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Muntion Factories during WW2

R

Rupert

master brummie
  The town where Sakura and I live in Canada east of Toronto was built around munitions factories that manufactured armaments for the second world war. The buildings were largely built of wood and probably contained similar machinery to that shown in the photograps. Little houses were built to house the workers and their families and they exist today pretty much all of them well maintained and some enlarged they are detached and have nice gardens. It's probably well known, but for those who do not have the info, the town was named Ajax after the HMS Ajax which helped to chase down the Graf Spee at the River Platte. Anyway the town is very proud of the part it played in securing the eventual victory and the ajax lord mayor attends the reunion dinners of the battle survivors. The streets in Ajax are named after the crew members of the ships and there are plaques on the boulevards in memory. There are one or two of the old wooden factory buildings left if there is any interest I can post a few photo's.
 
have you any photographs you can send I am sure they would be of interest to the forum members and that goes for any one else who as any such like photographs
 
I will charge up my batteries an sally forth as soon as the weather improves. I didn't know there would be any interest.
 
John,
I have some pictures but the resoulution is to high to post. I have to figure how to reduce down to the permitted level or go out again and take smaller pictures.
Regards.
 
Cromwell,
I tried to post a picture but it wont work. Nothing seems to be happening. give me a while and I will work on it.
Regards.
 
Rupert
Have you got a picture programme like Adobe Photo or another ?
because if you have I can talk you through it with a private message
 
O.K.  Sorry for the delay. Had to learn a few things.

As far as I know all of the wartime crew members have their own street named after them and now remembrance plaques and trees are being planted from time to time.
Here’s a couple of pictures  on Clements Road . 
 
Here is another tree planted on Foord. A Birmingham ex-pat lives in the house behind. A para-trooper in the war who was injured when jumping from a plane that had been hit over Italy.
 
Here are some of the remaining Munitions buildings, sheds really. They are used for building supply storage now.
 
The main road through Ajax. Well it has to be Harwood Avenue.It's a dual carriageway sepparated by a tree lined median.
It runns down to Lake Ontario.
 
The ships anchor and plaque outside the Canadian Legion. I understand the ships bell is rung to commence council meetings.
 
Some of the little houses that the munitions workers lived in during the war.
They have been kept up and still house famillies today.
 
Rupert What superb photographs, thank you for sharing them with us and telling us a bit about them
Its amazing, keep them coming.
 
You certainly haven't bored me Rupert, if you hadn't joined our Forum and told us about Ajax and posted the photos, I doubt if many of us would have known the origins of your adopted town. Many thanks.
 
Thanks Rupert. I don't think a lot of Canadians living out of the Ajax area even know about this history. The WW2 contribution from Canadians was huge. My father-in-law joined the Seaforth Highlanders and was shipped overseas being billeted at Pirbright. The
Seaforths fought in Italy in some famous battles.
I know a little bit about the pilots being trained in Gimli, Manitoba as my brother's father-in-law from Birmingham spent time in Canada at the Air Pilots Special Training School in Gimli in the early part of the war being trained as an Royal Air Force pilot. These training sites were top secret. Here in Vancouver we have a "battle streets" area where the names of the streets reflect many of the battles fought in WW2.
 
Rupert they were brilliant photos and very interesting write ups to. I for one have learnt something. Well done, and I know what you mean about getting your head around pictures for the forum. I still haven't!! :flower:
 
Thanks Rupert, it is good to know that an important part of history is remembered in Canada, whose many brave men joined WW2. :smitten:
 
Rupert, great that you told the history of our town which as you know celebrated it's 50th Anniversary last year, I had the pleasure of being on the committee that planned all the events. Although it was the 50th Anniversary of Ajax becoming a Town, a community was already here. It was founded by settllers that came along Lake Ontario originally, maybe Rupert of I can go and take a photo of the grave and memorial that is still on the edge of the Creek.

Jenny you will be interested to know that people purchasing all new houses built for the last few years in Ajax are given a book which is the History of Ajax. I don't think anyone could live here and not know the history, as we have regular events for the Vets who live here and the ones who come from England to visit.

Harwood Ave which as Rupert said is the main road which goes straight down to the lake from the 401 hwy which goes all the way across Ontario, is named after the Commander of the Fleet. At the foot of Harwood we have memorial gardens which are in the shape of the bow of a ship looking out across the lake.

The attached photo is just part of the lakeshore and the furthest point is where the memorial is situated.

If anyone is interested here is the web site, there are photos of town events under events. The event everyone looks forward to is Home Week. A week events, a parade, pancake breakfast, fireworks and many other activities, just wonderful for the kids.

It is a great place to live. :smitten: :smitten:

https://www.townofajax.com/scripts/home.asp?action=31&P_ID=1&N_ID=1&PT_ID=3026&U_ID=0&OP_ID=2
 
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Rupert, Have you any pics. of the men involved in the Ajax incident ? I saw the film many years ago
The Battle of the River Platte , John Gregson was in it I think, great film which you now, have bought it all back to me, and a lot of other folk. Thanks for all the trouble you have gone through, which I know you have enjoyed. O0
 
Hi everyone,
Thanks for your comments. I think the major achievement for me was finally posting a picture. Great write up Sakura. By the way this area is known for more than munitions; Just about three miles east of here is Camp 'X,' or where it was; the home of Intrepid.
Regards.
 
Hi Rupert, is Camp X something to do with Beaumanor in Leicestershire. The reason for asking is because my mom used to spend her childhood there and we have been trying to find out about the place. I seem to remember sending an e-mail to Camp X for info. I know that Beaumanor was took over by the war department in 1939 for the cummincations department, I got alot of info of the Archieve site about the Herrick family, but now curiosity is getting the better of me since you mentioned Camp X. Thanks for you help in advance :flower:
 
On #21 I forgot to say what the link is but is about CAMP X if anyone wants to check it out.

As Rupert said there are several sites, this is just one of them. :)
 
Hi. Cromwell,
No sorry I don't have any pictures handy but like you I remember tha movie well. I can't remember the year but I probably saw it at the Rock cinema or the Odeon. Next time I visit the librery here I will see what info is available. In the meantime we will have to Google. Thanks for your offer to help with the pictures. I think I have a basic handle on it now. Not as tricky as some here though. I do seem to remember that until that naval engagement things had gone mostly badly for the Brits. That victory was a ray of sunshine.
Regards.
 
Rupert, I feel I have to do a short bit on what happened...............
Graf Spee was the first big story of success for the Allies which sent a thrill of hope through their hearts.
It was the story of the sinking of the Admiral Graf Spee. This 10,000 ton German pocket battleship had acted as a commerce raider on the open seas since the outbreak of war. In her were 62 survivors of nine British merchant ships she had destroyed.
On December 14, 1939, the now immortal British light cruisers:-
"Achilles"... (7,000 tons), "Ajax"... (7,000 tons), and "Exeter"... (8,300 tons)
intercepted Admiral Graf Spee, whose armament was superior to the total of all three of them.
On any mathematical reckoning the little British ships should have turned away and ran for cover but.........on the "Nelson" reckoning, they headed straight for her for a fight, defying the 11in. guns of the Germans.........Exeter was badly mauled early.
Their steering gear was soon knocked out of action..........but they stuck with it. Ten men got in a line and handed on orders from the bridge to the aft steering wheel as they limped about still pumping shell after shell at the Graf Spee from their one remaining 6in. gun. they handed ammunition about in a chain knowing at any minute they would be blasted out of the water..........Not until she was crippled did "Exeter" fall out of the line. By this time Commodore Henry Harwood ( Admiral Sir Henry) had manoeuvred his ships at superior speed and had so bewildered and punished the big German that her Commander, Captain Hans Langsdorff raced for sanctuary in the harbour at Montevideo..........like a rat with his tail between his legs
He was turned out after 72 hours and Langsdorff, afraid to face the British force waiting for him, scuttled his ship in the Estuary of the River Plate and on December 20th committed suicide at Buenos Aires.
His crew, who were reported to have shown signs of mutiny in the closing stages of the battle and were interned by the Argentine Government.
The New York Times reported the next day: "The Graf Spee fought only one battle and she ran away from that one."
 
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