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Photo of Annie Nailas

Annie Nailas

Munitions Worker

Biography

Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Annie Nailas [Nailes]
Gender: Female
Date and place of birth: January 1895, Dudley, Tynemouth, Northumberland
Date and Place of Death: Not known
Nationality: British
Childhood: 4th of 6 children
Parents: Patrick and Mary nee Jordan
Parents occupations: Coalminer putter
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: N/K
Occupation: Munition worker
Place of residence at Gretna: Hostel N East 2 Gretna
Marital status: Not known
Children: None known
Travels: N/K
Awards/recognitions: N/K
Positions held: N/K
Trivia / any other information: Imprisoned at least twice and spent time in a ‘home for friendless girls’
Bibliography
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Mini Biography
Annie Nailas [ Nailes ] 1895
Annie Nailes [ Nailas] was born in Dudley , Northumberland in January 1895 to Patrick and Mary nee Jordan
1901- living at 5 Anderson’s Buildings, Dudley. Father a coal miner putter. She is 4th of 6 children
1911- inmate at Durran Hill Lodge , Carlisle a convent with a laundry described as a “ Home for Friendless Girls” Equivalent to an Industrial or reform schools for boys. She was a laundrymaid.
Had appeared in court at Hexham and given 10 days hard labour for stealing. Date uncertain- possibly pre 1911
November 1916- employment began at H M Factor, Gretna. Living at Hostel N East 2 Gretna
4th/5th 1917 January – reportedly stole items of clothing from fellow munition workers. She was given 30 days hard labour
The unfortunate story is told below from the Dumfries and Galloway Standard Wednesday 24th January 1917

“AT GRETNA Annie Nailes, munition worker, sometime residing Hostel, N. East 2, Township, Gretna, was charged with having between 9 p.m. on January and 4 p.m. on 5th January in the Hostel (1) Stolen from a coat pocket a leather purse containing about 8s, the property of Agnes Wright, munition 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 Bd, 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; and (4) opened lockfast box and stolen white silk scarf, property of Emma Holman, munition worker, there. Mr I. F. Edgar, solicitor, appeared behalf of accused and tendered plea of guilty. She admitted three previous convictions. Mr Kissock , the fiscal, said accused was 22 years of age. She started this course of theft about nine o’clock 4th January, when she took the purse from the coat pocket. The next day she said she was going to her work about half-past two. She went the station, but made an excuse and went back to the hostel. She left for good in the course of an hour, and told the assistant that she was going to Carlisle to catch a train. In the meantime she had taken ‘he articles. The total value of the articles was between £3 and £4. Edgar said accused was a native of Northumberland where her parents reside. She gave no explanation. She had been w for the working at Gretna for the past six weeks. The last occasion she was in court was Hexham, when she was sentenced to a month’s hard labour. The Sheriff said it seemed to be a determined case of stealing and passed sentence of thirty days imprisonment.”
There is no further evidence of Annie.

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