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 As always a huge thank you goes to all our awesome research volunteers!
This week’s Worker of the Week, is Reginald Keen, who you can read more about below.
Early Life
- On the 4th June 1889, Reginald was born in Meare, Somerset.
- Notably, he had seven siblings including a twin sister.
- His parents were Robert John Kelway Keen and Emily Rachel Burrough.
- According to census records his father was a farmer.
Time at H.M. Factory Gretna
- During World War One, we know that Reginald worked as a Fireman at H.M. Factory Gretna.
- How do we know this? Well, he appears on a photo kindly shared by relative of fellow factory worker Wilfred Edmonson. [1]
- This photo was taken in April 1918 according to the information on the back, so it seems as though Reginald must have been working at the factory from at least that point.
- Additionally, it was taken in Frank Holbrook, Alexander Studios, Dumfries and Annan.
Photo kindly donated by Wilfred Edmondson’s relative. [1] Wilfred is on the far right of this photo.
- In the photo above, Reginald is sat fourth from the left in the front row.
Farmer and Fireman
- Notably, Reginald is the only munition worker described with another occupation in addition to working at the factory on the photo.
- This reads “Reginald Keen (farmer) fireman.”
- If you fancy leaning more about Firefighting at the factory and the fire stations in the two town townships built for it (these were Eastriggs and Gretna with the rural factory site running from Dornock to Longtown) we can recommend watching a recording of an online talk about this on our You Tube. [3]
Photo kindly donated by Wilfred Edmondson’s relative. [1]
- Interestingly, when conscription was introduced in 1916 during World War One, farming was considered to be a reserved occupation, as it was thought to be essential for the war effort.[3]
- However, it is highly likely that Reginald would have had to apply for an exception certificate on the grounds of his work to qualify for this, but we have found no evidence to suggest that he ever did so far. [4]
- Also, it doesn’t seem to have been unusual for farm labours to be conscripted. [5]
- Indeed, Bonnie White’s article concerning the impact of the war on a neighbouring county, highlights the impact this had on agriculture and cited a 1923 study by T. H. Middleton, which “estimated that between August 1914 and April 1918 approximately 273,000 men between the ages of 18 and 41 left agriculture for military service or munitions work.” [6]
- Could Reginald have been one of these? What do you think?
Marriage
- Following this, we know Reginald did indeed return to Somerset and farming.
- In fact, he married Amy Look in the Wells district on the region in 1919.
- Reginald and Amy went on to have two children.
- Both of these appear to have gone on to become farmers.
Later Life
- Later it seems that Reginald was living in Weston-Super-Mare.
- Lastly, Reginald died in July 1955.
Sources and Further Reading
- Worker of the Week: Wilfred Edmondson – https://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-the-week-wilfred-manson-edmondson
- Nearly a decade! Fires and Firefighting at H.M. Factory Gretna YouTube online talk recording. – https://youtu.be/TrKHKzIKztA?si=cdFefSFOOiaBREpF
- World War One: Military Service Tribunals and Those Who Did Not Fight, 9th November 2014, BBC News – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-29954113
- WW1 – Applications for Exemption from Service website, Thornbury Roots in Partnership with Thornbry and District Museum – https://www.thornburyroots.co.uk/war/ww1-exemptions-a-m/
- World War One – Agriculture and Industry, Historic UK website – https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/World-War-One-Agriculture-Industry/
- Feeding the war effort: Agricultural experiences in First World War Devon, 1914–17 by Bonnie White, page 95 – 95. (Quote cited in this essay as T. H. Middleton, Food production in war (1923), p. 266). An extract can be found on the British Agricultural History Society’s website as a PDF – https://bahs.org.uk/AGHR/ARTICLES/58_1_5_White.pdf
Find Reginald Keen’s Miracle Worker’s 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>
