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I worked in the munitions factory in Aycliffe, County Durham. We travelled there by train from Bishop Auckland and then by bus from Heighington to Aycliffe every day. We worked shifts. I was 18 when I started there. When you were 18 you were conscripted and I choose the munitions factory, so I didn’t have to go away from home. And it was more money than my friend Doris got in the land army!
The factory was dug down into the ground so that only the roof was showing, this was because the factory was an enemy target. The paths to the factory was called the 'Cleanways' and we walked from that into a little room where we got changed into a white coat, turban and shoes for hygiene reasons. I didn’t work where the powder was, but I worked on the bullets, putting the detonator in the end of the bullet. I never thought about the danger as I was working, even though a few people had been killed before I got there. Some people were also injured, such as fingers blown off. The people working with the powder had their hands turned yellow.
I made 7.92mm cartridges.
I was at Aycliffe for about 2 years and then moved to Spennymoor where the bullets were packed to be sent to the navy. We used to put letters in for the sailors, and we used to get some back, some were in French! I was there until nearly the end of the war, I left when I got married.
I enjoyed working there, everyone was happy and we became friends. In our breaks there was music and singing — it was music while you worked!
The Aycliffe Angels were only officially recognised as part of the War Effort in 1997 when I got a certificate from the government. I’m going to take that certificate when I go to the local school to talk about my time at the munitions factory.
Disclaimer: Submitted by Christine Rome at Spennymoor Library on behalf of Kitty Morgan

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