William Haddon

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Paymaster

Date of Birth: May 5, 1884 Date of Birth: March 10, 1959

Biography

Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : William Haddon

Gender: Male

Date and Place of Birth: 5^th May 1884. 41 St Mary’s Street, Arbroath.

Date and Place of Death: 10^th March 1959. Busby, Renfrew.

Nationality: British

Disability: Kyphosis or curvature of the spine.

Childhood: William Haddon was born in Arbroath in 1882. He had one older sibling, Maggie Haddon, born in 1882. She died at 3 years old when William was only two. He was the only remaining child. The family moved about a little but remained in Angus. Many in the Wideder family were engaged in the Flax/Jute business.

Parents:

John Haddon. Born: 3^rdDecember 1855 in Arbroach, Angus.

Maggie Haddon M/S Steel Born: 1853 in Montrose, Forfarshire.

Parent’s occupations: Willliam’s father, John, was a Jute Mill Manager.

Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: N/K

Occupation:

1911: Bookkeeper in Dye Works at Arbroach or Mercantile Clerk.

1959 at death he was a Retired Commercial Traveler. It is known that he was a Director of Matthew Algie, Tea Blenders, Glasgow.

Place of residence at Gretna: 68 The Rand, Gretna with his wife, Jessie Low Haddon.

Job title at Gretna: Assistant Paymaster, Gretna.

Marital status: Married on 13^th August 1911 to Jessie Low Haddon. Both Their fathers were Jute Mill Managers.

Children: Robert Matthew Haddon.

Travels: N/K

Awards/recognitions: N/K

Trivia / any other information:

William Haddon came to work at H.M. Factory Gretna in WW1 after being declared unfit to serve in the armed forces, because he was disabled. William had kyphosis or curvature of the spine. This condition can result in chronic back pain and respiratory system problems and William had to get all his clothes custom made so that they fit him properly.

William was first appointed as an ‘Assistant to Assistant Paymaster’ at Gretna on November 10^th 1916. He soon rose through the ranks, and by June 1920 he was earning £300 per annum as Cashier and Paymaster for the whole Factory.

However, in 1921 William lost his job at the factory. He was later told that he was let go because of a government policy of employing ex-service men wherever possible. William was being let go by his employer so that they could instead employ a veteran.

William protested his dismissal, to no avail. Despite this setback, William became a prosperous director of Matthew Algie Tea Blenders in Glasgow.