Protected occupations in the World Wars
Discussion
My paternal grandfather was working for Hubert Scott-Paine at the British Power Boat Company who, by the time war came around were making high speed MTBs and later made PT boats. Scott-Paine had already founded Supermarine (he actually gave his share in the company away to start BPC).
Later in the war Grandad was called up and was given officer status in the Navy and sent to Sri Lanka and was doing maintenance work on the boats.
My maternal grandfather was working for the Folland Aircraft company at the outbreak of war, he was a riveter, during the war Folland made something like 15,000 rear sections of Spitfires. My grandmother was the riveters mate, and that where they met.
Later on he left Follands was was a driver for the US Army within the UK.
Later in the war Grandad was called up and was given officer status in the Navy and sent to Sri Lanka and was doing maintenance work on the boats.
My maternal grandfather was working for the Folland Aircraft company at the outbreak of war, he was a riveter, during the war Folland made something like 15,000 rear sections of Spitfires. My grandmother was the riveters mate, and that where they met.
Later on he left Follands was was a driver for the US Army within the UK.
Crafty_ said:
My paternal grandfather was working for Hubert Scott-Paine at the British Power Boat Company who, by the time war came around were making high speed MTBs and later made PT boats. Scott-Paine had already founded Supermarine (he actually gave his share in the company away to start BPC).
Later in the war Grandad was called up and was given officer status in the Navy and sent to Sri Lanka and was doing maintenance work on the boats.
My maternal grandfather was working for the Folland Aircraft company at the outbreak of war, he was a riveter, during the war Folland made something like 15,000 rear sections of Spitfires. My grandmother was the riveters mate, and that where they met.
Later on he left Follands was was a driver for the US Army within the UK.
My Grandfather was at Pape and Curtis in Looe. His father worked there most of his life. We still have all his wood working tools. Later in the war Grandad was called up and was given officer status in the Navy and sent to Sri Lanka and was doing maintenance work on the boats.
My maternal grandfather was working for the Folland Aircraft company at the outbreak of war, he was a riveter, during the war Folland made something like 15,000 rear sections of Spitfires. My grandmother was the riveters mate, and that where they met.
Later on he left Follands was was a driver for the US Army within the UK.
One grandad was born in 1900 so too young for WW1 and getting on for too old for WW2. He was in the army for 6 years in the 20's and tried to sign up for WW2 but he was a miner in 1939 and had been since leaving the army so had a protected occupation which meant he had to do it.
I find it almost impossible to imagine that by the time he was my age (48) he had lived through 2 world wars and spent 6 years in the army defending what was then the North-West Frontier in India, the India/Afghanistan border where we are still fighting today.
I find it almost impossible to imagine that by the time he was my age (48) he had lived through 2 world wars and spent 6 years in the army defending what was then the North-West Frontier in India, the India/Afghanistan border where we are still fighting today.
Paternal grandfather was an engineer at the Lark Works (now Cherry - them of the keyboards etc) in WWII.
He had an enlarged heart, but was bloody good at his job, so was on "normal" hours 9-6ish when everyone else was on something more like 8-10. Got some stick for it too, apparently.
Once, a few years ago, (well, quite a few now - he's been dead more than 10
) him and Grandma were taking a tour of a Canadian war ship. They had a cut-away torpedo on display in a cabinet. Grandad took a close look and said to the guide "I made that bit" - pointing to a widget in the nose. He knew for sure as they were the only factory making that weapon, and he was the only person trusted to make this particular bit. They were whisked off the public tour and treated like royalty for the rest of the visit
(Maternal was a navigator on Halifax bombers, had a string of medals including, IIRC, a DSO. I've just looked that up, and it's more impressive than I ever realised! Must ask more about that....)
He had an enlarged heart, but was bloody good at his job, so was on "normal" hours 9-6ish when everyone else was on something more like 8-10. Got some stick for it too, apparently.
Once, a few years ago, (well, quite a few now - he's been dead more than 10
) him and Grandma were taking a tour of a Canadian war ship. They had a cut-away torpedo on display in a cabinet. Grandad took a close look and said to the guide "I made that bit" - pointing to a widget in the nose. He knew for sure as they were the only factory making that weapon, and he was the only person trusted to make this particular bit. They were whisked off the public tour and treated like royalty for the rest of the visit (Maternal was a navigator on Halifax bombers, had a string of medals including, IIRC, a DSO. I've just looked that up, and it's more impressive than I ever realised! Must ask more about that....)
Edited by defblade on Saturday 13th November 03:38
paternal side was a tank commander during the war and stayed in the army till retiring as rsm.
maternal side was a windowcleaner in birmingham and stayed to help with the blackout, painting windows in factorys ect.
i think he had a medical reason why he couldn't serve but his job was considered quite important at the time.
maternal side was a windowcleaner in birmingham and stayed to help with the blackout, painting windows in factorys ect.
i think he had a medical reason why he couldn't serve but his job was considered quite important at the time.
Maternal Grandparents were Neutrals (Irish farmers)
Paternal Grandfather was the CDI officer for West End Central.
He joined the Welsh Guards at 16 years old, a few weeks after the end of WW1 and had demob in 1936 after spending the between war years guarding the Queen in a big Bearskin hat
Paternal Grandmother had a very important war role ...she was the Landlady of The Marlborough Tip (Nags Head) on Carnaby Street
Paternal Grandfather was the CDI officer for West End Central.
He joined the Welsh Guards at 16 years old, a few weeks after the end of WW1 and had demob in 1936 after spending the between war years guarding the Queen in a big Bearskin hat
Paternal Grandmother had a very important war role ...she was the Landlady of The Marlborough Tip (Nags Head) on Carnaby Street
Maternal grandfather worked in the cement works in Rugby so carried on doing that for the duration - so clocked up 51 years service at the cement works by the time he retired - and got christmas hampers from the company for many years after he did.
Paternal grandfather worked in the dockyards - Teeside, never had the exact details but he went out on sea-trials on one of the warships that they were building and it never came back - assumption was it hit a mine or was torpedoed. Apparently they released the names of the dockyard workers (there were several) one or two at a time and cryptically to minimise the impact of it.
Paternal grandfather worked in the dockyards - Teeside, never had the exact details but he went out on sea-trials on one of the warships that they were building and it never came back - assumption was it hit a mine or was torpedoed. Apparently they released the names of the dockyard workers (there were several) one or two at a time and cryptically to minimise the impact of it.
Caruso said:
I wonder how many people today would be in protected occupations if we went to all out war?
Not many would be my guess, as we no longer produce much of anything useful in a war.
Sorry but, Not many would be my guess, as we no longer produce much of anything useful in a war.
The UK is one of the world's largest arms exporters and has the third largest aerospace industry. Our defence sector is a major part of our economy. Ever heard of BAE Systems? Rolls Royce? VT Group? Babcock?Now, perhaps due to productivity increases, advances in manufacturing and the complexity of modern defence equipment, we wouldn't require millions of people sat on production lines banging rivets. But to say that we produce nothing useful in the even of a war is laughable.
Edited by hyperblue on Saturday 13th November 08:31
On mums side Grandpa was to young for the first one and to old for the second one. He was an engineer for Rolls Royce so was very much in a reserved occupation. After the war he stayed with Rolls Royce and was involved in the 'flying bed' project which went on to become the Harrier.
After work hours he was a ARP and also in the home guard.
Grandma did all sorts of jobs but during the war she packed parachutes and issued them out to airmen.
On dads side my Grandpa was a deeply religious man and a teacher. He was also an objector but thought he might still be able to do some good so enlisted in to the medical core. He ended up in the dental core of all things. He was evacuated from Dunkirk and also served in Africa. Most of his job was reconstructing tank crews jaws as they were often shot off. After Dunkirk he had his name taken from the list of objectors and vowed not to go back without a gun.
Grandma started the war as an 'Nasty Annie' in the Nurses Auxiliary (NA) but changed her occupation halfway through the war and joined the land army. We have photos of her driving tractors and all sorts of farm work with German POW's. She got presented medals recently for her service to the nation.
After work hours he was a ARP and also in the home guard.
Grandma did all sorts of jobs but during the war she packed parachutes and issued them out to airmen.
On dads side my Grandpa was a deeply religious man and a teacher. He was also an objector but thought he might still be able to do some good so enlisted in to the medical core. He ended up in the dental core of all things. He was evacuated from Dunkirk and also served in Africa. Most of his job was reconstructing tank crews jaws as they were often shot off. After Dunkirk he had his name taken from the list of objectors and vowed not to go back without a gun.
Grandma started the war as an 'Nasty Annie' in the Nurses Auxiliary (NA) but changed her occupation halfway through the war and joined the land army. We have photos of her driving tractors and all sorts of farm work with German POW's. She got presented medals recently for her service to the nation.
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