Remembering World War I

Remembering World War I. . , Dignitaries , On 17th May 1917 King George V and Queen Mary paid a visit to Workington's iron and steel plant to see the pioneering work being carried out during the period of World War I., Military steel was traditionally made in and around Sheffield so the Workington Moss Bay industrial site was proud to welcome the installation of a new electric alloy steelmaking plant. Funded by the government, the plant was capable of producing all qualities of steel including the alloy steels used for armour and bullet-proof plate, essential for building tanks and armoured cars. A new shell machining department was also installed at the plant., Workington was chosen for this additional war production because of its location well away from the risk of major bombing attacks. Although the town eventually came through the air raids untouched the threat was always a constant preoccupation., Pendragon Castle , The Pendragon Castle ship built at Workington spent World War (world war one) confined to a port in Chile. Rumour has it that part of her cargo of welsh coal had been supplied to the German Navy at a time when there was an obvious embargo on such a deal., Athene , During world war one the ship "Athene", built at Workington found herself under the German flag and was fortunately seized by the Allies - the Australian government captured her and escorted her to Kerosene Bay, New South Wales. As hostilities continued the vessel was chartered to Scott, Fell and Co (of London) and renamed the Cooroy. By a strange twist of fate, the Cooroy was sunk by a torpedo fired by a German submarine on 27th August 1917., Ministry of Munitions , In the early years of world war one Workington (and the nation generally) were slow to adapt iron and steel production for the war effort, Liberal politician Lloyd George had the vision to change this by establishing the Ministry of Munitions in 1915 and truly mobilising the country All production and prices were then controlled by the government. No iron or steel could be bought or sold without a "priority" certificate issued by the Board of Trade., Workington's War Memorial , The War Memorial for the Borough of Workington pictured to the right can be found in the town's Vulcan Park., Although the names of the townsfolk who lost their lives during the first and Second World Wars have not been engraved on the memorial they are not forgotten and rest inside the memorial., The original list of 554 names of the fallen of the First World War was placed inside a casket and sealed within the memorial., This symbolised a final resting place in their home town for the service men and women who had died in the 1914-1918 war The memorial offers a place of reflection, where family and friends can visit and pay their respects., On 28th July 1928 the memorial was unveiled by Mrs Catherine A. Henderson of Workington., Mrs Henderson is thought to be the Workington resident who suffered the greatest loss of family during the course of world war one, enduring the loss of four sons, a brother and a nephew. As Mrs Henderson unveiled the memorial, the Bishop of Carlisle led the service of dedication., Your Country Needs You , Britain declared war on Germany on the 4th August 1914 Almost immediately the Brotisserie Expeditionary Force (BEF) embarked for Europe to stop further German invasion into Belgium., On the 27th August at the Battle of Mons, the B.E.F. was forced to retreat and the War Office realised the need for volunteers to join the Army., On the 3rd September in London 33,000 volunteers were recruited on one day; men were urged to "join up with your pals." The 5th Earl of Lonsdale was one of the earliest people in the country to be given permission by the War Office to raise a battalion of pals. His telegram to de War Office stated that "there had been a meeting of the Cumberland and Westmorland Territorial Force Association today and it has been decided to create a special Lonsdale Battalion. Recruiting will commence on receipt of reply.", 17th September 1914 - the War Office approves the recruitment of the Lonsdale Battalion of the Border Regiment following the suggestion of the 5th Earl of Lonsdale. An Executive Committee decided to raise four companies A&B (from East and North Cumberland) based at Blackhall racecourse, Carlisle; C (hom Westmorland) based at Kendal and D (from West Cumberland) based at Workington., Bankfield Mansion , Barkfield Mansion on Newlands Lane, Workington served as an auxiliary hospital during World War I. The mansion was built in 1876 for the ironmaster Peter Kirk and was demolished in 1980 after falling into disrepair. This impressive building was also used by the National Coal Board for office accommodation., The Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) , Within ten days of the declaration of war, the YMCA had established no fewer than 250 recreation centres in the United Kingdom, providing a cup of tea, sandwiches or other refreshments and perhaps some reading materials., Many centres were at or near railway stations or other places where large numbers of troops would be passing. In November 1914 the first YMCA contingent went to France and organised similar centres at Le Havre. Their popularity led to more centres being established at Rouen, Boulogne, Dieppe, Etaples and Calas (the principal army bases) Abbeville, Dunkirk, Abancourt (railway junction), Paris and Marseilles. A further 300 centres were set up along the man lines of communication. Vast quantities of refreshments were served out to troops on the move, for example, one centre at a railway siding at Etaples served more than 200,000 cups of cocoa each month!, On 30th June 1915 the YMCA was granted permission to establish a centre at Aire, northern France - the location of the headquarters of the first Army. By the end of 1915 hundreds of small centres were at the heart of front line bases, many close to the firing line. For the brave soldiers, these centres off refuge provided vital places for rest and welfare., Employment of Women , As over 800 Workington men headed off to war, how were the iron and steel works, essential for the manufacture of munitions to continue? Women power! Many women were employed to continue production of the important shell steel and to support the intense Bessemer operations. Workington's industries continued to thrive as women responded to the challenge.