Mabel Lethbridge
Mabel Lethbridge, a munitions factory worker from London, recalls her impulsive decision to work at Hayes National Filling Factory in Middlesex - with terrible consequences.
A 17-year-old Mabel Lethbridge lied about her age to get a job cleaning detonators at the No. 7 National Filling Factory in Hayes, Middlesex. It was a dull job, and when on her sixth day of work a poster appeared requesting staff to work in Amatol Filling Section - the Danger Zone - she immediately volunteered. Injury and deaths were frequent due to novice workers and highly explosive materials.
On Mabel's ninth day of work, a shell exploded and her left leg was mutilated beyond repair. It was later amputated, and she was awarded a Medal of the Order of the British Empire (known as a BEM nowadays) for her courage and devotion to duty.
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Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Interviewed Guest | Mabel Lethbridge |
| Executive Producer | Detlef Siebert |
| Producer | Sandra Gorel |
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Stories of War
Stories of War
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The Great War Interviews
A collection of interviews with World War One veterans and civilians filmed in the 1960s.
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