2️⃣ Next, James may have been involved in some "unbusiness-like methods" at the factory.

Perhaps this would not have come to light if it hadn't been for Harry Ainsworth clocking into his shift early & heading off to Gretna township on the train that time. 🙄

#WorkeroftheWeek

From what we have found James Auld seemed to have a rather turbulent time while working at H.M. Factory Gretna.

1️⃣First him and his pal Robert Wetherspoon were threatened near a local cemetery.

( For clarity this was by an entirely different Robert, accused of theft. No ghosts were involved. 👻)

Significantly, the 'H.M. Factory Gretna Regulations Governing Employment' states that “any person found improperly disposing of, or receiving and using, any meal ticket would be liable to prosecution and dismissal.”

This page of the autograph book also includes a meal voucher from one of the factory messrooms. Food in the factory messrooms had to be exchanged for tickets.

But how did they H.M. Factory Gretna workers get these tickets?

There were two ways...

As yesterday was Burns Night (yes, we're late, but we were busy), he's a page from a H.M. Factory Gretna worker's autograph book, featuring The Selkirk Grace.

Autograph books like this one were made by people who worked at the munitions factory to remember their time there & those they worked with.

Here you are. 😀

If you'd like to find out more about The Mossband Swifts and women's football at H.M. Factory Gretna, we have a more
in-depth blog about it here:
www.devilsporridge.org.uk/womens-footb...

One of the members of The Mossband Swifts was Mary Annie Anderson, who appears in the foreground of this beautiful painting.

Anyone want to learn more about her?

Read about Annie in our latest Worker of the Week blog here: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-th...

#WorkeroftheWeek #womensfootball

It's a bit chilly out, but does anyone fancy some football? ❄️⚽

It was this month (January for those who've time travelled) in 1918 that The Mossband Swifts played a match against a team consisting of wounded soldiers.

The Swifts were a women's football team formed in 1917 at H.M. Factory Gretna.

Yes! This was called the State Management Scheme. It continued until 1939 when many people fought to keep it. We have some info about this on display.

Hello. We're new here. 👋

Wondering what devil's porridge is? Sir Arthur Conan Doyle coined the phrase to describe the explosive materials he saw munitions workers at H.M. Factory Gretna mixing in large pans. They were making cordite.

Please don't eat devil's porridge. 💥
#DevilsPorridge #WW1history