Victory in Europe
THE FACTORY WORKERS WHO HELPED WIN WAR
working at Armstrong Whitworth under the guidance of his father.
She met him in 1953 and they married the year after. They had three children and Tom died in 2010. But Brenda was proud to unveil the family history as she told her story on such a special VE Day.
“Over the last few months during the coronavirus lockdown, I have been comparing the changes happening in our close communities to those which happened during World War Two,” said Brenda, of Warkworth, Northumberland.
“People looking out for one another, helping in any way they could. Sharing veg from their garden or allotment, even eggs if they were lucky enough to have a few hens in the backyard. Reassuringly showing that when difficult times occur, good things can come from it. How shocked the whole nation must have been in 1939 when War was declared, especially those who had fought and lived through World War One, as my father-inlaw did.
“Thomas Griffin Bird was a trained engineer when he joined the 90th Field Company of the Royal Engineers. He became a Major and received the Distinguished Service Order, was mentioned in Dispatches three times for bravery, finally receiving on behalf of the whole 90th Company, the Belgian Croix de Guerre. He was a man of steel for sure.
“In 1919 he joined the steel industry up in the North East, a long established company Armstrong Whitworth and by 1939 he was managing director. He was to oversee massive changes for the workforce as they turned their efforts to producing 500lb armour piercing bombs.
“Due to the scarcity available in the area once the callup papers had been received, night classes were made available for unemployed men, and the nucleus of the required workforce came from these students.
“The magnificent effort these workers made, was incredible, considering under what I heard were truly harsh, stressful conditions, immense heat from the furnaces, the noise, dust, and very long shifts. After which for many, was a long walk home sometimes through the blitz, and of course not forgetting there were only minimum rations to sustain them.
“My husband Tom and his elder brother Frank both started work at Armstrong Whitworth from an early age. They shared their feelings of experiencing being in a Reserved Occupation, when all their mates were joining the forces. They both tried to join the Navy but were refused.
“Armistice Day was always difficult for Tom surrounded by men and women wearing their medals. He never felt he had done his bit. That was until on holiday in the late 50s in France, we went to the area of the D Day Landings and visited the large Museum at Aramanche.
There on a plinth between the glass showcases was a massive bomb casing with a polished brass plaque – Made by Armstrong Whitworth. Gateshead. Newcastle. England. For him it was a life-changing moment. At last he could hold his head high on Armistice Day.
“Sadly for the family, The Major, as my father-in-law was so kindly called by all his team workmates, had a serious car crash returning from a meeting in London with the Air Ministry. He was nursed at home but died on May 7, 1945 – the day before VE Day on May 8. What a difference a day can make.
“I sincerely hope the people of Tyneside and surrounding areas are truly proud of their forebears who bore the brunt of War with great determination and camaraderie, and realise how much they did to support our Forces.”
“And without the efforts of the munition factories, enabling our Air Force to blast the German air fields and destroy their fighter planes, the War may have ended very differently.”