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.
John Henry Atkinson
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : John Henry Atkinson
Gender: Male
Date and place of birth: Baptism date – 18th September 1859 Silloth, Cumberland
Date and Place of Death: 11th December 1932 , 121, Sudellside Street, Darwen, Lancashire
Nationality:English ( Scottish mother)
Childhood: Third of 6 children
Parents: John and Gracie nee Henderson
Parents occupations: Agricultural labourer and dairymaid
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: N/K
Occupation: Police constable
Place of residence at Gretna:Kirkandrews Nether, Longtown with wife and daughter.…
Wilfred Bell
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Wilfred Bell
Gender: Male
Date and place of birth: 14th July 1892, Carlisle
Date and Place of Death: 11th February 1961, 69 Thomlinson Avenue, Carlisle
Nationality: British
Disability : Discharged from army due to leg shortening following a motor accident
Childhood: N/K
Parents: Joseph and Isabella nee Graham
Parents occupations: plumber
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: N/K
Occupation: Gas works stoker
Place of residence at Gretna:N/K
Marital status: Married
Children: 1 daughter
Travels: N/K
Awards/recognitions: N/K
Positions held: N/K
Trivia / any other information:
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Mini Biography
Wilfred Bell 1892- 1961
Wilfred Bell was born on 14th July 1892 in Carlisle, Cumberland to Joseph and Isabella nee Graham
1901- living at 75 Trinity Buildings, Carlisle.…
Florrie Mary Brewer
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Florrie Mary Brewer Gender Female
Date and place of birth 24th July 1901, Cockermouth, Cumberland
Date and Place of Death: 15th November 1995, Clermont, Canada
Nationality: British
Childhood 1 of 3 children born, eldest of 2 girls to survive- both employed at Gretna
Parents Isaac and Jane Ann nee Glaister
Parents occupations House painter , employer
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: N/K
Occupation Not known
Place of residence at Gretna: N/K
Marital status Married twice
Children One son
Travels Emigrated with family to US in 1923 .…
John George Parker Carrick
JOHN GEORGE PARKER CARRICK
Date and place of birth: 8 December 1881 Wigton, Cumberland
Date and place of death: 1946 Wigton, Cumberland
Nationality: British
Biography: John grew up in Wigton with his younger brothers and sisters
Parents: Robert Carrick married Maria Bell 1878 in Wigton, Cumberland
Parents occupation: Robert was a Paper Hanger and Painter.
Schools Universities attended and years of attendance: Not known
Occupation: Painter
Place of residence at Gretna: Not known
Job Title at Gretna: Not known
Marital Status: John married Mary Tickell in 1904, Wigton, Cumberland
Children: John and Mary had 10 children.…
Thomas Edward Carrick
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) :Thomas Edward Carrick
Gender: Male
Date and place of birth: 24th June 1896 Dalston, Cumberland
Date and Place of Death: 15th April 1981, Carlisle
Nationality: English
Childhood: One of 9
Parents: John Carrick and Mary Ann nee McGann
Parents occupations: Tailor and sub postmaster
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: Dalston National Infants School from 1899 aged 3
Occupation: Stone mason
Place of residence at Gretna: Home in Dalston probably
Marital status: married
Children: probably
Travels: n/a
Awards/recognitions: n/a
Positions held: none
Trivia / any other information: Yes – brother Jacob also employed at Gretna
Bibliography
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Further links, notes, and comments:http://www.kingsownmuseum.com/ko2590-323.htm
Biography
Jacob Carrick 1894-1964 and Thomas Edward Carrick 1896-1981
This is the story of two brothers who on the 1921 census claimed they were ex H M Factory Gretna workers, residing in Carlisle at the time. …
Alfred Heslop Crellin
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) :Alfred Heslop Crellin
Gender: Male
Date and place of birth: 8th March 1887, Cleator, West Cumberland
Date and Place of Death: Q3 1945, Cockermouth Registration district
Nationality: British
Childhood: 4th of 8
Parents: Alfred Philip Crellin and Janet Cranston nee Black
Parents occupations: Clerk to breadmill
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: N/K
Occupation: Doctor’s groomsman when very young
Place of residence at Gretna:N/K
Marital status: Unmarried
Children: None known
Travels: N/K
Awards/recognitions: N/K
Positions held: N/K
Trivia / any other information:
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Mini Biography
Alfred Heslop Crellin 1887-1945
Alfred Heslop Crellin [Crellen] was born on 8th March 1887 at Cleator, Cumberland to Alfred Philip Crellin and Janet Cranston nee Black.…
Thomas Clarence Currie
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Thomas Clarence Currie
Gender: Male
Date and place of birth: 31st May, 1895 Hayton, Wetheral ( Brampton)
Date and Place of Death: 17th March 1981 , 24 East Norfolk Street, Carlisle
Nationality: British
Disability: Gassed during active service
Childhood: Only boy of 4 children .…
Dorothy Mary Harrison
DOROTHY MARY HARRISON
“Mrs Connell”
Date and place of birth: 6 July 1887 Alverstoke, Hampshire
Date and place of death: 10 January 1962, Wetheral, Cumberland
Nationality: British
Biography: Dorothy had two brothers –
Henry Harrison 1897
Maurice Harrison 1899
Parents: Henry Manoah Harrison married Jane Johnson 1886 in Rugby Registration District
Parents occupation: Henry was the Royal Navy Paymaster General
Schools Universities attended and years of attendance: Not known
Occupation: Not known
Place of residence at Gretna: Not known, but her forwarding address after the war was 5 Lewthwaite Square, Port Road, Carlisle
The family later moved to Acorn Bank, Wetheral, Cumberland
Job Title at Gretna: Welfare Supervisor
Marital Status: Dorothy married Richard Connell 1910 Alverstoke, Hampshire. …
Thomas Warwick Haygarth
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Thomas Warwick Haygarth
Gender: Male
Date and place of birth January 1894,Silloth, Cumberland
Date and Place of Death: January 1938, Carlisle
Nationality: English
Childhood: Middle of 3 children
Parents: Robert James Haygarth and Hannah Marie nee Messenger
Parents occupations: Railway engine driver .…
Isabella Kennedy
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Isabella Kennedy
Gender: Female
Date and place of birth: 29th December 1899, Workington Cumberland ,
Date and Place of Death: 21st March 1959, Kitchener, Waterloo Township,Ontario, Canada
Nationality: British
Childhood: 1 of 11 born
Parents: James and Margaret Jane [Jean] nee Tinnion
Parents occupations: Driver fireman at steel works
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: 1912 admission to Workington Higher Standard Girls’ School
Occupation: Munition worker in 1917 then Nurse
Place of residence at Gretna:Not known
Marital status: Married in Canada
Children: None known
Travels: Emigrated to Ontario 1933
Awards/recognitions: N/K
Positions held: N/K
Trivia / any other information:
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Mini Biography
Isabella Kennedy 1899-1959
Isabella [Isobel] Kennedy was born on 29th December 1899 in Workington, Cumberland to James and Margaret Jane [Jean] nee Tinnion 2nd of 11 children to be born
1901 – 3 , Davey Street, Workington –father a driver fireman at steel works
1911- living at 25 Brayton Street, Workington, 11 people living in 5 rooms.…
George Lowes
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : George Lowes
Gender: Male
Date and place of birth: 14th July 1897, Sebergham near Wigton, carlisle
Date and Place of Death: Quarter 4 1979, Carlisle
Nationality:British
Childhood: 5th of 6 surviving
Parents: John and Johanna nee Carruthers
Parents occupations: Farmer
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: N/K
Occupation: General labourer
Place of residence at Gretna:N/K
Marital status: Married
Children: Not known
Travels: N/K
Awards/recognitions: N/K
Positions held: N/K
Trivia / any other information:
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Mini Biography
George Lowes 1897-1979
George Lowes was born at Sebergham , Near Wigton, Cumberland, on 14th July 1897 to John and Johanna [Anna] nee Carruthers.…
Archibald James McDonald Bell
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Archibald James McDonald Bell
Gender: Male
Date and place of birth: 4th April 1880, Allonby, Cumberland
Date and Place of Death: Not known
Nationality: Scottish parents
Disability : Discharged from Border Regiment with disability
Childhood: 6th of at least 7 children
Parents: William McDonald Bell and Anne nee Harkness
Parents occupations: Police Constable
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: N/K
Occupation: Colour mixer print works / foreman at Gretna
Place of residence at Gretna:2 S East, Gretna
Marital status: Married
Children: At least 2
Travels: N/K
Awards/recognitions: N/K
Positions held: N/K
Trivia / any other information:
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Mini Biography
Archibald James Mcdonald Bell 1880 –
Archibald James McDonald Bell was born in Allonby, Cumberland on 4th April 1880 to William McDonald Bell and Anne nee Harkness
1881- Living at Allonby, near Maryport.…
Mary Thornton Meteer
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Mary Thornton Meteer
Gender: Female
Date and place of birth: 29th October 1904, Distington, West Cumberland
Date and Place of Death:October 1988, Carlisle
Nationality: British
Childhood: 3rd of 7 children
Parents: John James Meteer and Mary nee Hodgson
Parents occupations: Blast furnace labourer
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: Victoria Girls school , Workington 1914-1915, Northside School Workington, from 5th November,1915
Occupation: Not known but probably cordite worker
Place of residence at Gretna:Not known
Marital status: Married
Children: N/K
Travels: N/K
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Mini Biography
Mary Thornton Meteer 1904-1988
Mary Thornton Meteer was born at Distington, West Cumberland on 29th October 1904 to John James Meteer and Mary nee Hodgson.…
David Sim
Gretna Fire Brigade 1915 – 1925
Professional fire brigade members
Research Project led by Nigel Compton
Name David Sim DoB October 1889
Place of birth Kirkandrews, Cumberland
Parents David Humphrey and Ann (or Annie) (nee Moscrop)
Parental Home 4 Moat Place, Edinburgh – 10 Polworth Grove, Edinburgh
Siblings George (1888-) William (1891-1979), Mary (1893-1980), Arthur (1895-)
Annie (1897-1990), Violet (1899-1989), Leslie (1900-1901)
Spouse Margaret Atkinson
Date of Wedding February 14th 1918
Location Haltwhistle, Northumberland
Children Leslie Moscrop (22/08/18-00/02/90), David Humphrey (01/07/20-27/06/21)
Violet (19/05/21-15/07/01), Margaret (27/01/1923-30/05/89)
Marital home(s) U 7 West, Gretna – T 5 West, Gretna
Employment At time of marriage Feb 1918 was Fireman at Gretna Fire Station
1911 Census Not found
Date of death 4th March 1923 Location Lochmaben Hospital
Gretna details
Name David Sim Clock No
Date joining Possibly 1917 – Wedding certificate shows fireman FB on 14 February 1918
Date leaving By birth of daughter on 19th May 1921 had apparently left
Station Gretna
Addresses U 7 West, Gretna – T 5 West, Gretna
Rank on start Fireman
Promotion None found
Newspapers Only death notice in The Scotsman
Career after Railway clerk via valuation roll
Address after Gretna None found
Are Pictures available None found Possible relatives Yes
Additional information
Family legend is that David died of respiratory difficulties caused by firefighting although no
confirmed details have been found.…
Samuel Frederick Coates Sprinthall
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Samuel Frederick Coates Sprinthall
Gender: Male
Date and place of birth: 26th November 1894, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire
Date and Place of Death: 9th September, 1973. 8 Low Wood, Haverthwaite, South Cumbria
Nationality: English
Childhood: One of 2 children
Parents: Ernest Merwood ( Marwood/Maywood) Sprinthall and Eunice Hulse nee Coates
Parents occupations: District Traffic agent for railway companies , Carlisle
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: N/K
Occupation: Insurance Clerk at 17 but possibly an engineer at Gretna – became a ships engineer in 1920
Place of residence at Gretna: Home in Carlisle – either 1 J(T)eck St, Stanwix of 181 Scotland Rd, Carlisle
Marital status: Married
Children: Not known
Travels: Trans Atlantic to N York as crew member
Awards/recognitions: None Known
Positions held: None known
Trivia / any other information: ?…
May Tyler
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : May Tyler
Gender: Female
Date and place of birth: 1st May 1890, Armathwaite, Cumberland
Date and Place of Death: July 1963, 98 Glossop Road, Marple, Cheshire
Nationality:British
Childhood: 5th of at least 6
Parents: William and Jane nee Jackson
Parents occupations: Railway signalman
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: N/K
Occupation: Munition worker and VAD weekends
Place of residence at Gretna: 34, Close Street, Carlisle
Marital status: Married
Children: At least 2
Travels: N/K
Awards/recognitions: N/K
Positions held: N/K
Trivia / any other information:
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Further links, notes, and comments:
https://vad.redcross.org.uk/ gretna Card?hosp= &id=15864
Mini Biography
May Tyler 1890-1965
May Tyler was born on 1st May 1890 at Armathwaite, Cumberland to William and Jane nee Jackson
1891- living at Low House Crossing , Wetheral, father a railway signalman.…
John Vevers
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : John Vevers
Gender Male
Date and place of birth 1849, Longtown , Cumberland
Date and Place of Death: 1928, Longtown, Cumberland
Nationality: British- both parents Scottish
Childhood N/K
Parents George and Catherine nee Graham
Parents occupations Father a Carrier, mother a dressmaker after death of husband
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: N/K
Occupation Tailor and local preacher – yardsman at Gretna
Place of residence at Gretna: Living in Longtown
Marital status Married
Children At least 1
Travels N/K
Awards/recognitions: N/K
Positions held N/K
Trivia / any other information:
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Mini Biography
John Vevers 1849-1928
John Vevers was born at Longtown, near Carlisle, Cumberland in 1849 to George and Catherine nee Graham.…
George Thomas Yeomans
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : George William Yeomans
Gender: Male
Date and place of birth: 15th May 1891, Longtown
Date and Place of Death: 8th April 1968. 78 Buchanan Road, Carlisle
Nationality: English
Childhood: Large family
Parents: Joseph Yeomans and Jane nee Glendinning
Parents occupations: Gardener and Estate Woodman – domestic servant
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: None known
Occupation: Railway engine maintenance labourer
Place of residence at Gretna: Possibly Station House, Dalston
Marital status: Married
Children: Two – sone and daughter
Travels: N/K
Awards/recognitions: N/K
Positions held: Staff rep in 1939
Mini Biography
John William Yeomans 1891-1968
John William Yeomans was born on 15th May 1891 at Longtown near Carlisle to Agricultural labourer Joseph Yeomans and Jane nee Glendinning.…
