Thanks to a relative of Margaret Orman who has kindly taken the time to get in touch and share this information and photos with us.

Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by): Margaret Orman (known as Maggie).

Gender: Female

Date and Place of Birth: 17^th September 1896 in Edinburgh.

Date and Place of Death: 2^nd August 1976 in Edinburgh.

Nationality: Scottish.

Childhood: Margaret had three siblings, all born in Edinburgh.

Parents: George and Margaret Orman (nee Moffat).

Parent’s occupations: George was a picture frame maker.

Schools / universities attended and years of attendance:

North Canongate Primary School, Edinburgh

Dr. Guthrie’s Industrial School, Edinburgh.

Occupation: Domestic service (prior to Gretna).

Place of residence at Gretna: 0 East 7 Township Gretna.

Job title at Gretna: Munitions worker.

Marital status: She married George Cowan on 2^nd April 1921.

Children: Four daughters. Her eldest daughter Margaret Sweeny Orman (Peggy) was born in 1917.

Travels: N/K

Awards/recognitions: N/K

Trivia / any other information:

Margaret Orman’s relative kindly got in touch with us to share:

“My grandmother, Margaret Orman, worked there during the First World War as a munitions worker and, in fact, my mother was born there. My mother’s birth certificate shows she was born on 27th May 1917 at 0 East 7 Township Gretna. Her name was registered as Margaret Sweeny Orman. No details of father.”

She also took the time to share that:

“Their mother died in 1906, aged just 34 years and the children were removed to Industrial Schools in Edinburgh in 1908 (boys to one and girls to another) to stay until they reached 16 years. Both girls then went into service.

In 1917 Margaret (known as Maggie) was working as a Munitions Worker at the factory at Gretna. She gave birth to a daughter, also Margaret, on 27th May, 1917 at 0 East 7 Township, Gretna. The birth was registered by Margaret Snr on 28th June, 1917, when the child’s name was given as Margaret Sweeny Orman. No details of the father. When Margaret Jnr grew up her mother told her the name “Sweeny” was in tribute to the midwife who delivered her but the family suspect it may have been the name of the father. However, Margaret Jnr was told that her father had died during the First World War.

At some point after that both mother and child returned to Edinburgh where Margaret Snr married George Cowan on 2^nd April 1921. Her occupation then was listed as “Restaurant Cook”. Presumably it was this wedding which prompted the request for a birth certificate for Margaret Jnr (who was known as Peggy) which was issued on 24^th January 1922. Apparently, the original certificate was lost.

George took Margaret Jnr on as one of his own and he and Margaret Snr went on to have three more daughters. They stayed together until George’s death in 1959.”

Another thank you to Margaret Orman’s granddaughter for sharing some photos with us.

References

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