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 A huge thank you to our research volunteer’s and the person who donated the beautiful painting which is featured in this blog.
This week’s Worker of the Week is Mary Annie Anderson appears to have been a member of the women’s football team, The Mossband Swifts.
Early Life
- On the 20th October 1899 Mary Annie Anderson was born in Kirkpatrick Fleming.
- Her parents were Thomas Anderson and Mary Baty.
- Additionally, her father was a land labourer.
- According to census records, Mary appears to have spent her childhood in Kirkpatrick Flemming, followed by Buckland, Dalston in Cumbria.
Time at H.M. Factory Gretna
- After this, Mary Annie Anderson seems to have started working at H.M. Factory Gretna when she was 16 years old.
- At the time it seems as though she was referred to as Annie.
Possible photo of Mary Annie Anderson.
- Annie worked in the Mossband section of H.M. Factory Gretna.
- The rural factory site stretched from Longtown in England (where Annie would have worked) to Dornock in Scotland.
- Additionally, the two townships of Eastriggs and Gretna were built to help house and facilitate the factory workers.
- During her time at the factory, it seems that Annie was involved in some sports. [1]
The Mossband Swifts
- The Mossband Swifts were a women’s football team that appears to be mostly made up of factory workers from A Shift. [2]
- A “Miss Anderson” appears in a newspaper article about one of The Mossband Swifts matches. [1]
- Accordingly, we think this could be Mary Annie Anderson.
- However, it is important to note that this appears as “Miss R. Anderson” is used when listing the names of the team members of the Mossband Swifts earlier in this same article. [2]
- Could this be a typo with the R supposed to be an A for Annie? What do you think?
We’re proud to have had this painting featuring Mary Annie Anderson in the foreground our collection.
- Miss Anderson’s actions during a match in September 1915 is mentioned in the local newspaper when:
“Miss Anderson then broke away cleverly for Mossband and from her centre Miss McAdoe equalised.”
– The Carlisle Journal newspaper, 10th September 1917. [1]
- At the time, The Mossband Swifts were up against a team of local Cumberland works at Brunton Park, the home of Carlisle United.
- After the Carlisle team scored in the first half, Miss Anderson helped The Mossband Swifts equalise.
Above is a colourised photo of The Mossband Swifts from 1917.
- Determined, Miss Anderson’s team mate, Miss McAdoe:
“found the net again shortly after, but the point was disallowed for offside. The Mossband goal had one or two narrow escapes after this, and just on time one of the Mossband girls had a fine chance of winning the game for her side, but she missed the leather right in front of an open goal.”
– The Carlisle Journal newspaper, September 1917. [1]
- Conaquently, this left the match as a draw, but it sounds like it was an eventful game!
- Although this game is the only one where we found mention of Miss Anderson so far, this was far from the only match The Mossband Swifts had. [2]
A leather football from The Devil’s Porridge Museum’s collection. Could this be similar to the “leather” referred to in the newspaper article extract above?
Life After the Factory
- Next, Mary Annie Anderson married Joseph Irving Lightfoot in 1921.
- This followed Joseph being discharged from the army in 1917.
- Later, the 1939 census shows Mary and Joseph to be living in Carlisle.
- By this point Mary was employed in unpaid domestic work, whilst Joseph was a railway goods guard.
- Joseph died in 1964.
- Lastly, Mary Annie Anderson died in 1974.
Sources and Further Reading
[1] ‘Carlisle v Mossband Swifts,’ ‘Local Ladies Football Matches’ from The Carlisle Journal newspaper, 10th September 1917.[2] ‘Women’s Football at Gretna’ – https://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/womens-football-at-gretna
Find Mary Annie Anderson’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 could 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>
