Two Munitions Workers Die in 'Raid-Night Tragedy'

Inside the church of St. Andrew the Apostle at  Bolton-upon-Dearne there is the a memorial, which bears the names of two munitions workers, Clara Garbutt and Ella Howitt; Both of  whom sadly died during an air raid one night in April 1918. The two women were employed by John Baker & Co of Kilnhurst, which had operated as a steel works prior to war, but like many other factories of the period, had re-calibrated it's machinery to help with the war effort. By Spring of 1918 their workforce comprised of one hundred and fifty women. The majority of the factory's male employees had either enlisted or been conscripted into the armed forces, In order to fulfill orders and produce the much needed ammunition, women had to fill the vacant positions. It is believed that the factory produce six million shells through out the course of the war.

The Munition Girls, by Alexander Stanhope Forbes, 1918. From a colour transparency in the Science Museum Science Museum Group Collection ©The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

On the night of 12th April 1918 an air raid warning was issued to John Baker & Co. At around 10.30pm the machine shop supervisor David Pilmore watched Ella & Clara leave the works, as the two women left the premises the bright factory lights were turned off, leaving the pair in near darkness. Clara and Ella attempted take their usual route home along the canal towards Swinton Bridge. But the two women were never to make it that far. They were reported missing the following day. The canal was dragged and the bodies were recovered on Sunday morning. Poignantly the women were discovered linking arms, as though they slipped suddenly, with no time to react and save themselves.

The following account is taken from The Mexborough & Swinton Times dated April 20th 1918.

" Mr J. Kenyon Parker held an inquest at Swinton on Tuesday relative to the death of  of Ella Howitt (29), 7 Angel Street Bolton on Dearne, Wife of Pte W. H. Howitt K.O.Y.L.I on active service in France, and Clara Beatrice Garbutt (37) wife of Bernard Garbutt, 16, Angel Street, Bolton-on-Dearne; who were drowned in the canal near the works at which they were employed, on Friday night. They left the works after an air raid warning had been given and were not seen again. They were reported missing the following day,  and as their way home from the works lay by the canal the water was dragged and the bodies of the two women were recovered on Sunday Morning. They were arm in arm and had the appearance of having walked into the canal."

Ella was married to soldier William Henry Howitt who was serving in France at the time of her death. The couple had one daughter named Mabel. Mabel was a month shy of her tenth birthday when her mother died. William survived the war and passed away in 1960 at the age 81. Mabel died in 1985. At the time of her death Clara had been separated from her husband Bernard Garbutt for 12 years. Her body was taken to her sister's house at Swinton shortly after it was discovered. It is not known if she had any children.

St. Andrew's Church Bolton Upon Dearne,

An inquest was held a few days after the incident to establish the cause death. The corner returned "A verdict of accidental death', but advised Baker & Co to make improvements in order to prevent similar accidents from occurring, such as using an alternative evacuation route which did not run by the canal during air raids. The company director, George Baker, also attended the inquest and said "His firm would welcome any suggestion the jury could make for safe guarding their workforce from this danger"

My Baker also took the opportunity to express his "sympathy with the relatives in these cases, and said it seemed terrible that these women who had come forward and worked so splendidly in the hour of the nations need, should have come to such an end"
Mexborough & Swinton Times, 20th April 1918

After the war George Baker commissioned artist Stanhope Forbes to create a painting commemorating the works and it's contribution to the war effort. Each of his employees was giving a framed copy. The piece was entitled 'The Munitions Girls' and looking at the image, it's not difficult to imagine that the two women at the forefront of the painting pushing a trolley of shells could easily be Clara and Ella.

'We are here' outside Barnsley Town Hall

Last year to commemorate the 100th anniversary of  The Battle of The Somme a project named #wearehere set out to create an unforgettable memorial to the those who fell. On the first day alone, 19,240 men were killed. The 1st July 1916 is still considered the bloodiest day in British military history.

Thousands of volunteers dressed as WW1 soldiers appeared unannounced at locations all over the U.K.  Not one of them spoke a word as to their purpose or identity. but instead handed a small card to anyone who approached them.  Each participant represented an individual soldier who was killed on that day one hundred years before.

It was shortly after the Somme remembrance ceremony has finished that the 'soldiers' appeared outside Barnsley town hall, having made their way up Market Hill from the train station. The 'men' sat  on the benches at bottom of the fountains for around 15 minutes before their 'Sergeant' rallied them and they lined up once more and marched back towards the train station.

It was a very poignant tribute, not only to the men who fell at the Somme but to all those who served in WW1. It humanized them and brought to life the thousands of faceless names carved on to Thiepval and other war memorials. These were very real men, the much loved sons and fathers who went off to war and never returned. But always remembered.

It was by sheer luck that I managed to witness this once in a life time event. I had meant to attend the memorial ceremony, but due to my dog's grooming appointment overrunning (of all things) I missed it. I arrived just as everyone was leaving, but decided  to stay and view 'Light Lines', The Barnsley Pals memorial by Musson+Retallick. That way my journey wouldn't have been a total waste of time, just as I was about to leave #Wearehere appeared. I managed to get a few photos. But I didn't approach them as I hadn't heard about the project and mistakenly thought they were part of the ceremony I'd just missed and were waiting for a lift home - (I know, what an idiot!). I'm still kicking myself that I didn't take full advantage of the opportunity but still glad I witnessed it first hand.