Industry and Society: A Study of the Home Front in Barrow-in-Furness during the First World War By Peter Schofield A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Central Lancashire October 2017 Abstract The thesis examines the case of Barrow-in-Furness through the period of the First World War. As a town dominated by one of the UK’s most important armaments firms, Vickers, Barrow experienced the full force of industrial mobilisation and government intervention. In analysing the responses to these events, the thesis provides insights into their impact on a town and population dependent on industries stimulated by war. Barrow had special problems arising from its geographical isolation and large munitions population. Vickers, the work force and the town at large were used to negotiating their own difficulties, but these were severely tested by the impact of war. Industrial relations in a heavily unionised but strategically important town were complicated by the different positions of Vickers, unions, shop stewards, rival government agencies, and the role of women, yet ultimately all parties found ways of working together. The knock-on effects of the war on industry were extensive and far reaching. The life of the town was intimately bound up with the war industry and the changes in war requirements ultimately affected its population through housing, health and welfare and the need for utilities and transport. Addressing these difficulties posed some of the greatest problems. Political implications of wartime in a working-class town led to a split in the Labour Party and ultimately the return of a Tory in 1919. While historians have considered how the nation met the demands of the war, a focus on the regionality of the home front highlights more precisely the impact on specific places and how the war effort was sustained in practice. The experience of the town of Barrow throughout the period of the First World War is therefore invaluable for demonstrating the complexity and inter-relatedness of how the war affected people, industry and infrastructure on the home front. Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1 State Control and the Ministry of Munitions .…………………………………………………………………. 2 Labour Relations, Unions and Organisation of Labour ..………………………………………………….. 5 Politics ..……………………………………………………………………….………………………………………………… 6 Women and girls .…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 9 Health and Welfare .……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 11 Social Impact ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 16 CHAPTER 1: BARROW-IN-FURNESS BEFORE THE OUTBREAK OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR - ESTABLISHING THE INDUSTRIAL SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CONTEXTS …………………. 27 Introduction .....………………………………………………………………………………………….………………… 27 Industrial Structure ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 28 Workers, Employers, Unions and Industrial Relations .…………………………………………………. 38 Wages, Payment Schemes and Overtime ..……………………………………………………………………. 42 Disputes and the 48 Hour Week ……………………………………………………………………………………. 45 Politics …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 49 Housing ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 54 Health and Leisure ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 58 Conclusions .………………………………………………………………………………………………………………... 59 CHAPTER 2: THE OUTBREAK OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR ……………………………………………………. 62 Introduction .………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 62 The outbreak and first months of the war …………………………………………………………………….. 63 New Attempts to Find Labour ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 73 Gun and Shell Production …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 80 Removing Restrictive Practices …………………………………………………………………………………….. 85 The drink problem ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 87 Housing ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 92 Conclusions …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 96 CHAPTER 3: THE MOVE TO INCREASE OUTPUT AND ITS EFFECTS .…………………………………….. 99 Introduction ..……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 99 The Ministry of War Act, Munitions Tribunals and Leaving Certificates ………………………. 100 Drink ..………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 109 Accommodation ………………………………………………………………………………………………………... 112 Utilities .……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….118 Transport and Trade ..…………………………………………………………………………………………………. 125 Sunday Labour .………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 133 Conclusions ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 135 CHAPTER 4: THE INCREASE IN PRODUCTION AND THE CONFLICTING NEEDS OF ARMY AND INDUSTRY………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 138 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 138 Increase in production and the problem of dilution ..……………………………………………………. 139 Army Recruitment and Substitution …………………………………………………………………………….145 Working Hours, Shift Systems and Women’s Unions …………………………………………………. 150 Wages ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 155 Health and Welfare …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 159 Conclusions ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….172 CHAPTER 5: 1917 UNREST ..................................................................................................... 174 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 174 Unrest and the Shop Stewards ………………………………………………………….…………………....... 175 The Commission on Unrest ………………………………………………………………………………………… 183 Overcrowding and evictions ………………………………………………………………………………………. 194 Housing and Billeting …………………………………………………………………………………………………. 202 Conclusions ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 208 CHAPTER 6: MEN OR MUNITIONS, DEMOBILISATION AND RECONSTRUCTION, 1918-1919 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 210 Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 210 1918 Men or Munitions …..………………………………………………………………………………………… 210 Industrial Reconstruction ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 215 Demobilisation and Adjustments ………………………………………………………………………………. 219 Shorter working hours ..……….……………………………………………………………………………………. 225 Unrest ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 227 Health ……………………………………………...……………………………………………………………………….. 231 Housing and Accommodation …………………………………………………………………………………….. 234 Politics and the General Election ……………………………………………………………………………….. 238 Conclusions ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 242 CONCLUSIONS ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 244 Appendix A Barrow’s War Record ......................................................................................................... 258 Appendix B Toluoul Production ............................................................................................................. 259 Appendix C Post First World War Map of Vickers Works and Barrow Docks ...................................... 260 References ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 261 Tables and Figures Tables Table 1 - Leading Shipyard Construction for the Royal Navy 1899-1914 ……………………………. 29 Table 2 - Engineering, Shipbuilding and Metal Trades Industrial Disputes 1911-1914 National Figures Known to the Board of Trade ……………………………………………………………………………….. 46 Table 3 - Barrow Estimated Population Size 1911-1914 …………………………………………………….. 57 Table 4 - Board of Trade Results for Vickers, Barrow to 31 January 1915 .…………………………..76 Table 5 - Quarterly Increase in Numbers in the Barrow Armament Works ……………………….. 84 Table 6 - Electricity Statistics 1912 to 1920 …………………………………………………………………….. 120 Table 7 - Local Water Stock and Usage ……………………………………………………………………………. 124 Table 8 - Furness Railway Wartime Traffic Figures ………………………………………………………….. 126 Table 9 - Furness Railway ‘Passenger’ Service Reductions ………………………………………………. 126 Table 10 - Change in Passenger Traffic 1916-17 (first three months only)……………………….. 123 Table 11 - Barrow Places of Entertainment 1916 …………………………………………………………….. 163 Table 12 - Corporation Estimate of Wartime Overcrowding 1917 ……………………………………. 196 Table 13 - Barrow Housing 1912-1917 …………………………………………………………………………….. 196 Figures Figure 1 - Local Area Map .……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 20 Figure 2 - Vickers 1914 Advert .…………………………………………………………………………………………. 30 Figure 3 - Population Density against Population for 1910 ………………………………………………… 57 Acknowledgements I would like in particular to thank Dr. Keith Vernon, for his advice, constructive support, criticism and encouragement throughout the three years of researching and writing this thesis. Also I would like to thank Margaret Fisher, a model of efficiency who has always been there to inform on any administrative problems or prompt me when I needed reminding. The staff of Barrow Records Office who have seen their numbers dwindle over recent years also deserve special thanks. Finally I would like to thank my wife for her patience and support during the countless hours that I spent in isolation working on the thesis. Abbreviations ASE Amalgamated Society of Engineers BRO Barrow Records Office CAB Cabinet CASCAT Cumbria Archives Catalogue CBB Central Billeting Board CCB Central Control (Liquor) Board DORA Defence of the Realm Act EEF Engineering Employers Federation EJTB Engineering Joint Trades Board FCC Food Control Committee FEC Food Economy Committee GL General Labourers HMWC Health of Munitions Workers Committee H of C House of Commons H of L House