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. 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 Thank you to all our research volunteers for making this possible.
This week’s Worker of the Week is Maria Clennett. We know she worked at H.M. Factory Gretna and later went on to become a laundry maid.
*** Please be aware this blog post will contain a historic quote referring to possible learning disabilities. ‘Shell shock’ is also referenced separately in this blog post.***
Early Life
- On 14th June 1895, Maria was born in Middlesbrough.
- Her parents were Jane and William G Clennett.
- At this time, we know his father was working as a tailor.
- Following this, by the 1901 census the family our still living in Middlesbrough and Maria has three brothers.
- Unfortunately, Maria’s mother is listed as a widow in the census.
- Additionally, Jane was working as a charwoman.
- After this the 1911 shows Maria to have moved to North Riding with her mother and three brothers.
- In this census record Maria is also listed as “deaf and dumb” from birth. [1]
- From the description in ‘The Health of the Munition Worker,’ historically this phrase was used:
“As a catch-all for people who were hearing impaired and may have had intellectual disabilities, so we don’t know what her diagnosis would be today.”
– The Health of the Munition Worker by Emma Gilliland, Ellie Musgrave and Dr Laura Noakes. [2]
***
- Similarly, mental health conditions were perceived differently during the First World War.
- This is exemplified by how ‘shell shock’ was often wrongly mistaken for cowardice during World War One. [4]
- Previously, we have shared the story of brother to factory Women’s Police, Frederick Thomas McLintic, who was discharged in 1918, due to ‘shell shock’ through a Worker of the Week blog centred on his sister’s connection to the factory. [3]
- If you would like to explore this further you can find the Worker of the Week blog for Winifred Maud McLintic by clicking here>
Life During World War One
- From records indicated by the 1921 census we know that Maria worked at H.M. Factory Gretna during World War One.
- We don’t know exactly what she did at the factory.
- It is possible that she was a munition worker, or she could have worked in the laundry as suggested by her later employment. What do you think?
Could Maria have worked in the laundry at the factory as shown in this photo? Or could she have been a munitions worker?
After H.M. Factory Gretna
- Next, we find Maria living in Middlesbrough in the 1921 census.
- She is listed as previously having worked at H.M. Factory Gretna.
H.M. Factory Gretna workers like Maria would have been given an On War Service badge during their time working at the factory.
(Despite the factory’s name, the rural site of H.M. Factory Gretna stretched Longtown in England to Dornock in Scotland. The townships of Eastriggs and Gretna were built to help house and facilitate those who came to work at the factory. There were also some administration buildings for the factory located in Gretna.)
- Following this by 1939, Maria is living at another address in Middlesbrough with her mother Jane.
- By this point Maria is working as a laundry maid.
- Maria died in January 1977 in Scarborough.
Sources and Further Information
[1] 1911 census records. [2] Page 31, ‘The Health of the Munition Worker’ by Emma Gilliland, Ellie Musgrave and Dr Laura Noakes. –Find Maria Clennett’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>
