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Worker of the Week: Bertha and George Bradley

By Collections blog

Worker of the Week is a series of blog posts which highlights the workers at H.M. Factory Gretna that our volunteers researched for The Miracle Workers Project. This project aimed to centralise all of the 30,000 people who worked at Gretna during World War One and, although it may be over, our amazing research volunteers are continuing to uncover more stories about H.M. Factory Gretna workers to be added to this database. We are always looking to learn more about H.M. Factory Gretna workers so if you know anything about a H.M. Factory Gretna worker please feel free to get in touch with us by contacting info@devilsporridge.org.uk  We’ve all eaten potatoes, but this week’s married couple for Worker of the Week, Bertha and George Bradly, were once accused of stealing them!

George Frederick Bradley was born on 25th November 1882 at Gargrave, North Yorkshire. His parents were James and Mary Ann Bradley. His father was described simply as a ‘worker’ when George was baptised in 1883 at Carleton in Craven. Not much more about George has been found until his marriage to Bertha in 1904.

A couple of years after George’s birth, Bertha Thomas was born in 1884 in Nelson, Lancashire. She was the youngest of 7 children to her mother Sarah and her father, also called James. This James worked as a worked cotton weaver.

In 1891, Bertha and family were still living in Nelson, Lancashire. However, sadly Sarah is now a widow.

By 1901, Bertha is working as a draper’s shop assistant.

On 16th January 1904 Bertha married George Frederick Bradley at Burnley Parish Church.

After his marriage, George seems to have been involved in some criminal behaviour. In 1906, George (who was described as a coachman) was tried at Preston Court and imprisoned for 4 months with hard labour. What had George done? Well he’d stolen jewellery and clocks worth more than… £5! Of course,  £5 in 1906 could now be worth around £513.76 (as of October 2024) according to an approximate estimate from the Bank of England’s Inflation Calculator.[1]

By the 1911 census, Bertha and George are living in four rooms Nelson in Lancashire and now have 2 children. George is working as a carter.

Although, it’s impossible to place how exactly or if Bertha and George worked at H.M. Factory Gretna, we have found record of them both living at “West 14 Township Gretna” in 1917. It is likely that they might have moved to work at H.M. Factory Gretna, as many people moved to Gretna to do this. Perhaps George continued to work as a carter in some from during his time at Gretna. Unfortunately, we may never know for sure, but what do know about is a potato plot, reported in The Dumfries and Galloway Standard. [2]

So what did the potato plot entail? According to The Dumfries and Galloway standard George and Bertha were accused with pinching:

  • Approximately 10 stones of potatoes;
  • About 3 stones of carrots;
  • Around 3 lbs of beetroot;
  • 3 leeks;
  • and the small straw bag.

All from the Ministry of Munitions at the central cooking kitchen at Gretna township between the 3rd and 5th May 1906! But what exactly happened?

From what the Dumfries and Galloway Standard newspaper reported that theft seemed to have been happening in the central kitchen for some time. With suspicions running high, attention was drawn towards Bertha and George. What sort of suspicious behaviour had to cast them as a suspect remains a mystery to us (perhaps someone glimpsed George smuggling carrots out of the kitchen, or three leeks in his shoes!), but we do know a keen watch was started to catch the food thief.

Just as all the people in the kitchen were tucking into their breakfast one morning, Bertha and George were alleged to have sprung into action. A bag of around 10 stones potatoes was mysteriously taken from the kitchen. Only for them – as in Bertha and George, not the potatoes – to be suspiciously seen entering the stable shortly after being in the kitchen.

Following this, another carter (and possible accomplice) John Irving found a mysterious bag of around 10 stones of potatoes in a lorry and took it. Apparently, he thought the bag contained carrots, so John put it in the stable. Perhaps, in John’s instance it was simply a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. John was from Cannobie and had served with the Lanarkshire Yeomanny. At the time of the incident he had a wife and six children. Although, the newspaper records John having no intention of taking the potatoes for his own personal use he did indeed move them to the stable…

Either way, from the newspapers account we know that George and John, or “the male accused pleaded guilty to taking ten stones of potatoes, but the female accused pleased not guilty.” “The Fiscal accepted this plea, and deserted the diet against the female accused.”[2]

The final outcome was that those accused “must each pay a fine with the alternative of fourteen days imprisonment.” The fact that the accused “had good character” and “were perfectly well aware that they ought not to help themselves to things without permission” is also mentioned. [2] Perhaps, no knowledge of George’s previous jewellery heist and resulting imprisonment was known.

Lots of potatoes. This photo is from Canva.

As printed in The Dumfries and Galloway Standard:

“POTATO STEALERS FINED. George Frederick Bradley, foreman carter, and Bertha Thomas or Bradley, his wife, both residing at West 14, Township, Gretna; and John Irving, carter, Rose Cottage, Gretna Green, were charged with having stolen ten stones or thereby of potatoes, three stones or thereby of carrots, three lbs. thereby of beetroot, three leeks, and a small straw bag, the property of the Ministry of Munitions, between 3d and 5th May, the vegetable store of the central cooking kitchen at Gretna township. Mr John M. Gaining, solicitor, appeared on behalf of the accused. He stated that the male accused pleaded guilty to taking ten stones of potatoes, but the female accused pleaded not guilty. The Fiscal accepted this plea, and deserted the diet against the female accused. The Fiscal stated that for some time past a good deal of pilfering had been going on at the central cooking kitchen, and it was suspected that the two accused had something to do with it. A watch was kept, and on the day in question the accused were seen coming into the stable after having been at the kitchen. Irving took a bag from the lorry, and it was found that it contained about ten stones of potatoes. The employees in the kitchen had been engaged at breakfast, and the accused had seized the opportunity of taking this bag of potatoes. Bradley was earning £2 per week, and Irving was getting 48s. Mr Raining stated that the accused thought it was carrots, and they took for the purpose of it in the stable. Irving was a married man with a wife and six children. He was a native of Canonbie. and had served with the Lanarkshire Yeomanry. The accused had no intention of taking these potatoes for their own use. The Sheriff said that taking it that the accused had had good character far. they were perfectly well aware that they ought not to help themselves to things without permission. They must each pay a fine with the alternative of fourteen days’ imprisonment.”

–  The Dumfries and Galloway Standard, Saturday 2nd June 1917

We know that George and Bertha must have emigrated to New Zealand some point after their time at Gretna.

On 22nd June 1944, George died aged 61 at Hawkes Bay in New Zealand.

Bertha lived to 88 and died on 26th October 1971 also in Hawkes Bay in New Zealand.

***

 

[1] Bank of England’s Inflation Calculator website – https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/monetary-policy/inflation/inflation-calculator

[2] The Dumfries and Galloway Standard, Saturday 2nd June 1917

Bertha Bradly’s online database entry>

George Frederick Bradley’s online database entry>

Do you have a relative who worked at H.M. Factory Gretna? We would love to hear from you! Please feel free to contact us by emailing info@devilsporridge.org.uk. You never know maybe your relative feature in a future Worker of the Week blog post! You can also have a look at some more H.M. Factory Gretna workers on our online database here>

A photo of Winifred Maud McLintic in her police uniform from when she worked at the Walsall Police.

Worker of the Week: Winifred Maud McLintic

By Collections blog

Worker of the Week is a series of blog posts which highlights the workers at H.M. Factory Gretna that our volunteers researched for The Miracle Workers Project. This project aimed to centralise all of the 30,000 people who worked at Gretna during World War One and, although it may be over, our amazing research volunteers are continuing to uncover more stories about H.M. Factory Gretna workers to be added to this database. We are always looking to learn more about H.M. Factory Gretna workers so if you know anything about a H.M. Factory Gretna worker please feel free to get in touch with us by contacting info@devilsporridge.org.uk  This week’s Worker of the Week is Winifred Maud McLintic a member of the Women’s Police Force. A huge thank you to Nigel Crompton for his research and Winifred’s great-niece for kindly sharing photos and further information with us! 

*** Please be aware this blog post includes references to and some information about shell shock. ***

 

Winifred Maud McLintic was born on 16th February 1891. Her older brother, Francis was born on 4th August 1897 in Valetta, Malta. It is likely that Winnifred’s early years were also spent in Malta with her brother and parents James and Catherine. Her farther, James McLintic was a NCO in the Royal Garrison Artillery, so it is likely that the family lived in British Army accommodation on Malta.

A black and white photo of a family from the past. From left to right is Catherine Reardon, Francis Thomas McLintic as a boy, his father Francis James McLintic and his young daughter Winifred Maud McLintic.

Winifred and her brother with her parents. A huge thank you to her relative for kindly sharing this photo with us.

By 1903 part of the family must have been living in or near Beauly, North Inverness. This is where Winifred’s mother Catherine was buried in 1903.

On the 29th May 1906, Francis had enlisted in Inverness, joining the Cameron Highlanders 5th battalion.

Meanwhile, the first tangible evidence for Winifred being in Great Britain is the Scottish 1911 census where she is shown as living at 30 Colinton Road, Morningside, Edinburgh, employed by the Ford sisters as a housemaid and waiting at table.

A black and white photo of Francis Thomas McLintic in his uniform and his father.

Francis Thomas McLintic and his father. A huge thank you to Winifred’s great-niece for sharing this photo with us.

On the 10th May 1915, the Cameron Highlanders the 5thbattalion landed in Boulogne, France and Francis discharge certificate states that this was his last entry into conflict. He was discharged in  on 1st March 1918 in Perth after serving 11 years 277 days. According to his discharge certificate this is “in consequence of being no longer physically fit for War Service.” In a casualty record issued in 1915 he is referred to as “F McLintie” and as “suffering from shock shell.”

According to The National Archives website, the term shell shock would have been relatively new when Francis was given this diagnoses, as it was only coined by medical officer Charles Myers in 1915 [1].  As the Imperial War Museum explains here, World War One was the first time “psychological trauma of warfare was formally recognised” [2], meaning that it was misunderstood by many people. At the time it could be wrongly seen as sign cowardice [3] and unfortunately it appears as though that Francis family at the time may have felt this. Francis great-niece shared with us that she had been told that Francis had died in the war.

However, Francis’ great-niece’s research that she has kindly shared with us has uncovered Francis’ true story, and allowed us to share it.  Although, she shared with us that, after Francis’ discharge “he no longer knew his wife and family and spent from 1916 to 1963 in hospitals and died in Edinburgh in the care of the Little Sisters of the Poor,” he is still remembered through the research and actions taken by his great-niece.

Winifred seemed to join the Women’s Police force at Gretna in June 1918, but we have not located any address for Winifred during this time. She seems to have worked here until September 1919. We know the Women’s Police Force at Gretna had many duties such as searching munitions workers on the way into the factory to ensure they were not smuggling any materials, such as matches, hair pins or metal knitting needles in to the factory. They were working with explosive materials at H.M. Factory Gretna items like these, or any metal items could cause an explosion. If munitions workers were found with these items, the offending article would be taken from the worker and they would be fined. In one instance we are aware of metal buttons even were cut off a munitions worker’s corset!

Following her time at Gretna, Winifred joined the Walsall Borough Police in 1921 according to West Midlands Police records. There are various local newspaper articles from Walsall that record some of Winifred’s causes. There is one were a 13 year old is caught wearing stolen clothing from a second hand shop, only for more  missing items from that very same shop to be found when Policewoman McLintic called at her and her stepmother’s home! According to another article she once had to “knock down” the son of a women she was arresting for being drunk and disorderly when he was trying to help his mother escape!

A photo of Winifred Maud McLintic in her police uniform from when she worked at the Walsall Police.

Here is a photo of Winifred Maud McLintic during her time in working at Walsall. Thank you to Winifred’s great-niece for kindly sharing this photo with us.

In December 1930 she resigned from her work in the police giving one months notice. The timing of this could be seen to suggest that she left to get married the following month. On the 24th  January 1931 to Winifred married George Ernest Crook. George was a fellow Walsall police officer who rose to the rank of inspector. They had two children.

Interestingly, the Walsall Borough magistrates in 1935 heard a case of theft during which evidence was given by a Policewoman McLintic. Could Winifred have later gone back to working in the police force? Or could it have been the result of one of her many past cases? Winifred’s police record does not show her re-joining the force and we’ve found no record to support this, but it’s not impossible. It would lovely to think that married family life didn’t stop Winifred’s police work! At the very least we know she may have been involved in one more case.

George & Winifred later moved to a bungalow in Solihull.  It was here that Winifred passed away on 16th December 1981.

***

[1] Shell Shock Cases, The National Archives Website – https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/medicine-on-the-western-front-part-two/shell-shock-cases/#:~:text=The%20term%20was%20coined%20in,fire%20were%20just%20as%20traumatised.

[2] Voices of the First World War: Shell Shock, Imperial War Museum website – https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/voices-of-the-first-world-war-shell-shock

[3] Shell Shock, BBC Inside Out archived website – https://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/extra/series-1/shell_shocked.shtml

Find Winifred Maud McLintic’s online database entry by clicking here>

Do you have a relative who worked at H.M. Factory Gretna? We would love to hear from you! Please feel free to contact us by emailing info@devilsporridge.org.uk. You never know maybe your relative feature in a future Worker of the Week blog post! You can also have a look at some more H.M. Factory Gretna workers on our online database here>

Graphic of Worcester sauce, corned beef, honey and cheese.

Worker of the Week: Minnie Turnbull

By Collections blog

Worker of the Week is a series of blog posts which highlights the workers at H.M. Factory Gretna that our volunteers researched for The Miracle Workers Project. This project aimed to centralise all of the 30,000 people who worked at Gretna during World War One and, although it may be over, our amazing research volunteers are continuing to uncover more stories about H.M. Factory Gretna workers to be added to this database. We are always looking to learn more about H.M. Factory Gretna workers so if you know anything about a H.M. Factory Gretna worker please feel free to get in touch with us by contacting info@devilsporridge.org.uk  This week’s Worker of the Week, Margaret Bridilla Turnbull was involved in a theft at a local shop in Gretna! A huge thank you to research volunteer Marylin all her research which has made this possible.

Margaret Bridilla Turnbull, known as Minnie Turnbull, was born in 1899 in Earsdon, Northumberland. Her mother, Mary Anne Turnbull (nee Christopher), worked as a charwomen, while her farther, John Robert Turnbull, was a tug boat man.

In the 1901 census, the family is living in a house in Bedford Street, North Shields, which is shared with 3 other families. Although, Mary is listed as being married, her husband is not present. We know he later worked with boats as a tug boat man in the 1911 census, so perhaps he could be away working on a boat, but it is impossible to know for sure.

By the 1911 census, Marry has died, leaving John Turnbull widowed and working as a tug boat man. Minnie is one of 10 children with 9 surviving in the family, which has now moved to another address in Little Bedford Street, North Shields were they live in three rooms.

In 1917 we know that 18 year old, Minnie Turnbull was employed as a munitions worker at H.M. Factory Gretna thanks to the newspaper report of some rather nefarious behaviour at a Gretna “fried fish” shop. But what exactly happened? Well, one winter Sunday evening the chip shop was particularly busy with munitions workers from the factory. Suddenly, the lamp in the shop got blown out and the chip shop was plunged into darkness. It was only in the following morning that the shop owner, Baldi Toni, found something missing! But what was missing? Money from the till? Fish? The lamp? None of the above, in fact what had vanished was:

  • 9 cheese plates;
  • 2 cans of corned beef;
  • 6 boxes honey;
  • and 3 bottles of Worcester sauce.

Does anyone else wonder what they were planning to use this rather bizarre assortment of food for?

We know that hostel matrons at H.M. Factory Gretna could provide their boarders with Borders Meal Tickets that could be exchanged for food in the factory’s messrooms. Each ticket could be traded for one meal. As described in the factory manual “these were dated and issued to the Operatives as they, left the hostel to go on shift, each receiving a number of Tickets corresponding to the meals to which they were entitled during the particular shift.” [2]

According to ‘The Factory Manual’ boarders at hostels or bungalows for H.M. Factory Gretna were also catered for their lodgers with their ration books being stored in the office of the Factory’s Catering Committees Office with “the coupons detached from the Ration Books weekly in all cases other than those departing.” [2]  It also records “employees did not realise the importance of bringing their Ration Books with them when entering the hostels,” which caused “much correspondence in recovering the books, which had been left at home.” [2] 

Meal tickets are also mentioned in the ‘Regulations Governing Employment’ at H.M. Factory Gretna with the strict instructions that they are “not transferable” and can only be used by the person they are issued to. In fact “any person found improperly disposing of, or receiving and using, any meal ticket would be liable to prosecution and dismissal.” [3] Could the Gretna workers with the autograph book photographed below be breaking the rules?

A munitions workers worker's autograph book with the Selkie Grace and a meal ticket for the factory stuck inside.

A munitions workers autograph book with one meal ticket for one of the H.M. Factory Gretna’s messrooms stuck inside.

However, what about the people who didn’t board at factory hostels? They could be supplied with food at the factory messrooms in exchange for a tariff to buy Food Value Tickets from the time keepers office at the entrance. Minnie and co couldn’t have been on shift at the factory on the Sunday evening in question, so perhaps they couldn’t access food in the factory messrooms at this time?

Compulsory rationing was introduced in Britain in early 1918, when the Government were concerned about some food shortages[4]. Perhaps food shortages could indeed be the reason for this theft in 1917? However, we are not aware of any food shortage at H.M. Factory Gretna. In fact, ‘The Factory Manual’ indicates the importance of ensuring that H.M. Factory Gretna workers were fed by emphasising that the Ministry had to be “absolutely certain that at least the essential food supplies for the general population of the Area were available” [2] with a particular emphasis on those boarding at the factory hostels or bungalows. Indeed, the Committee of Catering were set up with the purpose of helping to achieve this, as the management of the factory “realised that not only the retention of labour, but the general health and efficiency of workers would depend to a very large extent on the manner in which these needs were met.” [2]

So perhaps this was just an opportunistic theft? We may simply never know for sure, either way we know that they all soon faced consequences for their actions.

As reported in the Dumfries and Galloway Standard, Minnie Turnbull with her fellow Gretna chip shop regulars Lily Brown, Ellen Doran, Christina Lanagan and Isabella Kennedy were charged with theft and pleaded guilty. Or as the newspaper puts it:

“THEFTS BY GRETNA GIRLS at Dumfries yesterday: – before Sheriff Campion – Lily Brown (20), Ellen Doran (19), Christina Langan (19) Minnie Turnbull (18) and Isabella Kennedy (19), munition workers at Gretna, pleaded guilty to stealing nine cheese plates, two cans of corned beef, six boxes honey and three bottles of Worcester sauce from the shop Springfield, Gretna, occupied by Baldi Toni between 5th January and 15th February. James Kissock, depute fiscal stated that a large number of the factory girls were regular visitors at the fried fish, shop, especially on Sunday evenings. One Sunday evening about five or six weeks ago the shop was full of girls, and someone blew out the lamp, with the result that the shop was in darkness for some time. On the following morning when Toni examined his stock he found that the articles mentioned in the complaint were missing. The accused were charged with theft, and they all admitted it. Mr I. F. Edgar, solicitor, made a statement on behalf of the accused, and the Sheriff deferred sentence until May.”

The Dumfries and Galloway Standard, Wednesday 21st February 1917.

According to the 1921 census, Minnie had moved to Auckland, Country Durham.

In 1928, Minnie Turnbull died in Tynemouth aged 29 years old.

 ***

 

[1] The Dumfries and Galloway Standard, Wednesday 21st February 1917

[2] The Factory Manual, From H.M. Factory Gretna from The Devil’s Porridge Museum’s archive.

[3] H.M. Factory Gretna Regulations Governing Employment, April 1918, page 10.

[4]  Fighting Through Food, The National Archives website – https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/first-world-war/home-front-stories/fighting-through-food/

Margaret Bridilia Turbull’s online database entry>

Do you have a relative who worked at H.M. Factory Gretna? We would love to hear from you! Please feel free to contact us by emailing info@devilsporridge.org.uk. You never know maybe your relative feature in a future Worker of the Week blog post! You can also have a look at some more H.M. Factory Gretna workers on our online database here>

Tom Bonsor in his uniform.

Worker of the Week: Tom Bonsor

By Collections blog

Worker of the Week blog posts are back! You might remember 2021 we had regular Worker of the Week blog posts which highlighted the workers at H.M. Factory Gretna that our volunteers researched for The Miracle Workers Project. This project aimed to centralise all of the 30,000 people who worked at Gretna during World War One and although it may have finished, our amazing research volunteers are continuing to research munitions workers and there’s still a lot more to add to our online database! To celebrate this, we’re bring Worker of the Week blog posts back, starting with Tom Bonsor! A huge thank you to volunteer researcher Marylin and Tom Bonsor’s daughter in law.

Tom Bonsor was born in 1895 in Hawick in Roxburghshire to James and Margret. His father, James, worked as a hosiery manufacture.

 

Some people, including Tom Bonsor's parents stood in front of a door. This is an archive photo.

Tom Bonsor’s parents. His mother is in middle door and his father is second from right. A huge thank you to Tom’s daughter in law for kindly sharing this photo.

We know Tom must have had siblings, as seen in the photo below, which has been kindly shared with us by Tom’s daughter in law.

Tom Bonsor between his mother and farther with his siblings.

Tom Bonsor between his father and mother with his siblings. Thank you to Tom’s Daughter in law for kindly sharing this photo with us.

In 1911, Tom joined he had a attestation to territorials. However, in 1916 he was discharged from his military service, “as medically unfit due to long standing inflammation of stomach aggravated by most foods.”

Group of people in military uniforms including Tom Bonsor.

Four people in military uniforms, one of which is Tom Bonsor.

His daughter in law has kindly shared with lots of amazing photos of Tom Bonsor.

 

People riding houses in military uniforms. Some text reads Lothian Border Horse at Kelso.

According to his service record, Tom worked as a clerk at a Prisoner of War Camp.

Amazingly, we do have a have an example of Tom’s handwriting on a postcard, which his daughter in law has kindly shared with us. But what did he say?

He wrote “I will be home tomorrow. I expect about 4pm. This is the only photo I have been able to get of myself so far. Please ask Maggie to whiten my belt for Sunday. It is lying on the floor in the attic. With love, Tom.” This is a lovely insight into his everyday life; handwritten by Tom himself!

Postcard written by Tom Bonsor, which reads "I will be home tomorrow. I expect about 4pm. This is the only photo I have been able to get of myself so far. Please ask Maggie to whiten my belt for Sunday. It is lying on the floor in the attic. With love, Tom."

On 5th January 1918, Tom married Annie Tait. Annie worked as a milliner and according Tom was a wages clerk at a munitions works. It is highly likely that this munitions workers was H.M. Factory Gretna. The marriage registration even gives Tom’s address as being local to the factory at Burnside Cottage, Cummertrees.

The announcement of the birth of Tom and Annie’s daughter at Gretna in the Hawick Express, suggests the family have moved to a new home by 1918. At the time the families address is given as A6 East 12. [1]

Tom Bonsor residence while he worked at H.M. Factory Gretna. This is an archive photo from the past.

Tom Bonsor’s Residence, while he worked H.M. Factory Gretna, or what we think is A6 East 12. Thanks to Tom’s daughter in law for kindly sharing this photo.

Later, the family returned to Hawick. We aware of them having another child, Brian in 1926. Brian Bonsor went on become a music teacher and composer. In 2002 he was awarded an MBE for his services in teaching music, especially the recorder! [2]

Tom Bonsor in the past.

Tom Bonsor, this photo has been kindly shared by Tom’s daughter in law.

When he returned to Hawick, Tom worked in hosiery like his father. He is described as a Hosiery director and manager on his death certificate.

Tom Bonsor died of coronary thrombosis in Hawick on 23rd January 1959. Tom was 63 years old at the time.

Tom Bonsor in a suit.

Tom Bonsor. This photo has kindly be shared with us by Tom’s daughter in law.

***

 

[1] The Hawick Express, Friday 11th October 1918.

[2] Brian Bonsor’s Wikipedia page – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Bonsor

Tom Bonsor’s Miracle Workers Database Entry>

Another huge thank you to Tom Bonsor’s daughter in law for the information and photos she has kindly taken the time to share with us! Do you have a relative who worked at H.M. Factory Gretna? We would love to hear from you! Please feel free to contact us by emailing info@devilsporridge.org.uk. You never know maybe your relative feature in a future Worker of the Week blog post! You can also have a look at some more H.M. Factory Gretna workers on our online database here>

Poster for Crafted in Conflict Trench Art exhibition to be held at The Devil's Porridge Museum. This exhibition is coming soon.

Crafted in Conflict

By Current Exhibition

We’re delighted to introduce our Crafted in Conflict: Trench Art from the Front Lines and Beyond Exhibition.

Trench Art is often associated with the First World War, but it also applies to items produced in earlier and later wars. In fact Trench Art refers to a diverse range of decorative and functional item created during or shortly after times of conflict. Despite, the name not all of it was created literally in the trenches with some being made by civilians, prisoners of war and more.

This exhibition hopes to help dispel some of the commonly believed myths about Trench Art.

You will be able to learn more about Trench Art from this exhibition and see some examples from The Devil’s Porridge Museum’s collection that are not normally on display.

Visitors can enjoy this exhibition as part of their visit into The Devil’s Porridge Museum. Normal admission prices and opening hours to The Devil’s Porridge Museum do apply. Find our admission prices and opening hours here>

Crafted in Conflict will be at The Devil’s Porridge Museum until 28th February 2025.

 

A photo of a creepy child wearing a gas mask with a illustration of a small phone box in the sky collaged on a burgundy background. A photo of The Devil's Porridge Museum is just visible behind the background. Some white text underneath the photo of the child with a gas mask gives that images source as Wikipedia.

The Devil’s Porridge Museum’s Doctor Who Playlist

By Archive

The 23rd November 2023 marks the 60th anniversary of sci-fi TV show Doctor Who and since our usual Monthly Roundup person is a bit of a fan, she thought it would be fantastic to look at some of the times the show visited the general times or subjects The Devil’s Porridge Museum focuses on.  Read on to discover The Devil’s Porridge Museum’s Doctor Who Playlist!

Of course we are NOT saying that these Doctor Who episodes are in any way historically accurate or the views expressed in this program are those of The Devil’s Porridge Museum (Doctor Who is about an alien traveling in time and space in a phone box after all!). This is just for a bit of fun!

SPOILER WARNING! Although, we’ve done our best not to share too many spoilers be aware that some will be included in this blog post and you’ll find more if you choose to follow the links by the clicking on the episode titles.

World War One

The War Games (1969)

The War Games is a last story featuring the 2nd Doctor (Patrick Troughton) and the first few parts are based during World War One. There’s a WW1 ambulance driver and the trenches feature. Of course, it soon turns out that things are not quite how they seem and much more is going on (don’t worry we’re trying not to share too many spoilers here!). This 10 part story and not all the parts are based during World War One, but we still think it deserves a mention.

The Gensis of Daleks (1975)

Okay, this episode is not based during World War One and is based on the planet Skaro during a war between the resident Thals and Kaleds, but the first part is suitably bleak;  featuring trenches, and a gas attack. At one point a Kaled even complains about a lack of munitions or equipment… if only they’d thought of appointing a Minister of Munitions, who would commission lots of new munitions factories…  It was enough to leave us wondering if we have the right to include it in this list?

The Family of Blood (2007)

The Family Blood is the second part of a two part episode (the first part is Human Nature) based prior based prior to World War One. It is only near the end of the this episode were WW1 features. The 10th Doctor (David Tennant) and Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman) also have a beautiful moment of remembrance in this story. Both these things earn it a mention here.

Twice Upon a Time (2017)

Twice Upon a Time was a Christmas special, which was the 12th Doctor’s (Peter Capaldi’s) last episode. It features a World War One British army captain (played by Mark Gatiss) and also includes a heart-warming scene in relation to this. Well, it is Christmas after all. Football anyone?

 

World War Two

During World War Two, Hitler’s Germany were working on a new sort of missile, which could travel a long distance and gave no warning. This became the V-2 and some say this marked the start of the space age. According to The Science Museum this eventually helped to lead to the launch of Sputnik, the first artificial satellite into space.

With the space race between United States and the Soviet Union in full swing when Doctor Who began in 1963, perhaps Sydney Newman was influenced by this when he came up with the idea for the show. What do you think, could it just be a coincidence?

The Curse of Fendric (1989)

The Curse of Fendric is a 7th Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) story, which is based during World War Two at a British Naval installation. This is what earns it’s place on this list.

The Empty Child / The Doctor Dances (2005)

The Empty Child and The Doctor Dances are based in London during The Blitz and features The 9th Doctor (Christopher Eccleston).  A quick word of warning! This episode has probably one of the most terrifying monsters in Doctor Who and there’s a chilling transformative moment in The Empty Child. (Obviously, this is just the opinion of our Monthly Roundup creator person, but nevertheless you have been warned)!

A creepy child wearing a gas mask with a hat on

The Empty Child. Is it just me or does that gas mask seem familiar? Photo source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Are_you_my_mummy%3F_(6097816122).jpg#/media/File:Are_you_my_mummy?_(6097816122).jpg

Victory of the Daleks (2011)

Victory of the Daleks is based during World War Two, it features Winston Churchill (Ian McNeice) and The 11th Doctor (Matt Smith). As you may have gathered from the title it does feature some of The Doctor’s best known foes, or the daleks (we did say these episodes might NOT be historically accurate didn’t we?). Look out for the jammy dodger.

The Window, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2011)

This is another Christmas special, this time featuring The 11th Doctor (Matt Smith). The episode is based in 1941 and there’s a few moments inside a Lancaster Bomber, which is why we’ve included it here. We do have to say that it may feature a Christmas Eve excursion to another planet and some rather wooden people though!

Spyfall Part 2 (2020)

Part 2 of Spyfall features the 13th Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) and spends some time in Paris during World War Two. The episode also features WW2 British Resistance agent Nora Inayat Khan (Aurora Marion). This is what earns it’s place as the most recent episode on the list. However it’s important to note that not all this episode is based during World War Two.

 

 

Chapelcross Nuclear Power Station

Ok, obviously there’s no Doctor Who episodes based explicitly around Chapelcross Nuclear Power station, but what about one which was filmed at a nuclear power station? Yes the connection may be a wee bit thin, but this is just for a bit of fun so bear with us!

The Hand of Fear (1976)

“Eldrad must live.”(Can you talk about The Hand of Fear without saying that?) The Hand of Fear features The 4th Doctor (Tom Baker) and Sarah Jane Smith (Elizabeth Sladen). Some of this story was filmed at Oldbury Nuclear Power Station in Gloucestershire (we’re pretty sure that this probably wasn’t the bits on the alien planet though), which is why we’ve included it here.

 

 

So there you are! That’s the end of The Devil’s Porridge Museum’s Doctor Who Playlist. Now if your ever wondering what Doctor Who episodes to watch before or after visiting The Devil’s Porridge Museum you’ll know just which ones! Are there any you think we missed? Or is there is any more Doctor Who episodes you think deserve a mention? Why not let us know on our Facebook or Twitter pages?

A poster advertising Living History Weekend 2022 at The Devil's Porridge Museum.

Living History Weekend 2022

By Archive

Saturday 30th July – Sunday 31st July 2022

All Activities Free with Admission into the Museum.

 

Get an insight into what life was like during World War One and World War Two with our living history weekend.

 

 

The Scottish Home Front Living History Society will give people an insight into how both civilians and soldiers lived during the Second World War by using the equipment, vehicles, and clothing from that time. They will help to make the past feel more tangible by showing the equipment working and demonstrating how it works and what it felt like to use. You will get to handle many of the objects, which will help to bring the past to life.

They will also have some suffragette reenactors to give an insight into the struggles of women protesting for the right to vote and how this affected their everyday lives.

 

Five people dressed as Suffergettes outside.

 

On War Service will be offering the opportunity to learn about First World War with an insight into medical care during that time. They will be inside the museum in uniform to share their enthusiasm and show you some medical equipment and domestic treasures from the time. Over the weekend they will be providing short specialist talks on the Spanish Flu Pandemic, the Role of the VAD and WW1 Hospitals in Dumfriesshire, and the Treatment of Shell Injuries. You can see the full talk programme for the weekend below.

 

 

You can learn more about On War Service on their website here: https://onwarservice.org.uk/onwarservice/homepage.html 

 

A photo form the 2019 Military Vehicle Event.

We hope this Living History Weekend event will build on the success of our Military Vehicle Weekend in 2019. You can read more about this here>

 

Another photo of a Military Vehicle Weekend event at The Devil’s Porridge Museum in the past.

Canary Girls poster for online talk which happened in 2022.

Canary Girls Online Talk

By Archive

Thursday 9th June 2022

Canary Girls – the forgotten heroines of WW1 and WW2

 

Learn about the important role that munitions workers had in both World Wars & the Canary Girls project which campagins for a memorial to them in the FREE online talk.

 

Book your place and learn more here>

The talk will :-

• Introduce a Canary Girls project, started in Cumbria, campaigning for a memorial to the munitions workers, mainly women, of both World Wars in the National Memorial Arboretum.

• Explain what the women were actually doing in the factories in both world wars; where the nickname Canary Girls came from and the risks they faced daily.

• Look at the precedents they set in challenging gender roles and social class in fashion, sport, factory design and working conditions for women.

• Consider why they are called the forgotten heroines and finally, look at how they have been and are being remembered.

The talk will be given by Valerie Welti. After over 30 years as a teacher in London, in her retirement in Cumbria she has taken on various voluntary roles. One of which, with the Canary Girls Memorial Project, has reignited her interest in history.

THIS IS AN ONLINE TALK. THE ZOOM LINK WILL BE SENT OUT ON THE DAY.

Officer's Sewing Kit

Officer’s Sewing Kit – Object of the Month.

By Collections blog

This month marks the return of the object of the month to The Devil’s Porridge Museum. This is were an item from The Devil’s Porridge Museum’s collection that is currently not normally on display for the public is celebrated and displayed. The object of the month for May 2022 is an officer’s sewing kit.

Sewing kits were used by officers to maintain and mend any damage to their uniforms or clothing. This officer’s sewing kit is from World War One. The intial’s K.L.D on the front of the sewing kit refer to its previous owner, Kenneth Lees Duckett, who was a second lieutenant in the Highland Light Infantry. Read more about him below.

 

Kenneth Lees Duckett

Photo of Kenneth Lees Ducket

Second Lieutenant Kenneth Lees Duckett (HU 121492) CWGC  Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205293929

Kenneth was born on  5th October 1891 in Glasgow to George William and Ann Kirkham Duckett.

In September 1914 Kenneth joined the Highland Light Infantry as a private in the 9th (Glasgow Highlanders) Battalion. He became a Sergeant in May 1915 and gained his commission in the following August.

His brother Second Lieutenant Harold Ager Duckett was also in the 9th Glasgow Highlanders Battalion in the Highland Light Infantry. Sadly Harlold died on 07 June 1917.

Kenneth married Isabelle Sutton Laidlaw in July 1915. They later had one daughter.

Sadly, Kenneth was wounded in action on 22nd August 1916 in the Battle of the Somme and died later that day.

Even more sadly, Kenneth had led an attack which had been canceled, but he had never received this order. His daughter was yet to be born at the time of his death.

Kenneth Lees Duckett is buried at Dernancourt Communal Cemetery.

Isabelle later remarried a man called John Haggart Fraser, who was a chartered accountant. John was born in 1874 and died in 1953. Isabelle lived died in 1964, as can be seen on her death certificate from Scotland’s People below.

Registration of Death Isabelle

Source: Scotland’s People.

The gentleman who donated the officer’s sewing kit to us was given it by his friend in the 1990s, who was in some way related to John Haggart Fraser.

The officer’s sewing kit will be on display at the museum until the end of the month. You can book your visit to The Devil’s Porridge Museum online here>

Sources and further reading

 

 

Women Working in Cutting Workshop. Photo from Devil’s Porridge Museum Archive

The Dangers of Working in A Munitions Factory During the First World War

By Collections blog

Researched and written by Laura Marley.

 

The First World War broke out in 1914 and as the war progressed, the demand for ammunition increased significantly. Due to this, in 1915 David Lloyd George, who was the Minister of Munitions, commissioned the building of HM Factory Gretna in order to increase the production of ammunition being sent to British troops in France. Production started in April 1916 and due to the sheer size of the factory, many workers were employed there, including over 11,000 female workers[1]. HM Factory Gretna was the largest munitions factory in operation during the First World War and due to this there was a large workforce of which many would suffer from injuries caused by the dangerous work they did. There was a works hospital on site at HM Factory Gretna which had space for 16 patients. However, a larger hospital was later built which could accommodate a further 84 patients. Between mid-1916 and late-1918, the Gretna Works Hospital had treated 273 male patients and 516 female patients, all of whom were employed in the factory[2].

Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 1: Gretna Work’s Hospital. Photo from Devil’s Porridge Museum Archive

During the First World War, there was not the same health and safety standards that we have in place today so it was more likely that workers would suffer from injury. In terms of injury, we also need to remember that a vast majority of the people working in munitions factories during the First World War had never worked in a factory before so were often severely undertrained for the jobs that they were doing[3]. However, there were government initiatives in place to try and allow more skilled jobs to be broken down step by step, with one worker on each step, so that they were easier to complete[4]. Despite the government’s attempts to reduce the need for skilled workers and make jobs easier for the untrained workers they so desperately needed, many munitions’ workers still suffered from severe injuries at work. These injuries could include losing limbs when using dangerous machinery or suffering from burns due to the high risk of fires and explosions caused by the chemicals and acids that were used in the factory. Working with chemicals and acids also increased the risk of workers inhaling toxic fumes. Additionally, working in a munitions factory could cause long term health problems such as lung problems and skin discolouration.

 

Serious injuries: 

There were various types of serious injury that factory workers could sustain. We can see from Workmen’s Compensation Claims, that at HM Factory Gretna in 1917 there were a number of serious injuries sustained at work. These consist of 11 workers losing limbs such as fingers or even their arms. 30 suffering from less serious injuries such as bruising, sprains, breaks, or fractures of the hip, knee, or ribs. 15 workers suffered from burns and poisoning due to the acid they worked with and 5 suffered from eye, face, or head injuries[5]

One young woman, Victoria May McIver, lost the lower part of her left arm whilst working with machinery in the cordite section of HM Factory Gretna. This accident happened when she was only 17 and she was one of the youngest patients to stay in the factory’s hospital in 1917[6]. This accident highlights the dangerous nature of the work that many young women took on during the First World War in order to aid the war effort and do what they saw as the right thing to do.

Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 2: Women Working in Cutting Workshop. Photo from Devil’s Porridge Museum Archive

In total, there were 145 recorded fatalities in the factory area, with 115 being male workers and 30 being female workers[7]. This demonstrates the dangerous nature of work in munitions factories and shows that not just those actively involved in combat during the war were willing to put their lives at risk in order to ensure that Britain won the war.

Fire and acid injuries:

Due to the large amounts of chemicals and acids in use at HM Factory Gretna, there was an increased chance of explosions and fires breaking out. Due to this, HM Factory Gretna had their own fire brigade so that they would be able to get to the fire and put it out quickly[8]. HM Factory Gretna had its fair share of both fires and explosions. On November 15th, 1916, there was an explosion at the factory. Witnesses all reported hearing a gunshot like noise before they saw a fire start. Seven workers were injured in this incident. On December 8th, 1916, one worker was killed instantly due to an explosion, six other workers suffered from bad burns, and some later passed away because of their injuries. Michael Taylor had been working in the acid plant when an explosion happened, he was burned and also fractured his leg. Thankfully he survived but his leg did need to be shortened by 2 inches[9].

Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 3: HM Factory Gretna Fire Brigade. Photo from Devil’s Porridge Museum Archive

Working with chemicals and acid also meant that there was a high risk of workers sustaining injuries from them. These injuries ranged from being sprayed with acid from burst pipes, which could cause burns and even the loss of eyes, to inhaling the toxic fumes given off by the acid which could cause death[10].

 

Long-term impact on health:

There is evidence that the extended exposure to chemicals through working in a munitions factory had long term impacts on the worker’s health. Many of the women who worked at HM Factory Gretna suffered from long term health impacts due to the work that they carried out in the factory. Alice Morton was left with a yellow tint to her skin and as she got older, the yellowness became more noticeable. It could be seen mostly around and in the whites of her eyes. Ellen Stamper suffered from lung problems and sadly died of emphysema in 1955. Margaret Jane Sutherland sadly passed away due to the inhalation of poisonous fumes during her work at HM Factory Gretna[11]. This shows that the work being carried out in munitions factories during the First World War was not just dangerous at the time, but also left many with long term health impacts which were the cause of death in many cases.

Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 4: Medical Card Given to Workers on Leaving the Factory. Photo from Devil’s Porridge Museum Archive

A medical card (pictured above) was given to HM Factory Gretna workers upon leaving the factory ‘for more than 3 months’[12]. The card tells people to choose a doctor as soon as possible after leaving the factory and not to wait until they fall ill. This is essentially warning them that they may experience long term ill health as a side effect of working in a munitions factory. It instructs the ex-worker to present the card to the doctors they are registering with in order to let them know that they have previously worked in a munitions factory. This is significant as it shows that the factory owners were fully aware that the workers were likely to suffer from long term illnesses which were caused by their work in the factory. However, it is unknown how many munitions workers suffered long term illnesses caused by the work they did during the war but there have been a number of reports of people across Britain suffering similar fates to the Gretna workers above, so one has to believe that this was a common after effect of munitions work.

 

Conclusion:

Overall, this article should help you to understand just some of the dangers people faced working in HM Factory Gretna during the First World War. They were willing to work in dangerous conditions with unsafe machinery and chemicals in order to aid in the war effort and do their bit in ensuring that Britain and the Allies were successful in winning the war. Munitions work was a highly important job and without it the war would have been much more difficult.

[1] E. Ritchie, The Gretna Girls. Devil’s Porridge Museum Google Drive

[2] Medical Provisions at HMF Gretna, Devil’s Porridge Museum Google Drive

[3] G. Braybon, and P. Summerfield, Out of the Cage: Women’s Experiences in Two World Wars. (London: Taylor & Francis Group, 2012.)

[4] Ibid.

[5] Accidents at Work Panel’s, Devil’s Porridge Museum Google Drive

[6] G. L. Routledge, Gretna’s Secret War, (Carlisle: Bookcase, 1999)

[7] Medical Provisions at HMF Gretna, Google Drive

[8] Accidents at Work Panel’s, Devil’s Porridge Museum Google Drive

[9] Accidents at Work Panel’s, Devil’s Porridge Museum Google Drive

[10] Ibid.

[11] Ibid.

[12] Medical Card given to workers on leaving the factory, Devil’s Porridge Museum Google Drive

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