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.
Martha Hannah Beech
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Martha Hannah Beech nee Pigg
Gender: Female
Date and place of birth
14th May 1899 Chester le Street, Durham
Date and Place of Death: 25th May 1917, Cumberland Infirmary Carlisle as a result of burns received in an explosion at H M Factory Gretna
Nationality: English
Childhood
Eldest of 10 , 7 survived in 1911 , 15 eventually see trivia
Parents
William Charles and Margaret Jane nee Walker
Parents occupations: Steel moulder then deputy overman underground
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: N/K
Occupation: Cordite operative
Place of residence at Gretna: Eden House
Marital status: Married – husband also at Gretna George Henry Beech soldier
Children: One son died aged 1
Travels: N/K
Awards/recognitions: Name on Seaham war memorial and in Seaham Church
Positions held: N/K
Trivia / any other information: Yes – twin brother born and died 1898, Martha born 1899,died 1917 brother born 1904 died of influenza 1919, Brother Francis aged 16 mining accident day before. …
Robert William Beedie
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) :Robert William Beedie
Gender: Male
Date and place of birth: 20th September 1859 Montrose, Forfarshire
Date and Place of Death:Buried 30th March 1935, Harrow
Died Gordon St, Harrow
Nationality:Scottish
Childhood: Eldest of at least 5
Parents: Robert and Isabelle nee Smith
Parents occupations: Linen weaver
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: N/K
Occupation: House painter/night watchman/ Gunner ( RGA)
Place of residence at Gretna:Not known but likely to be a hostel
Marital status: Married
Children: Possibly 4
Travels: With RGA – Canada, Bengal, Ireland
Awards/recognitions: N/K
Positions held: Corporal in RGA
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:
Mini Biography
Robert W Beedie 1859-1935
Robert Beedie/Beadie/Beadle was born on 20th September 1859 in Montrose, Forfarshire to Robert and Isabella nee Smith.…
Alison Wilson Begg
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by): Alison Wilson Begg
Gender: Female
Date and Place of Birth: 5th February 1862, Edinburgh
Date and Place of Death: 4 May 1942, 1 Glenlockhart Road, Edinburgh
Nationality: British
Childhood: Alison grew up in Merchiston, Edinburgh.
Parents: Robert Burns Begg & Isabella Begg nee McPherson
Parent’s occupations: Robert worked as a joiner journeyman all his working life.…
Isabella Burns Begg
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by): Isabella Burns Begg
Gender: Female
Date and Place of Birth: 18th November 1873, Edinburgh
Date and Place of Death: 30th October 1957, 27 Craighouse Gardens, Edinburgh
Nationality: British
Childhood: Isabella grew up in Edinburgh.
Parents: Robert Burns Begg & Isabella Begg nee McPherson
Parent’s occupations: Robert worked as a joiner journeyman all of his working life.…
Ada Ruddick Bell
Information supplied through Research Project led by Nigel Crompton.
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Ada Ruddick Bell nee Johnson
Gender: Female
Date and Place of Birth: 19 May 1878 Yarm, Yorkshire
Date and Place of Death: 15 August 1949 28 Wilson Street, Clitheroe
Nationality: British
Childhood: At least 4 siblings and 1 stepsister.…
Bolton Ritson Bell
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Bolton Ritson Bell
Gender: Male
Date and Place of Birth: January 1869, Cockermouth
Date and Place of Death: 24th February 1947 of Crag Brow, Bowness on Windermere
Nationality: British
Childhood: She was staying with grandparent in 1871.…
Constable Bell
Appeared in Dumfries and Galloway Standard; Oct. 10, 1917 under the heading Steadiest on the Bicycle.
Florence Bell
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by): Florence Bell
Gender: Female
Date and Place of Birth: 19/05/1897 at 6, Gibbs Lane, Lochee (3) (4)
Date and Place of Death:23/02/1980 at Dundee Royal Infirmary (3)
Nationality: British
Biography
Childhood:
Florence was the eldest of seven children .…
Richard Bell
Name and address appeared in Gretna and Eastriggs Electoral Roll 1918-1919.
Robert Bell
Appeared in the Dumfries and Galloway Standard 4th December 1918 under the heading The Late Mr R Bell.
Samuel Bell
The Annandale Observer is not currently digitized, however a volunteer on this project is manually searching the physical copies of this paper stored at The Devil’s Porridge Museum. Bell was mentioned in the AO on 01/02/1918 at p. 7 and column 4. He was described as a Labourer living at 28 Lady Street, Annan and the details of the entry were ‘Matches in Factory
Sarah Jane Bell
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) :
Sarah Jane Bell
Gender
Feale
Date and place of birth
21st July 1895 Kirklinton, Longtown, Cumberland
Date and Place of Death:
Quarter 3 1972, Northumberland, South
Nationality:
English
Childhood
11 siblings, early life on a farm just N of Carlisle then family moved to Northumberland to mine when Sarah was about 6 or 7.…
Wilfred Bell
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Wilfred Bell
Gender: Male
Date and place of birth: 14th July 1892, Carlisle
Date and Place of Death: 11th February 1961, 69 Thomlinson Avenue, Carlisle
Nationality: British
Disability : Discharged from army due to leg shortening following a motor accident
Childhood: N/K
Parents: Joseph and Isabella nee Graham
Parents occupations: plumber
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: N/K
Occupation: Gas works stoker
Place of residence at Gretna:N/K
Marital status: Married
Children: 1 daughter
Travels: N/K
Awards/recognitions: N/K
Positions held: N/K
Trivia / any other information:
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:
Mini Biography
Wilfred Bell 1892- 1961
Wilfred Bell was born on 14th July 1892 in Carlisle, Cumberland to Joseph and Isabella nee Graham
1901- living at 75 Trinity Buildings, Carlisle.…
James Bennett
Name and address mentioned in Gretna and Eastriggs Electoral Roll 1918-1919.
Charles Bennington
Appeared in Dumfries and Galloway Standard; Nov. 7, 1917 under the heading Munitions Tribunal.
John Benns
JOHN BENNS
Date and place of birth: 30 November 1872 St. George in the East, London
Date and place of death: 7 October 1947 London
Nationality: British
Biography: John grew up in London with his siblings:
Robert William Benns 1858
Beatrice Emma Jane Benns 1860
Walter Bowness Benns 1862
George Edward Benns 1865
Philip Charles Benns 1867
Arthur Henry Benns 1870
Parents: Robert Benns married Lydia Frances Bowness 1858 Southwark, London
Parents occupation: Robert was a Corn Miller
Schools Universities attended and years of attendance: Not known
Occupation: From census records it is possible to follow John’s career –
1891 Stationer’s clerk
1901 + 1911 Commercial Stationers’ Traveller
1939 Stockbrokers’ cashier
Place of residence at Gretna: 10 S West, Gretna
Job Title at Gretna: Manager in Stationary department
Marital Status: John married Ellen Eliza Rees (1872-1954) in 1901 Woolwich
Children: John and Ellen had two children
Gladys Ellen Benns (1902-1991)
Harold Benns (1907-1908)
Travels: Nil known
Awards/Recognitions: Nil known
Trivia/any other information; Editorial of Mossband Farewell mentions John Benns:
Above written by ‘JPR’ page 6 of Mossband Farewell.…
George Benson
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) :George Benson
Gender: Male
Date and place of birth: 27th October 1881, Longtown, Cumberland
Date and Place of Death: 6th September 1943, Longtown
Nationality:British
Childhood: Younger of 2 boys . Father died when very young
Parents: William John and Elizabeth nee Richardson
Parents occupations: Joiner
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: N/K
Occupation: Railway surfaceman
Place of residence at Gretna: N/K – probably home in Longtown
Marital status: Married
Children: None known
Travels: N/K
Awards/recognitions:
Positions held
Trivia / any other information:
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:
Mini Biography
George Benson 1881-1943
George Benson was born on 27th October 1881 at Longtown near Carlisle, Cumberland to William John and Elizabeth nee Richardson.…
Irvin Bentley
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) :Irvin Bentley alias Herbert Taylor. He gained employment at Gretna as Herbert Taylor
Gender: Male
Date and place of birth: 1872 Hipperholme, Bradford
Date and Place of Death: Second quarter 1937 at West Bowling, Bradford
Nationality: English
Childhood: Normal
Parents: William Henry Bentley and Mary Anne nee Taylor
Parents occupations: Quarrier – delver
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: None known
Occupation: Quarry man but at Gretna was a coal depot foreman
Place of residence at Gretna: Newfoundland Hostel, Butterdales, Dornock
Marital status: Married 2 times concurrently.…
