munitions workers in suffolk

[Guest family]

I am trying to find if there are any records of where munitions were made in the Leiston area of Suffolk. My grandmother gave this as her occupation on my mothers birth certificate in 1918. I know her sister worked with her and am interested to know where they worked.

[mpjbrennan]

Hi Daphne,

I would have thought Richard Garrett and Sons, manufacturers of steam tractors and various other metal products was the most likely candidate. They would have had the skills and equipment to turn shell components and possibly a lot of other items besides.

Update - just found the following reference which confirms that Garretts made traction engines for the Ministry of Munitions - see the second item on the page

link to Garrett engine

Patrick

[johnreed]

I think that Ransomes of Ipswich did some munitions work in WW1.

John