Archivists slide one (7):
In the late 1930s leading up to the outbreak of war in 1939, the British government decided they needed to increase the existing three Royal bomb making factories and to disperse armaments and munitions production away from major cities and the southeast of England which were especially vulnerable to bombing from the air.
One of the largest bomb filling factories was the Royal Ordnance Factory Chorley –more commonly known as the R.O.F. but now called Buckshaw Village!
The work that took place here was not only essential to us winning the war, but it was also incredibly dangerous so the people who worked there deserve to be celebrated and remembered as war heroes.
Archivists slide two (8):
The new factory employed over 1,000 production workers by the outbreak of the Second World War, in September 1939. By June 1940, the numbers employed there had risen to nearly 15,000. At its peak, ROF Chorley had over 35,000 employees! 85% of these munition workers were women and, this year, we are commemorating their work with yellow poppies.
Archivists slide 3 (9):
The women who worked in ammunition filling, like those at Chorley, were nicknamed "Canary Girls" because their skin turned yellow due to exposure to dangerous chemicals in their work. Ammunition filling was very dangerous because of the risk of explosion. There were several serious incidents at the Chorley site.
Archivists slide 4 (10):
The design and style of the buildings meant that they were separated by wide-open spaces, with 6 metres high grassed embankments and extremely thick reinforced concrete walls and overbridges, called traverses. The purpose of these was to deflect any explosion skyward rather than outward to any nearby buildings.
And there were explosions… and there were casualties
Archivists slide 5 (11): Yr 10/11: Josh Burbidge
The sheer numbers employed in Lancashire in munitions mean that it is inevitable that some Balshavians worked at the R.O.F. Chorley in Buckshaw Village. Because of the nature of the work, all employees had to sign the official secrets act so finding names or even reports of explosions, injuries or deaths is very difficult. In 1941 there was an explosion at Chorley R.O.F and seven women were hospitalised, nine days later, mother of one Florence Hope Worth, died of her injuries. She gave her life for her country and we remember her today.
Archivists slide 6 (12):
The fact that most workers were women, we can see the attitudes of the time by the way these workers were described, in our Balshavian magazine from 1944 war workers are rumoured to be "idle" and even in the official R.O.F Chorley history book the munitions workers were described as "gossips and rumourmongers"!
According to historian John Robert, “The contribution of R.O.F. Chorley to the war effort was so great as to be virtually incalculable.” We know that 134 people employed in munitions died during the second world war. Each of the people who died, did so for their country. However, munitions work also led to long term skin and lung conditions so it is all the people who worked there that we should remember today.
Archivists Slide 7 (13):
Even after the war, the work of the R.O.F at Buckshaw continued, and the last munitions worker to die in the line of duty was Lynda Wilkins also from Leyland who died in an explosion at Buckshaw R.O.F on 2nd March 2005. As well as our Old Balshavians who died in these wars, it is the Canary Girls that I shall be thinking of today and thanking them for their service so we can be free.
Roll of honour: World War One
Jack Bretherton, Harold Southworth, William Rigby, Stanley Iddon, Eric Pierce, Frank Waring, Howard Gleave, Mathew Whittaker, Harry Bannister, Edgar Robinson, Oswald Berry, Percy Wignall, Bert Cank, Sidney Mill, Arthur Parker, Leslie Wood, William Southworth, Charles Rose, Jimmy Barnes, William Hampson, Will Marsden, Albert Clayton and Harold Jackman.
Roll of honour: World War Two
John Dewhurst, David Gold, Frank Valentine, Rainford Gent Marland, Eric Wright, Francis William Shepherd, Charles Frederick Dugdale, John Callely Hesketh, John Hargreaves Sanderson, George Herbert Stratton, John Nelson Wilkinson.
Afghanistan:
Paul Warren was a pupil at Balshaw’s from 1998-2003. He joined the Royal Marines in 2006 and served in Afghanistan twice. Marine Paul Warren died shortly after being injured in an insurgent attack in Sangin. Described by his commanding officer as, 'a man of presence ... who inspired others ... keen to learn and utterly selfless'. His funeral was held at St. Andrew's Church on 8th July 2010. Balshaw's provided a Guard of Honour through the street, and many of his peers and teachers were present to honour a brave marine and true Balshavian.
This cross was made in Camp Bastion to honour Paul Warren’s death. It is made from 30 mm and 105 mm Cartridge cases from the ground where he fell.
At the top vertical is Paul's Date of Birth - 29 November 1986
Bottom Vertical is the date of his death - 21st June 2010
Left horizontal is Paul's Rank & service number - P064885K Marine
Right Horizontal his name - Paul Warren