Mary Barry Munitions Work

On her marriage certificate in 1919, Mary’s occupation is given as “Munitions Worker”. There are no online records of her employment and there were a large number of factories in the Newport area manufacturing arms, notably the National Shell Factory and the National Cartridge and Box Repair Factory and the majority of workers were women.

These women were often referred to as “munitionettes” and some worked 12-hour shifts in dangerous or unhealthy conditions. In particular, there was an inquiry in 1919 into the possible links between munitions work and tuberculosis, from which Mary was to die in 1924. (https://wellcomecollection.org/works/rxscmkr4/items?canvas=61)

Mary does not appear to be in either of the two photographs but they provide an impression of how she would have been dressed.

^{Source: Newport Past. (http://www.newportpast.com/)}