ABOUT US
About Us
This site is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the women and men who worked in munitions factories during the First and Second World Wars. I have been campaigning for the recognition of individuals, primarily women, who worked in munitions factories during both World Wars since 2000. Whilst researching my BA History dissertation at Keele University, I decided to write about women who had served in the munitions factories during the Second World War. My Great-Grandmother worked at ROF Swynnerton during the Second World War, and I was inspired by the stories I was told by my Nan. I was shocked at how little information was available on these women, and so began my mission to discover more about these remarkable individuals who have been called, “The Forgotten Army”.
Road to Recognition ..
When I was a child, the New Victoria Theatre in Newcastle-under-Lyme mounted a play called, “I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire” written by Bob Eaton. It was based on the lives of the women who worked at ROF Swynnerton in Stone Staffordshire. I contacted Peter Cheeseman who was preserving the New Victoria Theatre Archive at Staffordshire University, to ask if I could listen to the tapes of former workers who had been interviewed. From there I tracked down the women and spoke to them about their experiences and why they thought they had been overlooked for their work. After listening to these stories, I started to research why no recognition had been offered to these women, as to women who had served in
the WRENS, WAAF, and the Women’s Land Army.
​
I could find no records or anyone who could offer guidance. I decided to contact our local MP at the time, to ask for his support in championing these women in Parliament. Concurrently, I approached the Royal British Legion to ask if it would be possible for a contingent of surviving workers and their families to march in the Remembrance Parade at Whitehall on Remembrance Sunday. Eventually, the workers were permitted to march in the parade in November 2012.
..
This was an incredibly special day for all concerned and finally allowed those who could march, and those who saw it televised, to feel that they had been remembered. A contingent of munitions workers has marched in every parade since 2012. A debate was held on munitions workers on Tuesday 26th March 2013, and as a result, an All-Party Working Group was established to organize a memorial to Munitions Workers however, nothing was achieved by this group, and it was disbanded.
I contacted Howard Mason at BAE Systems who had been approached by the APWG to offer his support. BAE Systems had created a badge that represented the patch badge that munitions workers wore on their uniforms. I then worked with BAE Systems to begin the distribution of badges to living munitions workers. My colleagues at BAE Systems have been incredibly supportive and generous, and our collaboration has led to these individuals receiving tangible recognition for their war work. The first batch of badges was given to former workers at ROF Swynnerton in November 2016. The BBC heard about the badges and contacted me for information. Through the BBC I was contacted by Nicola Goodwin who was working with a group in Rotherwas to gain recognition for those who had worked at ROF Rotherwas.
Road to Recognition ..
At the Herefordshire Show in August 2017, 32 former workers were honoured for their war work and presented with badges. At this point, Bill Wiggin MP, who had been in contact with Nicola Goodwin, asked the then Prime Minister, Theresa May if she would meet with a group of former workers. I, Nicola, and a small group of former workers visited 10 Downing Street on the 18th of October 2017. Theresa May spoke with the women and thanked them for their service.
The story was picked up by a BBC producer for Inside Out who asked if I and a former munitions worker would be happy to be interviewed for the programme. I nominated Maureen Pearn a former worker at ROF Swynnerton and she was interviewed at her home. Maureen had been severely injured by an exploding shell at ROF Swynnerton and had to have extensive plastic surgery on her hands and face. I was invited to Hereford in December 2017 to be interviewed with former workers from ROF Rotherwas by Kate Adie. The programme aired on the 5th of February 2018. The BBC received a quote from the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), which said, “We would be willing to work with any group that brings forward proposals for collective recognition”.
..
I contacted BEIS on the 7 February 2018 to ask to speak with a representative. I met with a representative on the 5 March 2018 at BEIS. He said it was unlikely that official recognition would be granted to these women. I asked if it would be possible to petition Her Majesty The Queen for support. He said he would approach the Palace to gauge a reaction. I was asked to write a letter of Loyal Greetings to Her Majesty, which I did on the 9 September 2018. Her Majesty, The Queen sent a letter of thanks to me which has since been sent with every request I have received for a badge.
Eventually, in 2021 BEIS agreed to my request to have an area of the GOV.UK website with details on how to apply for the badge and letter of recognition. This area finally went live in May 2021.
Since then, I have sent over 500 badges and letters to recipients who live in the UK and overseas. I have received hundreds of emails containing words of support and appreciation from former workers and relatives. Most individuals never thought they would receive any recognition for the vital work they undertook.
Road to Recognition ..
It is difficult to know, as there are no records, how many individuals were killed, maimed, or injured whilst working in munitions factories. No compensation, as far as I can gather, has ever been awarded; babies were born with no limbs, with yellow faces and some were born unresponsive. It would take some diseases many years to manifest, including for my own great-grandmother who had a weak chest for the rest of her life, finally dying of pneumonia in 1969.
What I have found extraordinary, is that many of the former workers do not believe the work they did to be anything particularly remarkable or worthwhile. Each person I have spoken with has downplayed their involvement, and yet, without these women and men how could a war have been fought, let alone won?
It has been a long road to recognition for these individuals, and I consider it an honour and a privilege to have heard so many inspiring stories.