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.
Lieutenant Frederick Howard Wright
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Frederick Howard Wright
Gender: Male
Date and place of birth: 28th September 1894 Stockton-on-Tees
Date and Place of Death: 16th December 1989 Folkestone
Nationality: English
Childhood: Privileged , one of two children
Parents: Hugh Francis Wright and Alice Harrison nee Sharp
Parents occupations: Mechanical engineer ( Also at Gretna)
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: Not known
Occupation: At Gretna, Lieutenant Royal Garrison Artillery Followed by Chartered accountant and managing director of cigarette manufacturing company
Place of residence at Gretna: 15 Canberra Road, Gretna
Marital status: Married
Children: None
Travels: Multiple , possibly annual, trans-Atlantic crossing to American Tobacco Company in New York City between1932 -1961
Awards/recognitions: None known
Positions held: Managing Director cigarette company
Trivia / any other information: Yes
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J.…
Hugh Francis Wright
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Hugh Francis Wright
Gender: Male
Date and place of birth: 12th March 1864 Dudley
Date and Place of Death: 15th March 1947 East Barnet Hertfordshire, Three Counties Hospital.
Nationality: British
Childhood
One of 6 surviving children
Parents: James and Jane nee Potts
Parents occupations : Mechanical engineer
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: Not known
Occupation: Mechanical engineer
Place of residence at Gretna: 16 Canberra Rd , Gretna with wife Alice
Marital status: married
Children: 2.…
Violet Wright
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Violet Wright
Gender: Female
Date and place of birth: 13th August 1902, South Shields , Durham
Date and Place of Death: 23rd November 1959, Walkergate Hospital, Newcastle on Tyne. Home address Holmedale, Victoria Road, Wooler.
Nationality: English
Childhood: Eldest of 4
Parents: James and Jospehine nee Wetherell
Parents occupations: N/K
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: N/K
Occupation: N/K although only 16 in 1918 so possibly a munitionette
Place of residence at Gretna:N/K – whole family moved to the area
Marital status: Married in 1932
Children: At least 2
Travels: N/k
Awards/recognitions: N/K
Positions held: N/K
Trivia / any other information: N/K
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Mini Biography
Violet Wright 1902-1959
Violet Wright was born on 13th August 1902 in South Shields , Durham to James and Josephine nee Wetherell.…
Helen Wylie
Email from grandson of Helen, in March 2020: ‘My grandmother, Helen Wylie of Eastriggs and/or Kirkpatrick Fleming, worked in the munitions factory during WWI. She met there my grandfather, Harry Yates of New Mills, Derbyshire, who was posted there from the army….My recollection from family folklore is that Helen Wylie lived at home while she worked on munitions.…
Sophia Wynn
Numerous postcards letters, and an autograph book belonging to Sophia are held in The Devil’s Porridge Museum’s archive collection.
Edward Harrison Yarker
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Edward Harrison Yarker
Gender: Male
Date and place of birth: September 1898, Carlisle
Date and Place of Death: Q2 1966 Carlisle
Nationality: British
Parents: William James and Hannah nee Scott
Parents occupations: Fireman Cooperative society
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: N/K
Occupation: Not Known
Place of residence at Gretna: Not known
Marital status: Married
Children: Not known
Travels: N/K
Awards/recognitions: N/K
Positions held: N/K
Trivia / any other information: N/K
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Mini Biography
Edward Harrison Yarker 1898-1966
Edward Harrison Yarker was born in September 1898 at Carlisle to William James and Hannah nee Scott
1901 he is the youngest of 4 sons living at Randall Court, Carlisle.…
Harry Yates
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by): Harry Yates.
Gender: Male.
Date and Place of Birth: August 24th 1890, New Mills, Derbyshire, England.
Date and Place of Death: June 1975, High Peak, Derbyshire.…
James Yates
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : James ‘Hallam’ Yates
Gender: Male
Date and place of birth: 11th September 1872, Middleton, Lancashire
Date and Place of Death: Not known
Nationality: English
Childhood: Impoverished- no schooling mentioned on census returns
Parents : Peter Hallam and Ellen nee Lees
Parents occupations : Cotton dyer
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: None known
Occupation: Chief superintendent of police, Gretna- Police superintendent Lancashire County constabulary
Place of residence at Gretna: 14 P West
Marital status: Married
Children: One son
Travels : None known
Awards/recognitions: MBE , 1920
Positions held : Superintendent of various divisions of Lancashire County Constabulary
Trivia / any other information:
Yes
Bibliography
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Biography
James Hallam Yates ( Yeates/Yeats) MBE 1872-
James Yates is listed on the Electoral register for Gretna 1918-19 as the deputy superintendent of Police residing at 14 P West..…
Francis Yaw
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Frank (Francis) Yaw
Gender: Male
Date and Place of Birth: 18th February 1887, 13 Milton Lane, Glasgow
Date and Place of Death: 1976, Martha Street, Glasgow
Nationality: British
Childhood: Frank was born in Glasgow, and spent most of his life living in Glasgow, as a teenager Frank worked as a Bakers messenger boy (1901 census).…
George Thomas Yeomans
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : George William Yeomans
Gender: Male
Date and place of birth: 15th May 1891, Longtown
Date and Place of Death: 8th April 1968. 78 Buchanan Road, Carlisle
Nationality: English
Childhood: Large family
Parents: Joseph Yeomans and Jane nee Glendinning
Parents occupations: Gardener and Estate Woodman – domestic servant
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: None known
Occupation: Railway engine maintenance labourer
Place of residence at Gretna: Possibly Station House, Dalston
Marital status: Married
Children: Two – sone and daughter
Travels: N/K
Awards/recognitions: N/K
Positions held: Staff rep in 1939
Mini Biography
John William Yeomans 1891-1968
John William Yeomans was born on 15th May 1891 at Longtown near Carlisle to Agricultural labourer Joseph Yeomans and Jane nee Glendinning.…
Annie Yule
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by): Annie Yule nee Jones
Gender: Female
Date and Place of Birth: N/K
Date and Place of Death: December 1966
Nationality: N/K
Childhood: N/K
Parents: N/K
Parent’s occupations: N/K
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: N/K
Occupation: Munition worker
Place of residence at Gretna: 63-41 Pretoria Road Hostel, Eastriggs
Job title at Gretna: Munition worker.…
Maurice Matthews Yule
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by): Maurice Matthews Yule
Gender: Male
Date and Place of Birth: 28th February 1901. Sculcoates, Hull, Yorkshire
Date and Place of Death: 26th January 1967, Milddelborough, Yorkshire
Nationality: British
Childhood: Eldest of 2.…
Sir Alec Thomas Sharland Zealley
SIR ALEC THOMAS SHARLAND ZEALLEY
Gender: Male
Date and Place of Birth: 28th January 1893 at Colyton, Devon
Date and Place of Death: 20 April 1970 at Colyton, Devon
Nationality: British
Do we have images/photos of this person?:
National Portrait Gallery
https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp140726/sir-alec-thomas-sharland-zealley
Biography
Childhood: Alec grew up in Colyton, Devon with his two brothers:
Dennis Jarman Sharland (1901-1982)
Parents: John Zealley (c1853-1934) and Mary Ann Jarman Sharland (1857-1936)
Parent’s occupations: John Zealley was a Flour Miller
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance:
Wellington School in Wellington Somerset (1911 Census)
University of London (Chemistry)
https://archives.libraries.london.ac.uk/resources/UoL_Historical_Record_1836-1926.pdf
Occupational history (previous jobs in their career): Went from University of London to HM Factory and then back to University to complete his Masters degree in Chemistry.…
