knightfamily Posted 13 July , 2015 Share Posted 13 July , 2015 I am researching my grandmother, Florence Isabella Knight. She was a worker in the munitions factory at Park Royal during WW1 and she had part of her finger blown off while filling a detonator. Presumably this would be with Mercury? I found a wonderful picture on Flickr entitled "Dont Laugh at trousers" This is a postcard which shows a group of munitions workers, many of whom are wearing their 'On War Service' triangular badges. Florence is definitely the little lady at the back right of the group. I wondered if anyone has more information on this picture. In particular, the board at the front says "F Bay Machines" and I dont know what this refers to. Also the date underneath looks like 1918 but this seems unlikely. Could it be 1916? The address on the back of the photograph says "E Gage, No 4693 Maintenance Department, Park Royal" I assume this to be a reference to the name of the lady on the left who probably sent the postcard and is the only one wearing trousers! I would be really grateful for any help on this topic Many thanks Avril Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry_Reeves Posted 13 July , 2015 Share Posted 13 July , 2015 This IWM podcast will be of interest. It also includes a piece about work at Park Royal. http://www.iwm.org.uk/history/podcasts/voices-of-the-first-world-war/podcast-16-munitions TR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knightfamily Posted 13 July , 2015 Author Share Posted 13 July , 2015 Thank you for the quick response. I will check this out. I did find a wonderful book today on the internet archiver book reader. It is called "Munition Lasses - six months as principle overlooker in danger buildings" by Agnes Kate Foxwell. It was published in 1917 and can be downloaded free of charge to a kindle or a computer, if anyone is interested Avril. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Cove Posted 16 July , 2015 Share Posted 16 July , 2015 My guess would be that these ladies are machine operators who all worked in the same bay of their building. The bottom line could be the building number - 191P maybe? The MOD likes numbering all the buildings on a site with numbers like that and I don't suppose it was any different in WW1. Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knightfamily Posted 16 July , 2015 Author Share Posted 16 July , 2015 (edited) That's really helpful. I never considered it could be other than a date but your suggestion makes a lot of sense. Thank you very much. She said she was "filling detonators" but I wondered about the fact the back of the postcard refers to maintenance department. Could this just refer to a particular person ( the one wearing trousers) who worked on maintenance in that bay? Avril Edited 16 July , 2015 by knightfamily Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Cove Posted 17 July , 2015 Share Posted 17 July , 2015 There's a wonderful set of unwritten rules when it comes to group photos, and they don't seem to have changed ever! The boss seated in the middle with her senior acolytes on each side and then the workers all around, generally with the most junior cross-legged on the floor at the front. So it makes perfect sense to me for someone who works with the group but is not of the group to be positioned at the side as though they have been brought in as an afterthought - like your lady with the trousers. Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knightfamily Posted 20 July , 2015 Author Share Posted 20 July , 2015 thank you - that sounds very likely, especially as she has a different dress etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 27 August , 2019 Share Posted 27 August , 2019 Avril I have an autograph book filled in by lots of workers from park royal in 1919 on returning to civilian life again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arantxa Posted 4 November , 2019 Share Posted 4 November , 2019 I wonder if this is connected Same surname same place Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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