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.
Robert Percy Brousson
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Robert Percy Brousson
Gender: Male
Date and place of birth: 9th November 1871, Sutton, Surrey
Date and Place of Death: 1st July 1945 Chipperfield, Hertfordshire
Nationality: British
Childhood: Privileged with a Prussian born father and an Australian born mother
Parents: Louis (Antoine) Jacques Maurice Brousson and Clara Emily nee Habgood
Parents occupations: Editor/author/journalist ( Father)
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: Finsbury Institute
Occupation: Electrical engineer
Place of residence at Gretna: Not known
Marital status: Married
Children: One son
Travels: Travelled extensively to North and South America
Awards/recognitions: OBE after 1919
Positions held: Chief engineer at Gretna
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:
Within the biography below.…
John Charles Burnham, CBE
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by): John Charles Burnham CBE.
Do they already have a Wikipedia page? If yes, please paste link: No.
Gender: Male.
Date and Place of Birth: 9th December 1866, Camberwell, Surrey, England.…
Gertrude Nellie Cowley
Research kindly shared by Nigel Crompton
Name: Gertrude Nellie Cowley
DoB: 15 August 1890
Place of birth: Marylebone, London
Parents: Lizzie Jane Cowley (married Alfred Kershaw in 1907)
Parental Home: 4 Wells Buildings, off Oxford Street, Marylebone
Siblings: No known siblings
Spouse: Alfred Henry Rye (PC Stoke on Trent Police, see notes)
Date of Wedding: Not applicable
Children : Gladys (1915-) Margaret Jeanne (1927-)
Marital home(s) : 117 Newlands Street, Stoke on Trent
Employment: Domestic servant – employed by Elizabeth Boutwood
1911 Census: 47 Cardiff Road, Luton, Bedfordshire
Date of death: 1966
Location: Surrey
Gretna details
Name: Gertrude Nellie Cowley
Clock No: N/K
Date joining: Not known
Date leaving: Not known
Addresses: Not known
Rank on start: PC
Promotion: None found
Career after: Stoke on Trent Police
1921 Census : Living at 106 Derwent Road, Palmers Green, N13, London.…
Eric De Clemont
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Eric de Clermont.
Gender: Male.
Date and Place of Birth: 1st November 1880. born in London.
Date and Place of Death: 5th December 1918. Gretna
Nationality: British.…
Mary Hermione Feildon
Information supplied through Research Project led by Nigel Crompton.
Name: Mary Hermione Feildon
DoB: 06 April 1886
Place of birth: Mugginton, Derbyshire
Parents: Randle & Gertrude Ermin (nee Bellairs)
Parental Home: The Rectory, Mugginton
Siblings: Everard Henry (1875-1966), Ermin Alice (1879-1958)
Spouse: John Henry Money
Date of Wedding: 1920
Children : Walford James (1922-1925), Godfrey John (1922-2004) (Twins) Half-brother Frank (1915-1985)
Marital home(s) : Cowgate, Heckington, nr Sleaford
Employment: Not located on 1911 census
1911 Census: Not located on 1911 census
Date of death: 27 May 1977
Location: Blunt House, Oxted, SurreyGretna details
Name: Mary Hermione Feildon
Clock No
Date joining: Not known
Date leaving: Not known
Addresses: Women’s Police Barracks No1, Gretna
Rank on start: PC
Promotion: Not known
Newspapers
1921 Census : Living at Cowgate, Heckington, nr Sleaford (see copy)
Addresses after Gretna:
1937 – 3 Egmont Road, Sutton
1939 – Pucks Knoll, Puncknowle, Dorset
Additional information
Mary Hermione Feildon appears to have possessed a natural flair for any aspect of theatre!…
Norman Oldham
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by): Norman Henry Oldham
Gender: Male
Date and Place of Birth: 1880 Q1 Sale, Cheshire
Date and Place of Death: 30/03/1939 “Aysgarth”, Cobham, Surrey
Nationality: British
Biography
Childhood:
Parents: Joseph and Mary Oldham (nee Kenyon)
Parent’s occupations: Home Trade Merchant (Father)
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance:
BA Merton College, Oxford 1901, Temple Bar 1911
Occupation: Attorney at Law
Place of residence at Gretna: “A bungalow”
Job title at Gretna: Lieutenant in Royal Army Service Corps
Marital status: Lucy Alice (nee Phillips) Oldham (m.…
Archibald Walter Sharpe
Gretna Fire Brigade 1915 – 1925
Professional fire brigade members
Research Project led by Nigel Compton
Service and Personal details
Name Archibald Walter Sharpe DoB 21 May 1893
Place of birth Willesborough Kent England
Parents Alfred J and Margaret (also shown as Margarita)
Parental Home 23 Royds Road, Willesborough, Kent 1901
30 Herbert Road, Willesborough, Kent 1911
Siblings Alfred, Mabel, Hilda Ellen, Tryphena Nellie, John, Margaret
Spouse Barbara Whitelaw Cairns
Date of Wedding 17 August 1914
Location Leopold Place, Edinburgh
Children Alfred William (1915), John Wilfred, Margaret, Archibald Walter (1920)
Marital home(s) 86 Waverley Road, Epsom
Employment See below in Additional Notes
1911 Census Serving on SS Arracan, Steam Trading Vessel, as a sailor which was
docked at No 25 Coal Tip, No 2 Barry Dock on April 2nd 1911
Date of death 2nd March 1950 Location County Hospital, St Helier, Surrey
Gretna details
Name Alexander Walter Sharpe Clock No
Date joining December 1915 or early January 1916
Date leaving 1917
Station Annan Road
Addresses 27 Annan Road
Rank on start Fireman
Promotion None identified
Newspapers The Scotsman 1932 includes photo
Career after Rejoined Edinburgh City Fire Brigade in 1919
Joined Surbiton Fire Brigade as 2nd Officer 1932
Chief Officer, Surbiton Fire Brigade in 1933 until November 1937
Retired October 1937
Awards Mercantile Marine Medal – Great War Service
Additional information
Employment and career
Mercantile Marine up to 1911,
London Fire Brigade 1912-1913
Edinburgh Fire Brigade 1913-1915
Gretna Fire Brigade 1915-1917
Naval Service with Mercantile Marine 1917-1919
Edinburgh Fire Brigade 1919-1932
Surbiton Fire Brigade 1932-1937
1939 – employed as temporary clerk in War Office
Known addresses in Edinburgh & Surrey
1913-1915 – West Norton Place, Edinburgh – serving at London Road Fire Station
1919-1920 – 78 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh – serving at Edinburgh Fire Brigade HQ station
1921-1932 – 1 West Norton Place, Edinburgh – serving at London Road Fire Station
1932-1937 – Surbiton Fire Station house, Ewell Road, Surbiton
1937-1950 – 86 Waverley Road, Ewell, Surrey
The 1911 census shows that Alfred and Margaret had 7 kids, 4 still alive (this is we believe incorrect and should be 5 alive)
