A Hucknall History

Industrial Developments

Royal Navy Medical Supply Depot

Being situated in the East Midlands adjacent quiet countryside ranked Huthwaite amongst some safer localities through two World Wars. Remote from coastal defences and blitzing of nearby industrial city centres, Huthwaite folk did share national loss of service personnel when also supporting local WWII efforts. And this inland location had based some other secretive military operations.

Drilling trainee troops alongside a Home Guard could barely be locally hidden, and there'd be some joy affording homes for refugee children. Detailing a prisoner of war camp guarding German troops plus better remembered Italian workers cheerfully marching for farm labour duty was greatly aided by readers sharing first hand experience. Likewise in recent years, the availability of records can better expose what may be longest kept Huthwaite secret: a surprising relocation of the Royal Navy Medical Supply Depot.

A second large extension to the 1937 Cooperative Wholesale Society Huthwaite hosiery factory presented the rear side four storey block. That was apparently aimed towards manufacturing a broader range of garments, although a second World War abruptly changed demands into clothing military personnel. Skilled male employees thus held reserved occupations, but that building was to become very secretly adopted when threat of Nazi invasion demanded safe relocation of a Royal Navy Medical Supplies Depot.

Mr Bernard O'Conner recalled his three year old childhood when fathers career first transferred them away the Greenwich area into 4 North Street lodgings from year 1941. Thomas O'Connor was a Royal Naval Storeman in their Medical Supplies department. It historically appears long based amidst a Deptford Royal Naval dockyard. His trusted experience progressed beyond the war when further posted to further depots, accompanied as always by his wife and young son.

Company already employed its own competitively well trained firemen. Inner tower provided one good lofty vantage point for lookouts performing Air Raid Patrols. Photograph featuring a Mr Lee shows war time precaution aside sandbags protecting that CWS factory block. Any records of it ever serving extra purpose have long been kept secret, until finally discovering archives of some highly classified material. A few dated top rank Admiralty Fleet Orders were published by the Royal Australian Navy.

A titled Technical Assistant to Medical Director General of the Royal Navy, through whom all parcels were to be formally addressed at the Huthwaite Medical Depot was namely Richard Rodney Wales Edward Esq. His command is found recognised in sixth supplement to the London Gazette published 9th January 1946 on page 292, amongst a long list all receiving distinction of appointment by the King to the "Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood".

Heralding a victorious end of European conflict in May 1945 saw great celebrations everywhere. Resuming peace time duties would swiftly retire this central main Royal Navy depot. Issuing commanding officers with official Navy List dated 30th June 1945, finds this list of names who probably represented the final Huthwaite staff of officers.

Plus an Army Stores?

Considering the huge CWS corporation was an already recognised international shipping giant, makes it easier to understand why this recent factory managed to securely handle parcel posts for the Royal Navy medical supplies. This may furthermore also help answer the question where trainee soldiers had been locally collecting their full army kit from. They recalled being marched from the Drill Hall only to some vague nearby army store issuing regular battle kit and weapons. So this large Huthwaite factory could potentially have served two military forces, while regular workers were continuing production providing uniformed clothing.

This only invites more research into covering barely known war efforts uniquely made by a Huthwaite CWS hosiery factory. Closing this page presents good opportunity to fully thank Bernard O'Connor for his emails sharing brief memory of Huthwaite. Family originated from the Greenwich area. Transferal on from Huthwaite led briefly to Yorkshire, and by 1946 work sent them to Salford, Manchester. Obviously oblivious to what went on inside the nearby factory where his father worked, his young age found more interest amongst those whom they lodged with. His family noted address at 4 North Street, personally remembering they had an Alsatian and the man spent time chopping wood. Sharing rides on his barrow delivering kindling and coal bags does support small trade of haulier at time. Commercial directories identify Mrs Sarah and Mr G Barnes. They relate to founding the Victoria Club.