To search our directory of workers at HM Factory Gretna either enter any name, place of birth or place of death in the search box or if you know what their job was from select from the drop-down menu.
Wilhelmina Jardine
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by): Wilhelmina Jardine
Gender: Female
Date and Place of Birth: 24th August 1896 in Arthuret, Cumberland, England
Date and Place of Death: 1969 in Longtown, Cumberland, England.
Nationality: British.
Childhood: N/K
Parents: N/K
Parent’s occupations: N/K
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: N/K
Occupation: N/K
Place of residence at Gretna: N/K
Job title at Gretna: N/K
Marital status: Married Walter Graham in Longtown, Cumberland, England.…
Ethel Jeeps
Childhood: 2nd of 4 children. Florence eldest, May 3rd, Harold youngest.
All brought up in a rural farming community.
Parents: Arthur & Letitia Jeeps
Parent’s occupations: Fruit growers
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: NK
Occupation: Police Woman with Bolton Police, promoted to Sergeant
Place of residence at Gretna: NK
Job title at Gretna: Police Woman (Sergeant)
Marital status: Single
Spouse name (including male name):
Date of marriage:
Place/Parish of marriage
Children: None
Travels: NK
Awards/recognitions:
Trivia / any other information: Ethel cannot be found on 1911 census, thoughts are: Many of the first police women came from the suffragette movement and they boycotted the census, so perhaps she was a member, nothing to corroborate this though. …
Dora Jennison
Email from relative: Dora Jennison as she was before marriage – and remembered being told by her that she had worked at Gretna during WW1. She was born in late 1897. She was the eldest of the family of 7, my mum was the 5th born (in 1908).’
Kate Evelyn Nellie Johnston
KATE EVELYN NELLIE JOHNSTON
Date and place of birth : 31 March 1893 in Runcorn, Cheshire
Date and place of Death : March 1953, London
Nationality: British
Biography: Kate grew up in Cheshire in a large family:
Jonathan Johnston 1895
George Johnston 1896
Annie Johnston 1898
Albert Johnston 1899
Doris Johnston 1902
Violet Johnston 1905
Percy Johnston 1908
Leslie Johnston 1910
Three siblings died as infants:
Ivy died aged 1
Irene died aged 4 months
Jonathan died aged 7 months
Parents: Jonathan Johnston married Ruth Jane Green 1892 in Prescot, Cheshire
Parents occupation : Jonathan was a Foreman Fitter
Schools Universities attended and years of attendance – Nil known
Place of residence at Gretna: Not known
Marital status: Kate married Herbert Walter Twitchin in 1918 in Gretna, Scotland
Children:
Herbert W Twitchin 1920
Marjorie Twitchin 1921
Ida Twitchin 1923
Evelyn Twitchin 1924
Heather Twitchin 1927
Elizabeth Twitchin 1931
Eric Twitchin 1931
Ruth O Twitchin 1935
Job title at Gretna : Kate worked as a Nurse in HM Factory Hospital
Travels – Nil Known
Awards/recognitions: Nil known
Trivia/any other information: Kate’s husband also worked at HM Factory.…
William Shawhill Johnston
William Shawhill Johnston
Birth 27 Jul 1878 • Blackburn, Lancashire, England
Death 19 Apr 1963 • Liverpool, England
Family: Parents were Frank Johnston (1835 – 1881) a cotton manufacturer from Blackburn and Eliza Fraser (1835 – 1906) from Alloa, Clackmannanshire. William was the youngest of ten children, his father died when he was 2.…
Bryde Johnstone-Douglas
BRIDGET HELEN JOHNSTONE-DOUGLAS
AKA BRYDE JOHNSTON DOUGLAS
Gender: Female
Date and Place of Birth: 28 November 1875 in London
Date and Place of Death: 27 December 1967 in Edinburgh
Nationality: Scottish
Do we have images/photos of this person?: No
Biography
Childhood: From census returns it is obvious that Bryde (Bridget Helen) had a very privileged upbringing. …
Walter Philip Joshua
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) :Walter Philip Joshua
Gender: Male
Date and Place of Birth: 1 Mar 1881 London
Date and Place of Death: 1 May 1964
Nationality: British
Biography
Childhood: 1891 Pupil living at Arthur House, Clifton College, Margate, Kent in household of Jas.D.…
Mary Jude
Mary Jude ( Watson ) 1884-1961
Mary Jude was born on 18th September 1884 to Samuel Gelbert Jude, farm labourer and Sarah nee Judge, also of farming background.
Samuel and Sarah were married on 19th May 1875 , both 22 and of Wisbech, Cambridgeshire.…
Reginald Keen
REGINALD JOHN KEEN
Date and place of birth – 4 June 1889 Meare, Mendip District, Somerset
Date and place of Death – 15 July 1955 Meare, Mendip District, Somerset
Nationality: British
Biography
Reginald had a twin sister Hilda Maude Keen 1889 and other siblings included –
Emily Blanch Keen (1898)
Ethel Keen (1880)
John Burrough Keen (1881-1887)
Harold Kelway Keen (1884-1888)
Herbert William Keen (1885)
Ernest Hugh Keen (1890)
Parents
Robert John Kelway Keen and Emily Rachel Burrough
were married Wells District, Somerset 1878
.…
Margaret Jane Kenyon
MARGARET JANE KENYON
‘MADGE’
Date and place of birth : 4th September 1895 in Carlisle, Cumberland
Date and place of Death : March Quarter of 1977 in Carlisle, Cumberland
Nationality: British
Photos kindly shared with the museum by relatives.
Biography: While Madge was growing up the family lived in Westmorland Street, Denton Holm, Carlisle. …
Constance Kate King
Research kindly shared by Nigel Crompton, who is conducting a research project on WPS.
Name: Constance Kate King
DoB: 29 September 1884
Place of birth: Hemmingford Grey, Huntingdon
Parents: Robert William and Amy (nee Coote)
Parental Home: The Broadway, St Ives, Huntingdon
Siblings: Amy May (1880-1942), Alice Mary (1882-1930) Robert (1883-) Dorothea Emma (1886-)
Spouse: Never married
Date of Wedding: Not applicable
Children : Not applicable
Marital home(s) : Not applicable
Employment: Hospital Nurse
1911 Census: 79 Edith Road, West Kensington, London
Date of death: 12 January 1952
Location: 85 Tilehurst Road, Reading
But living at 62 Tliehurst Road, Reading
Gretna details
Name: Constance Kate King
Clock No
Date joining: Not known
Date leaving: Not known
Addresses: Women’s Police Barracks No2, Gretna
Rank on start: PC
Promotion: Not known
Career after: Sergeant – Oxfordshire Constabulary – stationed at Henley
1921 Census : Living at 33a Northfield End, Henley on Thames (see copy)
Addresses after Gretna
1937 – County Police Station Quarters, Oxford
1939 – 12B New Road, Oxford
1950 – 62 Tilehurst Road, Reading
Additional information
Constance was born into the family of Robert and Amy King.…
Walter Evelyn Lee
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by): Walter Evelyn Lee
Gender: Male
Date and Place of Birth: December 4th 1889, Edle, Bradford
Date and Place of Death: July 1975, Halifax.
Nationality: English
Biography
Childhood: 21 Leeds Road, Idle, Yorkshire.…
William Thomas Leigh
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) :William Thomas Leigh
Gender: Male
Date and place of birth : 11th December 1890, Crewe.
Date and Place of Death: 17th October 1958
Nationality: English
Childhood: One of 3 but sister died in infancy
Parents: Herbert Leigh and Mary Hannah nee Street
Parents occupations: Steam engine maker fitter
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: None known
Occupation: Fitter
Place of residence at Gretna: Probably 17 Cobden St, Carlisle
Marital status: Married
Children: At least 2, one “incapacitated” on 1939 register
Travels: To New York twice as a “fitter”
Awards/recognitions: None known
Positions held: None known
Mini Biography
William Thomas Leigh 1890 – 1958
William Thomas Leigh was born on 11th December 1890 at Crewe, Cheshire to Herbert Leigh and Mary Hannah nee Street.…
Andrew Little
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Andrew Little
Gender: Male
Date and place of birth: 15th November 1877, Hayton, Brampton, Cumberland
Date and Place of Death: 1st March 1968, Brier Cottage, Hayton
Nationality: English
Childhood: At least 7 children
Parents: John Little and Sarah nee Peel [Peal]
Parents occupations: General labourer
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: N/K
Occupation: Railway Platelayer then textile bleaching operator
Place of residence at Gretna: Not known
Marital status: Married
Children: Travels
Awards/recognitions: Positions held
Trivia / any other information:
Bibliography
Books published (Title, year of publication, publisher):
Books written about the individual or mentioning the individual (Title, year of publication, publisher):
References
Blogs about the individual:
Websites about the individual:
Further links, notes, and comments:
Mini Biography
Andrew Little 1877-1968
Andrew Little was born in Hayton, Brampton, Cumberland on 15th November 1877 to John and Sarah nee Peel [Peal].His father was 20 years older than his mother.…
Georgina Little
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Georgina Little
Gender: Female
Date and place of birth: 3rd January 1897 Aspatria, Cumberland
Date and Place of Death: Aspatria February 1988
Nationality: English
Childhood: Youngest of 7
Parents: George and Mary nee Edgar
Parents occupations: Ag labourer then coal miner
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: None known
Occupation: Anecdotally – a maid but highly likely a munitionette
Place of residence at Gretna: Not known
Marital status: Married in 1936
Children: None
Travels: None
Awards/recognitions: None
Positions held: None
Trivia / any other information: Yes
Bibliography
Books published (Title, year of publication, publisher):
Books written about the individual or mentioning the individual (Title, year of publication, publisher):
References
Blogs about the individual:
Websites about the individual:
Further links, notes, and comments:
Biography
Georgina Little 1897-1988
Georgina was born on 3rd January 1897 at Aspatria, Cumberland to George Little and Mary nee Edgar.…
Harry Marchanton Lowe
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Harry Marchanton LOWE
Gender: Male
Date and Place of Birth: 5 Nov 1890 68 Pollard St, Manchester, England
Baptism: 14 Nov 1890 All Souls, Ancoats, Manchester, England source: Lancashire Online Parish Clerks
Date and Place of Death: 19th February 1979, St Albans
NB No siblings.…
Norman Gateley Loxton
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by): Norman Gatley Loxton.
Gender: Male.
Date and Place of Birth: July 1884. Ecclesall Bierlow, Derbyshire, Yorkshire – West Riding, United Kingdom.
Date and Place of Death: 6th April 1937, Sheffield, England.…
William Mackenzie
Information supplied by family: Born 27/03/1887 Sunderland. He was in the army as a Sergt. Instructor with the 13th. Glosters Regt., his No. 18533, when he came to Gretna but he was also an electrician. I have a letter sent by him on the 28th.…
William Daniel Macrae
WILLIAM DANIEL MACRAE
Date and place of birth: 22 October 1884 in Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland
Date and place of Death: 30 January 1953 in Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland
Nationality: British
Biography: William was the eldest, and only son, of 7 children:
Willhellmina Macrae (1887)
Jane Dane Macrae (1889)
Isabella Macrae (1890)
Mary Macrae (1894)
Agnes Macrae (1897)
Elizabeth (1899)
Parents
Daniel Macrae and Isabella Burn were married
in 1884 Newington, Scotland
Parents occupation
Daniel Macrae was a Bookbinder
Schools Universities attended and years of attendance – Not known
Place of residence at Gretna: Newfoundland House, Eastriggs
Marital status
William married Jane Tweddle 1914 in Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland.…
Hazel Maria Malkin
Granddaughter and daughter visited the museum in September 2021, and said that Hazel worked at HM Factory Gretna during WW1. Seems as though she was known as ‘Ann’ during her life
