Lancing at War: The Silent Partners of the Carriage Works (1941–1945)
“While the veterans of the Great War, like Charles Meads, stood guard on the Fire Brigade and gun crews, a new and unexpected army was moving through the level crossing gates every morning. By 1941, the ‘Sheds’ were no longer just a man’s world. To keep the Southern Railway running, the Works turned to the village’s wives, daughters, and even its 14-year-old school-leavers.”
The Family Engine The paybooks from 1941–1943 reveal that the Works was a true family affair. It wasn't uncommon for a single household in the Avenues or the Grover Estate to have three generations on the payroll:
The Youth: 14-year-old Messenger Lads like Briggs and Bond earned just 9 shillings a week (plus a small wartime bonus) scurrying between the 66 acres of workshops.
The Women: Skilled operators like Mrs Hawkins, who worked her way up to Machinist Grade 2, and F. Prodger, who braved the heat of the foundry as a White Metal Worker.
The Apprentices: Young girls like Parker, who started as a 'Shop Girl' and earned a promotion to Carpenter’s Mate, proving her worth in a heavy trade.
Equal Grit, Unequal Pay The ledgers tell a sobering story of the era. While these women and youths were essential to the war effort—often performing heavy manual labour to 'put bread on the table'—their pay remained on a separate 'Female' or 'Junior' scale. A Woman Probationer might earn 25 shillings for a week’s work that would have paid a man nearly double. Yet, the pride in the work remained. As seen in our [previous post on the Works Firemen], the sense of community was the real glue that held the 'Sheds' together.
| Name | Role / Trade | The Story in the Ledger |
| F. Prodger | White Metal Worker | Handling molten alloys for carriage bearings—heavy, hot, and skilled industrial work. |
| Mrs. Hawkins | Machinist (Grade 2) | Earned a promotion through technical skill on the shop floor. |
| J. Bedwell | Painter (Probationer) | A woman entering the trade that gave Lancing its famous "Railway Green" doors. |
| Messenger Lad Briggs | Messenger (Age 14) | Born 1929. One of the youngest on site, earning 9/- plus a 1/6 wartime bonus. |
| Messenger Lad Bond | Messenger | Likely part of a "double paypacket" household alongside the adult Bond (Engine Driver). |
| Shop Lad Mardon | Junior Assistant | A 15-year-old helping to keep the skilled craftsmen supplied with parts. |
| Parker (No. 1045) | Carpenter's Mate | Promoted from 'Shop Girl' to a technical assistant role in the woodshops. |
| Name | Role | Weekly Wage | The "Story" |
| Briggs (No. 2609) | Messenger Lad | 9/- (plus 1/6 bonus) | Born July 1929; just 14 years old, scurrying across 66 acres with messages. |
| Bond (No. 3750) | Messenger Lad | 9/- | Likely following in the footsteps of the adult Bond (Engine Driver). |
| Mardon (No. 3253) | Shop Lad | 7/- | One of the lowest earners, but vital for keeping the skilled tradesmen supplied. |
| Parker (No. 1045) | Carpenter's Mate | 18/3 | A rare promotion for a "Shop Girl" into a technical trade assistant role. |
The Final Word: A Village in Motion
Looking back at these names, it is easy to see the 66-acre site as just a factory, but these ledgers prove it was the heart of the home. Whether it was Messenger Lad Briggs running his first shift at fourteen or Mrs. Hawkins mastering the machines to keep her family afloat, they were all part of a village that refused to stand still. They may have been the 'Silent Partners' of the Carriage Works, but their contribution was as sturdy as the steel carriages they helped build.
As we walk past the Avenues or the Grover Estate today, we might still see a hint of 'Railway Green' on a gate or a shed—a small, lasting reminder of a time when every member of the family played their part.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Part 2:
The Silent Partners: Women & Youth (1941–1945) (You are here) Part 3: The Guardians of the Works: Mr Warr and the Lancing Railway Fire Brigade
No comments:
Post a Comment