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.
George Best
‘George Best, bricklayer from Belfast, was fined for breach of the peace at Gretna Green Station. He was shouting, swearing and rushed forward to strike the stationmaster when asked for his ticket, but fell flat on his face. In defence his lawyer said that his client had been at Gretna three weeks without getting into trouble.’ – Gretna’s Secret War by Gordon Routledge (Bookcase, 1999), p.…
James Bruton
Gretna Fire Brigade 1915 – 1925
Professional fire brigade members
Service and Personal details
Research Project led by Nigel Crompton
Name: James Bruton
DoB: 10 April 1896
Place of birth: Dunshaughlin, County Meath, Ireland
Parents: Michael and Catherine
Parental Home: Brownstown, Kildare, Ireland
Siblings: William 1878, Simon 1822, John 1885, Kate 1886, Michael 1887, Anne 1890, Charles 1892, Bridget 1892, Teresa 1896, Margaret 1897
Spouse: Hilda James age 22, Munitions Worker, O West 3 Gretna Township
Date of Wedding: 17 April 1918
Location: The Roman Catholic Church, Gretna Township.…
Jane Butler
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Jane Butler / Jane Dougherty
Gender: Female
Date and Place of Birth: 1890, Belfast
Date and Place of Death: N/A
Nationality: Irish
Biography
Childhood: N/A
Parents: N/A
Parent’s occupations: N/A
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: N/A
Occupation: N/A
Place of residence at Gretna: N/A
Job title at Gretna: N/A
Marital status: Married twice, convicted of bigamy
Children: Jane had two children with her first husband, William John Butler.…
James Casey
‘Mrs St.Clair of Tyne and Weir tells a story that is typical of many. Her mother was a chargehand in the Dornock factory, Margaret Jane Sutherland who met and married an Irish navvy by the name of James Casey from Dublin. Long after the war Margaret died as a consequence of inhaling poisonous fumes during her days in Dornock.…
Hector McIver Crozier
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Hector Iver CROZIER
Gender: Male
Date and Place of Birth: 4TH June 1896. Newry, Armagh, Ireland
Date and Place of Death: 1990.…
Michael Doyle
MICHAEL DOYLE
Date and place of birth :
1865 Wexford, Ireland. Michael was baptised in the Roman Catholic church of Wexford on 29th April, 1865
Date and place of Death :
22 April 1916 on the train between Dornock and Carlisle. Death registered in Carlisle.
Nationality: Irish
Biography: No known siblings
Parents:
James Doyle married Eliza Carroll, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, Ireland in 1864
Parents occupation : Not known
Schools Universities attended and years of attendance – Not known
Place of residence at Gretna: Not known
Marital status:
Children: 1911 census shows Michael and Anne with their children.…
Fawcett Gray
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by): Fawcett Gray
Gender: Male
Date and Place of Birth: 03/03/1853, at Geashill, Kings County, Ireland (4)
Date and Place of Death: 1933 aged 80 at Edmonton, Essex (1)
Nationality: Irish
Biography
Childhood
Born in Ireland, unable to find out any information about siblings.…
Griselda Jane Gribbon
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) :Griselda Jane Gribbon
Gender: Female
Date and place of birth: December 1887, Coleraine, Northern Ireland
Date and Place of Death: Possibly 1989
Nationality: Irish ( mother Scottish, father Irish )
Childhood: At least 2 brothers. Very privileged upbringing
Parents: Henry Albert Gribbon and Mary Maria nee Bowser
Parents occupations: Linen merchant and magistrate
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: Chatton House Boarding school, St Andrew’s and St Leonard’s , Fife , Scotland ( 1901 census aged 13 )
Occupation: Red Cross VAD.- assistant matron Girls Hostel
Place of residence at Gretna:Possibly Wallace House Eastriggs where she was assistant matron
Marital status: Not known
Children: None known
Travels: N/K
Awards/recognitions: N/K
Positions held: Superintendent – Girls Club.…
Henry Newenham Scott Harvey
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Henry Newenham Scott Harvey
Gender: Male
Date and Place of Birth: 1877 Cork City, Ireland.
Date and Place of Death: 16 June 1947
Nationality: Irish
Biography
Childhood: 2 brothers Frederick b1878, Edwin b 1879
(Family trees suggest another Arthur Allen b 1886 but not found)
1901 Clerk in Cork living with Grandmother and one of her other grandchildren at Cahergal, St Mary’s Cork
1911 living with Parents and brother Edwin at Knockrea rerrace, Cork.…
Martin Holland
‘Martin Holland, age 39 from County Down assaulted Charles Gallagher near the Crossways Canteen, Gretna. He knocked the man down and stole a parcel containing tea, sugar, beef and cabbage. He spent 11 days in prison.’ — Gretna’s Secret War by Gordon Routledge (Bookcase, 1999), p. 13.
James Charles Meldon
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by): James Charles Meldon.
Gender: Male.
Date and Place of Birth: 1 March 1873, 25 Rutland Square Dublin Ireland.
Date and Place of Death: 7 August 1945, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, Ireland.
Nationality: Irish.…
Denis O’Connor
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Denis O’Connor
Gender: Male
Date and Place of Birth: 14/11/1867 Currans, County Kerry
Date and Place of Death: 26/11/1918 Gretna Hospital
Nationality: Irish
Biography
Childhood:
Parents: Jeremiah and Mary (nee Riordan) O’Connor
Parent’s occupations:
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: N/K
Occupational history (previous jobs in their career): Asylum Attendant
Occupation: Police Officer
Place of residence at Gretna: East Riggs Police Barracks
Job title at Gretna: Police Constable PC2121
Marital status: Married
Spouse name (including male name): Jane O’Connor (nee English)
Date of marriage: 18/02/1909
Place/Parish of marriage: Dublin
Children: Eileen b.1903 and Mary “May” Alexandra b.1904
Travels: Ireland and GB
Awards/recognitions: N/K
Trivia / any other information: Died from Spanish Influenza
Bibliography
- Books published (Title, year of publication, publisher): None
- Books written about the individual or mentioning the individual (Title, year of publication, publisher): None
References
- Blogs about the individual: N/K
- Websites about the individual: O’Connor family tree on Ancestry
Further links, notes, and comments:
Denis O’Connor
Denis O’Connor was born in Ireland and served with the police force at HM Gretna.…
Bridget Sweeney
This is the birth certificate of Margaret, Bridget’s daughter, who was born in 1919. As you can see, Bridget was working as a cook in Newfoundland House, Eastriggs. This was one of the hostels for munitions workers at H. M. Factory Gretna. You can find out more about Bridget and Margaret’s birth here.…
