been similar to Drake’s Hostel in Eastriggs.

Nursing

  • According to the 1928 nursing register, Christina trained as a nurse at the Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow in 1920 to 1921,
  • Her address is given on the register was the same address her sister Annie, who lived at in Greenock according to the 1911 census.

Later Life

  • It seems that Christina lived in a nursing home in Colliesdene, Strathaven in many years after she retired from nursing.
  • On 9th January 1946, Christina died at the nursing home. She was 73 years old.

 

Sources and Further Reading

[1] ‘Junior Certificates’, Friday 8th August 1890, ‘The Elgin Courant’ newspaper.

[2] ‘Junior Certificates’, Friday 8th August 1890, ‘The Morayshire Advertiser’ newspaper.

[3] Sir Francis Drake Information and Blog Post, The Golden Hind – https://www.goldenhinde.co.uk/discover/sir-francis-drake and  https://www.goldenhinde.co.uk/blog/278-drake-was-a-slave-trader

[4] Sir Francis Drake, History of England Historic UK – https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Sir-Francis-Drake/

[5]  ‘The Factory Manual’, From H.M. Factory Gretna from The Devil’s Porridge Museum’s archive.

[6] Georgina Little online database entry – https://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/hm-factory-gretna-workers-database/name/georgina-little

Find Christina Muddie Thom’s online database entry by clicking 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>

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