Longbridge Factory

[mac UK]

My Dad worked in the stores department, he was a shop steward in the early 70's. is there any photos of the workers?. other than outside the Gates.

 

[superdad3]

Came across this phot for sale on Ebay. Said to be tank assembly at Longbridge Plant about 1941. Never heard of that before [I knew they made aeroplanes for the war effort] . Can anyone vouch for this or identify it as Longbridge from roof structure etc?

 

[Godber]

Came across this phot for sale on Ebay. Said to be tank assembly at Longbridge Plant about 1941. Never heard of that before [I knew they made aeroplanes for the war effort] . Can anyone vouch for this or identify it as Longbridge from roof structure etc?
View attachment 218955

By the look of it that’s a Crusader tank, apparently they were built primarily at the Nuffield factory on Drews Lane. Can’t find any evidence that Crusaders were assembled at Longbridge.

 

[superdad3]

Have now carried out a bit more research on line and yes Crusader tanks were made at Longbridge although as Godber mentioned the main production site was at Nuffield/Drews Lane. One site suggests that tank parts, specifically over 36,000 suspension units, were made at Longbridge rather than the complete assembly of the Crusader tank itself but the photographic evidence suggests otherwise.

Of course Longbridge was a major producer for the war effort - tanks, ammunition, planes, military vehicles, steel helmets and lots more. Birmingham initiative/metal working at its best.



Longbridge c1941.

Finally, my wife has just mentioned that her mother was directed to war work at Longbridge and mentioned tank production. Interesting bit of family history.

 

[FortyFour]

nice photos...looks like he is wearing a chauffeurs uniform in one of the photos..do you know the location of the 2 car photos ? as your grandad sadly died due to an accident at work i would think it was reported in the newspapers..

lyn

Hi Lyn,
I am wondering if the chauffer picture is not connected to Bertie. My Nana's aunt's husband, Walter Grove, is described as being a chauffer on his daughter's death certificate which I received today. Looks as if he died in 1908 though... I don't suppose you could give me your thoughts on whether this photo could be from 1908 or earlier?

I have searched the British Newspaper archive to see if Bertie was in the news, but no luck yet. I will try again in the future as more records get uploaded occasionally.

 

[mikejee]

I'm not an expert, but think both cars are post WW1

 

[Astoness]

Hi Lyn,
I am wondering if the chauffer picture is not connected to Bertie. My Nana's aunt's husband, Walter Grove, is described as being a chauffer on his daughter's death certificate which I received today. Looks as if he died in 1908 though... I don't suppose you could give me your thoughts on whether this photo could be from 1908 or earlier?

I have searched the British Newspaper archive to see if Bertie was in the news, but no luck yet. I will try again in the future as more records get uploaded occasionally.

i assume that you know bertie died at selly oak hospital and is buried at quinton cem..also his probate record is on ancestry and he also served in the royal navy

lyn

 

[FortyFour]

I'm not an expert, but think both cars are post WW1

I'm not an expert, but think both cars are post WW1

Thank you for your thoughts, I agree with you… I think the person in the picture must be someone else.

 

[FortyFour]

i assume that you know bertie died at selly oak hospital and is buried at quinton cem..also his probate record is on ancestry and he also served in the royal navy

lyn

Thanks, Lyn. I have the Navy records and some info about the burial, not sure I have found the probate information yet so will get that checked out on ancestry, thank you.