Brave West Lothian women who made explosives for war efforts remembered

Brave West Lothian Women Honoured for War Efforts
A wreath of handmade yellow poppies was laid at the former site of the munitions factory in Linlithgow over the Remembrance Day weekend. This memorial commemorates the courageous ‘munitionettes’ from Linlithgow who played a critical role in making explosives at Nobel’s Regent Works Munitions Factory during WW1 and WW2. These 500 women produced over 11 million incendiary bombs, contributing significantly to Britain’s war efforts.

To honour their service and sacrifices, a wreath of yellow poppies was placed at the former munitions factory site. In a tragic incident on February 5, 1943, four Linlithgow munitionettes lost their lives in an explosion at the factory – Jane Baillie, Barbara Baillie, Margaret Wilson, and Susan Allan. This year, their names were officially added to the Roll of Honour at the Scottish National War Memorial in Edinburgh Castle.

Across the UK, it has become a tradition to lay yellow wreaths in memory of the munitionettes due to the chemical poisoning from working with explosives that dyed their skin ‘canary yellow’. Local researchers have been delving into the stories of Linlithgow’s munitionettes, leading to a series of talks, events, and discussions about erecting a permanent statue in their honour in the town.

This Remembrance Sunday, local women wanted to join the official parade in Linlithgow and lay a wreath at the war memorial in St Michael’s Church. However, when permission was denied, they created their own memorial by laying a wreath of handmade yellow poppies. Kathryn Welch, a local researcher and Linlithgow resident, emphasised the significance of remembering the munitionettes as an integral part of local history, deserving recognition alongside other war heroes.

The homage was placed at the Regent Centre in Linlithgow, marking the location of the former munitions factory. The wreath remained on display throughout Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day, serving as a poignant reminder of the bravery and contributions of the Linlithgow women during wartime.