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
This week’s Worker of the Week, is a member of the Women’s Police Force at the factory, Mary Theresa Braddon. This information has been researched through a research project led by Nigel. A huge thank you to Nigel, everyone involved in this and all our research volunteers for all their help!
Early Life
- On 25th November 1875, Mary was born in Koromiko, Marlborough, New Zealand.
- In total Mary had five siblings.
- Her parents were James & Hannah (nee Blaymires) McIntosh.
Marriage
- Next, we come across Mary’s marriage to Edward George Braddon 1900.
- This took place in Sydney Australia.
- Notably, Edward’s father was Sir Edward Nicholas Coventry Braddon, who served within the Australian Parliament and as the Premier of Tasmania. [5]
- Edward George Braddon was a specialist mining engineer and it appears he often travelled for his work.
- Following their marriage, they travelled to the West Indies and South America for Edward’s occupation.
Life in World War One and H.M. Factory Gretna
- After this, we know Mary worked in the women’s police force at H.M. Factory Gretna.
- This is because she appears in the Gretna Valuation Role from the time, described as a “policewoman” living in “Women’s Police Barracks Number 1” in Gretna.
- Below is a photo of some members of the women’s police force, but we don’t know if Mary features!
- Meanwhile, Edward had signed up, joining the Royal Fusiliers.
- Although, he joined as a private he progressed to a sergeant.
- Sadly, he died on 4th February 1917 after a fever.
- He was serving with the 25th Battalion Royal Fusiliers at the time.
Ministry of Munitions Women’s Police Service badge from the Museum collection. This would have been used at H.M. Factory Gretna.
- Mary’s address at the Gretna Women’s Police Barracks is also shown on Edward’s pension card.
(During her time working at the factory, Mary lived in one of the two townships – Gretna, with the other referred to being Eastriggs – built for all the munitions workers who came to work there. H.M. Factory Gretna’s rural site stretched from Longtown in England to Dornock in Scotland, despite what it’s name suggests!)
Police Work
- After her time at Gretna, Mary appears to have continued in policing until 1919.
- She also worked as a police woman in London and achieved the rank of sub inspector.
- Notably, we can’t be sure if she achieved this at the factory or in London.
Mary in her sub-inspector uniform. This photo is from Ancestry Public Member tree.
- By the 1921 census, Mary is still living in London.
- Significantly, she is no longer a police woman by this point.
Travels
- Next, on 4th June 1927, Mary left London aboard the SS Minnetonka, which was bound for New York.
- As indicated by her arrival documents, Mary was in New York from 13th June 1927.
- However, these same arrival documents indicate she remained in America for a few weeks, because she was soon to leave for Wellington, New Zealand.
Time in New Zealand
- During her time living in New Zealand, Mary featured in serval newspaper articles. [2] [3] [4]
- Many of these appear to have been in connection to her work in the Women’s Police previously. [3] [4]
- One example from 1935 highlights Mary giving a talk to the Ngaio branch of the League of Mothers, where she is described as: [2]
“The speaker of the afternoon was Mrs. Braddon (an ex-member of the Women’s Police Force in England), who traced circumstances and conditions in England during the war which led to the forming of the Women’s Police Force, making special mention of two pioneer women, Miss Mary Allen O.B.E and Miss Damer Dawson O.B.E., who trained a splendid band of women for this work.”
– ‘Ngario Branch’, The Evening Post newspaper, 16th May 1935. [2]
- It appears that she lived in Wellington, New Zealand for some time, before moving to Glenbrook, Penrith, New South Wales by the electoral registers for 1943.
- On 4th November 1949, Mary died in Kingswood, New South Wales. [1]
- Mary was buried in Kingswood Cemetery, now Penrith General Cemetery.
Sources and Further Reading
[1] ‘Late Mrs. M. Braddon. Served in London Women’s Police Force,’ page 9, The Nepean Times Newspaper, 24th November 1949. (Published in Penrith, New South Wales). [2]’Ngario Branch,’ page 21, The Evening Post Newspaper, 16th May 1935. (Published in Wellington, New Zealand). [3]’Women’s Police. Good Work in Birmingham,’ page 15, The Evening Post Newspaper, 6th December 1935. (Published in Wellington, New Zealand). [4]’Sub-Inspector M. T. Braddon, who says the public should be educated to the necessity for women police,’ page 20, NZ Truth, 23rd January 1930. (Published in Wellington, New Zealand but sold nationally). [5] Edward Bradon, Wikipedia Entry – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Braddon (Please note that this page is for Mary’s husband’s father.)Photo source: The image of Mary in her sub-inspector uniform is from Ancestry, Public Member Tree.
Find Mary Theresa Braddon’s online database entry 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>
