defence of the realm

In March 1918, 807 people were employed at the Litherland factory, 33% of them were women. After the war the factory returned to tar making, until a huge fire in 1972 destroyed the buildings In 1915 the Cunard Steamship Company Store and Engineering Works at Rimrose Road, Bootle, was commandeered under the DORA legislation. The works produced three sizes of shells, 4.5, 6 and 8 inch. The projectile heads were brought to Cunard's Shell Works to be finished, checked and varnished before being taken to one of the other factories in the area to be filled with explosive. The women workers at the Cunard factory achieved the remarkable distinction of being the first in Britain to manufacture 6 and 8 inch shells ‘On Their Own’. This was seen as such an important achievement that representatives from munitions factories across the country were sent to Bootle, to see the women at work. Two shells from the Cunard factory were displayed at the Ministry of Munitions, bearing the inscription ‘"The first 8 in. and 6 in. shells made in Great Britain by female labour, manufactured at the Cunard National Factory, Rimrose-road, Bootle, Lancs’. The first “Defence of the Realm Act” (DORA) was passed on 8 August 1914; it extended government powers during war-time. On 26th May 1915, the first Coalition Cabinet formed and with it came a new department called the ‘Ministry of Munitions’. The ministry was charged with organising the supply of munitions, including control over any armament factories and their workers. In July 1915 the first National Filling Factories were built at Aintree and Coventry. There were two munitions factories in Aintree, filling factory number 2 and 2a. They where built on Bland Park Farm, land slightly to the west of Aintree Station. The factories produced TNT, by nitration of toluene, derived from coal tar. The TNT in Amatol is highly toxic and can be absorbed through the skin, causing an irritating rash and bright yellow staining. This earned the women munitionees the nickname ‘Canaries’. Many munitions workers died from breathing in the toxic fumes; eventually protective uniforms were made available to the workers and better ventilation was installed. In March 1917 the Aintree factory employed 10,837 workers, only 497 were men. The workers travelled from as far a field as Ormskirk, the Wirral and Liverpool, using the Lancashire and Liverpool Electric Railway. On 23rd July 1918, three lives were lost, at the Aintree factory’ when a 6 inch shell exploded. Many munitions workers died from breathing in the toxic fumes. Defence of the realm Towards the end of the war, the numbers employed in the munitions factories declined; in August 1918 there were 8,599 still working on the Aintree site. The Brotherton’s Tar Distillery, on Hawthorne Road, Litherland was commandeered as a munitions factory during WWI. It was used to produce the explosive mixture for detonators; the work involved using the same powerful mixture of chemicals as the Aintree site. Again many workers were left with yellow hands and faces. A Munitionee

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During World War One on 26th May 1915, the first Coalition Cabinet of the British Government formed and with it came a new department called the ‘Ministry of Munitions’. In July 1915 the first National Filling Factories were built at Aintree and Coventry.

TRANSCRIPT

In March 1918, 807 people were employed at the Litherland factory, 33% of them were women. After the war the factory returned to tar making, until a huge fire in 1972 destroyed the buildings

In 1915 the Cunard SteamshipCompany Store and Engineering Works at Rimrose Road, Bootle, wascommandeered under the DORA legislation. The works produced three sizes of shells, 4.5, 6 and 8 inch.

The projectile heads were brought to Cunard's Shell Works to be finished, checked and varnished before being taken to one of the other factories in the area to be filled with explosive. The women workers at the Cunard factory achieved the remarkable distinction of being the first in Britain to manufacture 6 and 8 inch shells ‘On Their Own’.

This was seen as such an important achievement that representatives from munitions factories across the country were sent to Bootle, to see the women at work.

Two shells from the Cunard factory were displayed at the Ministry of Munitions, bearing the inscription ‘"The first 8 in. and 6 in. shells made in Great Britain by female labour, manufactured at the Cunard National Factory, Rimrose-road, Bootle, Lancs’.

The first “Defence of the Realm Act” (DORA) was passed on 8 August 1914; it extended government powers during war-time.

On 26th May 1915, the first Coalition Cabinet formed and with it came a new department called the ‘Ministry of Munitions’. The ministry was charged with organising the supply of munitions, including control over any armament factories and their workers. In July 1915 the first National Filling Factories were built at Aintree and Coventry.

There were two munitions factories in Aintree, filling factory number 2 and 2a. They where built on Bland Park Farm, land slightly to the west of Aintree Station. The factories produced TNT, by nitration of toluene, derived from coal tar. The TNT in Amatol is highly toxic and can be absorbed through the skin, causing an irritating rash and bright yellow staining. This earned the women munitionees the nickname ‘Canaries’.

Many munitions workers died from breathing in the toxic fumes; eventually protective uniforms were made available to the workers and better ventilation was installed.

In March 1917 the Aintree factory employed 10,837 workers, only 497 were men. The workers travelled from as far a field as Ormskirk, the Wirral and Liverpool, using the Lancashire and Liverpool Electric Railway. On 23rd July 1918, three lives were lost, at the Aintree factory’ when a 6 inch shell exploded.

Many munitionsworkers died from breathing in thetoxic fumes.

Defenceof the realm

Towards the end of the war, the numbers employed in the munitions factories declined; in August 1918 there were 8,599 still working on the Aintree site.

The Brotherton’s Tar Distillery, on Hawthorne Road, Litherland was commandeered as a munitions factory during WWI. It was used to produce the explosive mixture for detonators; the work involved using the same powerful mixture of chemicals as the Aintree site. Again many workers were left with yellow hands and faces.

A Munitionee