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| Group of women munition workers at George Kent's, 1916 (Bedfordshire Archives, ref: Z1306/75/17/19) |
1 September 1916: A Bedford girl, whose curiosity is
‘as keen as a two edged sword’ reports on her experiences of working at a
munition factory in another part of England:
‘I can tell
you I trembled a bit as I entered a large gate, for the guard looked so severe
as he said “Passes please” Oh no! He did
not raise the alarm…and I found myself in a cosy office, there to be met by the
sweetest of women who is doing her share of war work, and under her guidance I
found myself filling-up numerous forms and smiling because I had made a start
at last. Then I was handed my key, pass and badge. I was taken past the barrier
into a very large canteen and had a good tea served by smartly dressed
waitresses. Afterwards, I was shown the huts where I met several other girls
who had just arrived. We chose our rooms and at first thought it strange to
live in huts, but they are so comfortable and clean; there are 160 girls in
each hostel; some rooms are double and some are single. At present there are
only 14 hostels. The next day we were escorted to the principle building by a
commissionaire, who has already done his bit at the front. Well, at last I was
on the platform with my neat uniform of grey and a quaint mob cap, and my
magazine shoes. My room was at last reached. There was a continual clash of
hammers and every girl looked so busy, yet above the noise they were singing
“When Irish eyes are smiling”, and all faces were beaming and stamped with
happiness. At last I was seated at a table with five other girls, not so
“green” as I, for I felt such an ignorant creature. Here I learnt to put the
different parts of a fuse together. After a time, when I knew this work
thoroughly, I preferred going into the more dangerous work and here again I had
to start learning. I began handling some brass things, which I was told were
death fuses to place in a more deadly shell that was to soon screech and scream
in death-dealing flight somewhere in France. Oh, how gingerly I handled my
first fuse; now I handle them with no fear whatsoever, yet I have heard the explosion
whistle. I have also seen wreckage from an explosion, though very slight, hardly
worth speaking of. We often pretend we are aboard a large ship because our
factory’s explosive area is much like one. I can truly say we all like our life
aboard this ship. Never could I, while this war is on, walk at ease in Bedford,
knowing how much our soldiers are needing all the support they can get. Let
every girl who has failed talk to me. There is no room for slackers…Come girls,
your help is needed; plenty of room yet.’
Source: Bedfordshire Standard
01/09/1916
Note: this is
a promotional advert issued by a munition factory (most likely George Kent Ltd
in Luton), rather than a genuine diary extract. Bedfordshire Archives has some
valuable records of work in a munitions factory in the George Kent collection
(ref: GK), which is currently being catalogued. George Kent Ltd employed
thousands of women workers at its Biscot Road site and at a specially extended site
at Chaul End. Contrary to the cheery and optimistic tone of this piece, which
plays down the dangers of munitions work, at least 10 women died in explosions
at the factory 1916-1918. They are commemorated on a George Kent memorial, now
at Stockwood Discovery Centre. More information can be found on Luton’s ‘Great
War Stories’ website: http://www.worldwar1luton.com
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