Minnie Morton

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Biography

Full name of worker: Minnie Morton (Minnie Hurst following her marriage).

Gender: Female

Nationality: British. She was from Wingate, County Durham.

Marital status: Married Joseph Hurst on 27th December 1924.

Trivia / any other information:

We were delighted to have been contacted by a relative of Minnie Morton’s. A huge thank for them for sharing the following information with us:

“Minnie Morton from Wingate, County Durham, who worked at the Devil’s Porridge Munitions Factory alongside her friend Lily Hurst”

“Minnie married Lily’s brother Joseph Hurst, my grandfather, on 27th December 1924 in Wingate / Easington, County Durham.”

Lily Hurst’s online database entry can be found by clicking here>

According to an extract from her son’s life story – that has kindly been shared with us by the same relative as the information above – the family lived in Portsmouth and moved to Eastriggs in the mid thirties. When they first moved the family stayed at Joseph Hurst’s parents house, which was the Cross Cottage in Annan High Street. They then moved to 57, The Rand in Eastriggs.

Also from her son, Thomas’ life story we know that Minnie was working at World War Two Factory, ICI Powfoot “on war work” in 1941. She secured a job for her son, as an apprentice electrician with a Glasgow firm working at ICI Powfoot.

According to Thomas’ life story:

“The job entailed long hours – 8am to 4.30pm each day, apart from Saturdays when we used to finish at 12.30pm. To start with I was paid 4 1/4d per hour but as it was a Glasgow firm and Powfoot was considered an out of town contract we qualified for a lodging allowance of about 25/- per week.”

Thomas continued to work at ICI Powfoot until 1943, when he was transferred to work elsewhere.

Below are some photos featuring Minnie, which were kindly shared with The Devil’s Porridge Museum by relatives of Alice Morton. You can find Alice’s database entry by clicking here>

A page from a book with archive photos of Minnie and Alice Morton with some information about them.

A group photo of H. M. Factory Gretna muntions workers with Minnie and Alice Morton in.

Alice and Minnie Morton stood beside Lilly Hurst.

A group of munition workers sat outside, which includes Minnie Morton. A group of munitions workers from H.M. Factory Gretna including Alice or Minnie Morton.