| 'The Explosives Factory Aintree 1914-18' by Arthur Henry Knighton-Hammond Image Courtesy of Peter Norris; reproduced with permission of the Knighton-Hammond Family. |
Although World War I created a strong demand for dyestuffs, which could no longer be imported from Germany, the requirement for explosives was even
more critical. The Ministry of Munitions quickly established a network of 30 National Explosives Factories and National Filling Factories. The explosives
factories produced TNT by nitration of toluene, derived from coal tar. Since toluene was also needed for dyestuffs and was in short supply, Lord Moulton
promoted the use of Amatol, a high explosive consisting of an 80:20 mixture of ammonium nitrate and TNT. He overruled some Army Generals who
preferred other explosives. The U. S. Army also adopted Amatol in October 1917 as a bursting charge for high explosive shells. Amatol was safer to
handle than TNT.
The National Filling Factories filled shells and cartridges with explosives shipped in by railroad.
The Aintree factory, depicted in the watercolour above by noted painter Arthur Henry Knighton-Hammond, was known as the No. 2A National Filling Factory
(Ordnance Map coordinates SJ 35 98). It was built slightly west of the No. 2 National Filling Factory which had been established on a greenfield site at
Bland Park Farm, Sefton (Ordnance Map coordinates SJ 36 98). The government had obtained the right to take over private property with the passage of
the Defence of the Realm Acts on August 8, 1914, just four days after the declaration of war.
The manufacturing at Aintree likely involved dry mixing the explosive raw materials. The hygroscopic ammonium nitrate was first dried and then milled in
a multi-story building modelled on flour mills where the ingredients were raised to the upper floors and allowed to fall by gravity. This is probably the
tower building depicted in the above painting. The TNT was ground and sieved in a separate building. The two components were combined in a mixing
house. The Amatol was conveyed to press houses where the workers filled shells, which were compacted with hydraulic pressure. The filled shells
were moved to a storage shed and shipped out by railcar.
Since men were needed on the battlefield, up to 90 percent of the workers in the National Factories were women as depicted in the artwork below:
Women had demanded the 'right to serve' but labour unions were worried about 'dilution' which would let semi-skilled workers take jobs previously
classed as skilled. Legislation eliminated this obstacle by making it clear that the work was temporary.
The TNT in Amatol is toxic and can be absorbed through the skin, causing irritation and bright yellow staining. This led to the nickname 'canaries' for the
women workers. At the Woolwich Arsenal, about 100 workers died from this hazard until respirators, protective grease and uniforms were required.
Filling shells with explosives was inherently dangerous. Three explosions at the Barnbow factory in Leeds killed 40 workers, most of whom were women.
Almost all of the National Explosive and Filling Factories closed at the end of WW I. The Aintree site is in use today as an Industrial Estate.
more critical. The Ministry of Munitions quickly established a network of 30 National Explosives Factories and National Filling Factories. The explosives
factories produced TNT by nitration of toluene, derived from coal tar. Since toluene was also needed for dyestuffs and was in short supply, Lord Moulton
promoted the use of Amatol, a high explosive consisting of an 80:20 mixture of ammonium nitrate and TNT. He overruled some Army Generals who
preferred other explosives. The U. S. Army also adopted Amatol in October 1917 as a bursting charge for high explosive shells. Amatol was safer to
handle than TNT.
The National Filling Factories filled shells and cartridges with explosives shipped in by railroad.
The Aintree factory, depicted in the watercolour above by noted painter Arthur Henry Knighton-Hammond, was known as the No. 2A National Filling Factory
(Ordnance Map coordinates SJ 35 98). It was built slightly west of the No. 2 National Filling Factory which had been established on a greenfield site at
Bland Park Farm, Sefton (Ordnance Map coordinates SJ 36 98). The government had obtained the right to take over private property with the passage of
the Defence of the Realm Acts on August 8, 1914, just four days after the declaration of war.
The manufacturing at Aintree likely involved dry mixing the explosive raw materials. The hygroscopic ammonium nitrate was first dried and then milled in
a multi-story building modelled on flour mills where the ingredients were raised to the upper floors and allowed to fall by gravity. This is probably the
tower building depicted in the above painting. The TNT was ground and sieved in a separate building. The two components were combined in a mixing
house. The Amatol was conveyed to press houses where the workers filled shells, which were compacted with hydraulic pressure. The filled shells
were moved to a storage shed and shipped out by railcar.
Since men were needed on the battlefield, up to 90 percent of the workers in the National Factories were women as depicted in the artwork below:
Women had demanded the 'right to serve' but labour unions were worried about 'dilution' which would let semi-skilled workers take jobs previously
classed as skilled. Legislation eliminated this obstacle by making it clear that the work was temporary.
The TNT in Amatol is toxic and can be absorbed through the skin, causing irritation and bright yellow staining. This led to the nickname 'canaries' for the
women workers. At the Woolwich Arsenal, about 100 workers died from this hazard until respirators, protective grease and uniforms were required.
Filling shells with explosives was inherently dangerous. Three explosions at the Barnbow factory in Leeds killed 40 workers, most of whom were women.
Almost all of the National Explosive and Filling Factories closed at the end of WW I. The Aintree site is in use today as an Industrial Estate.
| Patriotic British Posters on Munitions Industry and Working Women in WW I. Photos: Library of Congress. Click to Enlarge |
References:
1) William J. Reader, Imperial Chemical Industries: A History: The Forerunners, 1870-1926 Vol. 1, Oxford University Press, 1970
2) Peter Norris, Arthur Henry Knighton-Hammond, Lutterworth Press, Cambridge, 1994
3) Wayne D. Cocroft, Dangerous Energy, English Heritage, Swindon, UK, 2000
1) William J. Reader, Imperial Chemical Industries: A History: The Forerunners, 1870-1926 Vol. 1, Oxford University Press, 1970
2) Peter Norris, Arthur Henry Knighton-Hammond, Lutterworth Press, Cambridge, 1994
3) Wayne D. Cocroft, Dangerous Energy, English Heritage, Swindon, UK, 2000
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| Amatol Explosives Factory Aintree, United Kingdom |
| ColorantsHistory.Org |
| Cunard Shell Works, Birkenhead, Merseyside in 1917. Worker checking dimensions of munition shells before shipment to Aintree for filling. Photo by Harry Lemere; reproduced by permission of English Heritage. NMR. Click to Enlarge |
| World War I Patriotic British Postcard "The Munition Girl" by Artist L. Ravenhill |
Women in Canteen in WW I Munitions Factory. Photo: Library of Congress
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