Howard & Bulloughs WWII work

Fontayne · 08-09-2011, 08:57

Hello I'm a new member of the website and have read with avid interest the threads on Howard & Bullough. My mum riveted aircraft parts here during WWII. Does anyone know if there are any records or photos specific to WWII years at Howard & Bulloughs.

jaysay · 08-09-2011, 09:07

[quote=Fontayne;932015]Hello I'm a new member of the website and have read with avid interest the threads on Howard & Bullough. My mum riveted aircraft parts here during WWII. Does anyone know if there are any records or photos specific to WWII years at Howard & Bulloughs.

My mother also worked at H & B during the war

Fontayne · 08-09-2011, 11:26

I wish I knew much about it Jaysay, I was starting to raise a young family when she died, so hadn't got to the stage of asking sensible questions sadly. Any information would be good

Retlaw · 08-09-2011, 13:26

[quote=Fontayne;932015]Hello I'm a new member of the website and have read with avid interest the threads on Howard & Bullough. My mum riveted aircraft parts here during WWII. Does anyone know if there are any records or photos specific to WWII years at Howard & Bulloughs.

Accrington Library is the place you should be looking, they have loads of info & pictures on H & B's.
One of the retired librarians, collected a lot of stuff, and used to visit Rhum every year.
Retlaw.

Fontayne · 08-09-2011, 17:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retlaw

Accrington Library is the place you should be looking, they have loads of info & pictures on H & B's.
One of the retired librarians, collected a lot of stuff, and used to visit Rhum every year.
Retlaw.

Thank you, I'll check it out as soon as I can

jaysay · 08-09-2011, 17:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fontayne

I wish I knew much about it Jaysay, I was starting to raise a young family when she died, so hadn't got to the stage of asking sensible questions sadly. Any information would be good

My Mum never really talked about the war years nor my father either, it was only after my mother passed away in 1993 that my father opened up about the war years, in fact he did an autobiography which I actually typed up for him and I still have it as he too passed away 8 years ago

Gordon Booth · 08-09-2011, 19:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaysay

he did an autobiography which I actually typed up for him and I still have it

I'd hate to be your proof reader!

Not many from either of the wars would talk about it. Can't have been as much fun as it looks on an X box.

Gordon Booth · 08-09-2011, 19:33

My claim to war fame- I was machine gunned by a Messershmitt!
This German pilot must have taken a fancy to my mother as she wheeled my pram down a country road in Kent. She said the road erupted all around us but no harm done.
When I told my wife the story she said 'I'd like to get my hands on him!Missing my mother-in-law!'.

Fontayne · 09-09-2011, 08:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaysay

My Mum never really talked about the war years nor my father either, it was only after my mother passed away in 1993 that my father opened up about the war years, in fact he did an autobiography which I actually typed up for him and I still have it as he too passed away 8 years ago

I know what you mean. I've spent an age trying to piece together my father's war years myself from about 3 facts, including the paddlesteamer minesweepers names that he served on. Your autobiography from your dad must make for fascinating, if sad, reading. I'm writing my family tree in book form - spent about 2 yrs of research and writing in spare moments up to now, but working life gets in the way - LOL

jaysay · 09-09-2011, 09:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon Booth

I'd hate to be your proof reader!

Not many from either of the wars would talk about it. Can't have been as much fun as it looks on an X box.

My father undertook that task seeing I didn't inherit his literary skills Gordon

Na As I've said he didn't say much about his war experiences, but it became quite clear that he was very lucky to be alive being only one of four survivors, (he was badly wombed) from a unit engaged in a meeting with the Nazis in North Africa

Marl · 12-11-2012, 13:27

My mum worked at H&B during the war in fact my brother has her photo which she had for identification purposes it has a stamp on it she has her hair tied back with her scarf.I suppose you had to keep your hair away from the equipment for safety.She looks so young on the photo my dad carried the photo round in his wallet for years and when he died mum found it and gave it to my brother she never said much about it just that she worked on munitions during the war.

cashman · 12-11-2012, 15:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marl

My mum worked at H&B during the war in fact my brother has her photo which she had for identification purposes it has a stamp on it she has her hair tied back with her scarf.I suppose you had to keep your hair away from the equipment for safety.She looks so young on the photo my dad carried the photo round in his wallet for years and when he died mum found it and gave it to my brother she never said much about it just that she worked on munitions during the war.

Wouldn't mind betting thats how she met my mam Marl?

Marl · 12-11-2012, 18:01

Yeh yer probably right Cashy.

Atarah · 01-12-2012, 22:27

To Fontayne - your Mum wasnt one of the first six ladies to work at Howard and Bulloughs was she in 1939? Its just that a photo was taken to mark the event and a copy was given to me by a lovely neighbour of mine who was one of the six ladies (she is now deceased). The photo in question has been copied time and time again (I gave it to the library) but I do have a copy here at home.