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.
James Arthur Wharton
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : James Arthur Wharton
Gender: Male
Date and place of birth: July 1877 , Arlecdon, Cumberland
Date and Place of Death:January 1939, Carlisle
Nationality:English
Childhood: Only son of 5 children
Parents: James and Mary Ann nee Hogg
Parents occupations: Commercial traveller and mother a “costumier -dresses”
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: N/K
Occupation: Hair dresser in normal life
Place of residence at Gretna: 46 Montreal St, Carlisle
Marital status: Married
Children: One son
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
James Arthur Wharton 1877-1939
James Arthur Wharton was born in July 1877 at Arlecdon, Cumberland to James and Mary Ann nee Hogg.…
Mary Whitelegg
Information from a Research Project led by Nigel Compton. Was a WPS at Gretna, and later served in the Ramsgate police force.
Thanet Advertiser 5 July 1919 – Announced appointment to Ramsgate of Policewoman Whitelegg Thanet Advertiser 11 Oct 1919 – Commendation from Justices to Policewoman Whitelegg Thanet Advertiser 17 Oct 1921 – Announced that Policewoman Mary Whitelegg had married on 17 Oct 1921, Sergeant Bernard Baldwin.…
Mary Ellen Whitelegg
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): Mary Ellen Whitelegg
Gender: Female
Date and Place of Birth: 3 April 1882, Farnworth, Bolton, Lancashire
Date and Place of Death: 15 June 1960, The Wardens Nursing Home, Kingsland, Herefordshire
Nationality: British
Childhood: 5 siblings – 3 brothers and 2 sisters.…
Young Whitham
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Young Whitham
Gender: Male
Date and Place of Birth: 1858, Todmorden, Yorkshire
Date and Place of Death: 20th April 1928, Chorlton, South Manchester
Nationality: British
Childhood: Youngest of at least 3
Parents: Joseph and Mary nee Walton
Parent’s occupations: Farmer
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: N/K
Occupation: Police constable
Place of residence at Gretna: Factory Police Camp
Job title at Gretna: Police constable
Marital status: Married Mary Elizabeth Cowherd.…
Abraham Bruce Whitworth
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by): Abraham Bruce Whitworth
Gender: Male
Date and Place of Birth: 16th April 1897, West Bromwich, Staffordshire
Date and Place of Death: 25th July 1965, 65 Lawrence Road, Rugby, Northamptonshire
Nationality: British
Childhood: N/K
Parents: Abraham William and Florence Elizabeth
Parent’s occupations: Grocer and provision dealer
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: N/K
Occupation: Chemist
Place of residence at Gretna: N/K
Job title at Gretna: Chemist
Marital status: Married Edith M Brown.…
Joan Wickham
Alice Joan Wickham
Known as ‘Joan’
Date and place of birth: 1 December 1888 in London
Date and place of Death: 8 December 1966 at Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.
Nationality: British
..
Biography:
Joan had a very privileged upbringing along with her sister Mary Ethel Wickham.
Parents: Major Henry Wickham and Lady Ethelreda Caroline Gordon married 16 September 1884 in Peterborough District, Northamptonshire
Major Henry Wickham
.…
Reginald Earnshaw Wild
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by): Reginald Earnshaw Wild.
Gender: Male.
Date and Place of Birth: 11 May 1889, Milnrow, Lancashire, England.
Date and Place of Death: December 1969, Hendon, Greater London, England.
Nationality: British.
Biography
Childhood: His siblings were Lilian Earnshaw Earnshaw (1889–?), Florence Earnshaw Wild (1894–?) and Vernon Earnshaw Wild
(1897–1969).…
Irene May Wilkins
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Irene May Wilkins
Gender: Female
Date and place of birth: 1891, Chelsea, London
Date and Place of Death: 22nd December 1921, Bournemouth, brutally murdered
Nationality: British
Childhood: 3rd of 6 children, affluent upbringing
Parents: Harry and Grace Marion nee Shields [Shiel]
Parents occupations: Secretary of London Water Company
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: None known
Occupation: Cook
Place of residence at Gretna: Not known
Marital status: Unmarried
Children: None known
Travels: None known
Awards/recognitions: None known
Positions held: None known
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:
https://www.truecrimelibrary.com/crimearticle/the-alibi-that-never-was/
Further links, notes, and comments:
Mini Biography
Irena May Wilkins 1891-1921
Irene May Wilkins was born in 1891 at 89, Edith Crescent, Chelsea, London to Harry and Grace Marion nee Shield [Shiel].…
Annie Wilkinson
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Annie Wilkinson.
Gender: Female.
Date and Place of Birth: N/A.
Date and Place of Death: N/A.
Nationality: N/A.
Biography
Childhood: N/A.
Parents: N/A.…
Edward Thomas Williams
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Edward Thomas Williams
Gender: Male
Date and place of birth: 5th February 1892, Sutton, St Helen’s , Lancashire
Date and Place of Death: Quarter 1 , 1971, Bebington, Wirral
Nationality: English of Welsh parents
Childhood: Impoverished and humble , one of 7
Parents: John Williams and Mary Wellen nee Naylor
Parents occupations: Coal miner- hewer
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: Not known
Occupation: Chemist- soap industry
Place of residence at Gretna: 17-19 The Ridge, Eastriggs
Marital status: Married
Children: Not known possibly one
Travels: None known
Awards/recognitions: None known
Positions held: None known
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):
N/K
References
Blogs about the individual:
Websites about the individual:
N/K
Further links, notes, and comments:
N/A
Biography
Edward Thomas Williams 1892-1971
Edward Thomas Williams was born on 5th February 1892 at Sutton, St Helen’s, Lancashire where his parents lived most of their married lives.…
Frederick Williams
Appeared in INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY 1919 Part 1
Associates
Williams. Frederick, M.A. ( Oxon.) 8, Blackbank, H.M. Factory, Gretna. [M.]
Gill Williams
Mentioned on P 40 of The Man Who Invented Vegemite — a biography of Cyril Callister, who worked at Gretna: ‘Cyril wrote to his father that not all of his colleagues had earned the respect they believed they were owed: we have an insect from Nottingham named Williams.…
Harry Williams
Name and address appears in the Dornock Farewell, held in The Devil’s Porridge Museum’s archive collection.
Appeared in INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY 1919 Part 3
Associates Elected to Fellowship
Williams, Harry, B.Sc. (Manc.), 78, The Rand, Eastriggs, Dumfriesshire. [S. ; M.]
John Guilfoyle Williams
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : John Guilfoyle Williams
Gender: Male
Date and Place of Birth: 19/10/1896 Nottingham
Date and Place of Death: 30/04/1979 Ealing age 82
Nationality: British
Biography
Childhood:
Parents: Richard Edward and Ida Charlotte Williams
Parent’s occupations: Water Works Inspector
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: London University
Occupation: Chemist BSc ACS
Place of residence at Gretna: Staff Quarters No.1, Eastrigg, Dornock
Job title at Gretna: Chemist at Dornock
Marital status: Married Elsie Annie Fisher 1925 Q4
Children: Richard Guilfoyle Williams (b.1926) and Mary Williams (b.1928)
Travels: Montreal, Canada
Awards/recognitions: ACS
Trivia / any other information:
Bibliography
Books published (Title, year of publication, publisher):
- “Textiles on test.
…
Philip Glasson Williams
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Philip Glasson Williams
Gender: Male
Date and place of birth: 26th October 1852 Oreston, Plymouth
Date and Place of Death:13th June 1929 Cardew, Dalston, Carlisle
Nationality:English
Childhood: Middle one of 5
Parents: James and Mary nee Glasson
Parents occupations: Breakwater labourer and shopkeeper
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: N/K
Occupation: Butcher when very young then prison warder
Place of residence at Gretna:Probably 29 Lorne St, Carlisle
Marital status: Married
Children: 3 girls and 1 boy
Travels: N/K
Awards/recognitions: N/K
Positions held: Chief prison officer Carlisle Jail- closed in 1922 so possibly the last one
Trivia / any other information: https://www.prisonhistory.org/prison/carlisle-county-gaol-and-house-of-correction/
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:
Carlisle Archives hold records relating to staff at Carlisle Jail in 1899
Philip Glasson Williams 1852-1929
Philip Glasson Williams was born on 26 October 1852 at Oreston, Plymouth to James and Mary nee Glasson
1861 – living at Plymstock, Plymouth.…
Thomas John Williams
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by): Thomas John Williams.
Gender: Male.
Date and Place of Birth: N/A.
Date and Place of Death: N/A.
Nationality: British.
Biography
Childhood: N/A.…
William Williams
Appeared in Dumfries and Galloway Standard; July. 25, 1917 under heading Smoking at Munition Works.
Percy John Willmott
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Percy John Willmott [Willimott]
Gender: Male
Date and place of birth: 6th April 1874, Cripplegate, London
Date and Place of Death: 18th June 1951, 25 Peel Street, Newtown, Carlisle, Cumberland
Nationality: British
Disability: Discharged from life of military service aged 45 diue to disability
Childhood: At least 2 siblings
Parents: William and Jane nee Shimmins/Shimmens
Parents occupations: Machine printer
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: N/K
Occupation: Military – mobilization storekeeper in 1914
Place of residence at Gretna:Peel Street, Newtown, Carlisle
Marital status: Married
Children: 6 born
Travels: Served in Malta and South Africa during the Boer War
Awards/recognitions: N/K
Positions held: Warrant Officer 3rd Border Regiment
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
Percy John Willmott 1874- 1951
Percy John Willmott was born on 6th April 1874 at Cripplegate, London Town to William a machine printer and Jane nee Shimmins/Shimmens
1881 – living at Fann Street, Cripplegate – his sister head of household.…
Amelia Charlotte Edith Willson
Information supplied through Research Project led by Nigel Crompton.
AMELIA CHARLOTTE EDITH WILLSON
Date and place of birth : 8 December 1886 at Alnwick, Northumberland
Date and place of Death :
March Quarter of 1969 In Croyden Registation District of London
Nationality: British
Biography: Amelia grew up in Northumberland with her siblings:
James William Kelly Willson 1884
Eileen Cecelia Florence Willson 1887
Daisy Lucy Cordial Willson 1888
John Henry Augustus Willson 1890
Lucan Augustus John Willson 1891
Francis Cecil Cordial Willson 1892
Gladys Beatrice Mary Willson 1894
Parents:
John Willson married Cecelia Elizabeth Cordial 1882 in Mullingar District of Ireland.…
