~ World War One Workers ~
~01 ~ Bramble Island Explosives Factory Staff (1916) H&D ~
Bramble Island, Hamford Waters “Exchem” Factory Workers in 1916 (WW1)
Due to the war effort it was mainly women who were employed at the factory, with most men already drafted into the military. The “Explosives and Chemical Products Ltd” (Exchem) opened the factory after the sea walls were destroyed by floods in 1897 and later in 1905. The remoteness of the factory was ideal for such production, although further flooding occurred in 1928, 1949 and obviously again in 1953 (when a night watchman Henry Archibald drowned).
When the first French factory was built It was on a smaller scale, with cases of explosives ordered three or four at a time and these were loaded on to a cart and drawn by horse to Thorpe Le Soken station, six miles away and sent off by train. Later a dock was constructed and barges were used. The First World War caused the factory to step up production considerably, so it made a great contribution to the war effort. Once again during the Second World War its goods were again in great demand.
There have been a number of accidental explosions at the factory, one in 1942 when three employees died and three of the workers were awarded the Edward Medal later converted to the George Cross. In the east coast floods of 1953, three employees received awards for their bravery in disposing of explosives left in a very dangerous condition by the rising tides. For their courage they received the British Empire Medal.
Due to the war effort it was mainly women who were employed at the factory, with most men already drafted into the military. The “Explosives and Chemical Products Ltd” (Exchem) opened the factory after the sea walls were destroyed by floods in 1897 and later in 1905. The remoteness of the factory was ideal for such production, although further flooding occurred in 1928, 1949 and obviously again in 1953 (when a night watchman Henry Archibald drowned).
When the first French factory was built It was on a smaller scale, with cases of explosives ordered three or four at a time and these were loaded on to a cart and drawn by horse to Thorpe Le Soken station, six miles away and sent off by train. Later a dock was constructed and barges were used. The First World War caused the factory to step up production considerably, so it made a great contribution to the war effort. Once again during the Second World War its goods were again in great demand.
There have been a number of accidental explosions at the factory, one in 1942 when three employees died and three of the workers were awarded the Edward Medal later converted to the George Cross. In the east coast floods of 1953, three employees received awards for their bravery in disposing of explosives left in a very dangerous condition by the rising tides. For their courage they received the British Empire Medal.
~02 ~ Bramble Island Explosives Factory Staff (1918) H&D ~
~03 ~ Bramble Island Explosives Factory Footbal Team (1918) H&D ~
~ Dr Wilson Charles Geoffrey Baldwin ~ Awarded the George Cross Medal ~
~ Assistant Works Manager at Bramble Island ~
George Baldwin G.C. (1942) H&D FW
~ George Baldwin George Cross Medal & Others Display (1942) H&D ~
George Baldwin G.C. Note I & II (1943) H&D FW
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Picture 007
George Baldwin George Cross Medal (1942) H&D FW
