Munitions Worker
Born: 16th September 1924
Story
Ada was the second child born to Albert Edward Coates (1897-1979) and Ethel Robshaw (1899-1986). Her father had served in the Royal Field Artillery during the First World War, and her mother had worked at Barnbow Ordinance Factory, filling shells.
An early school memory of Ada’s was her teacher Miss Davis ringing the bell at the end of playtime, and then falsely accusing Ada of laughing at her. The teacher chased Ada around the cloakroom to chastise her. Next day Miss Ward the Headmistress came into the classroom and asked who was the naughty girl in the class, and Ada had to stand up in front of the class. Ada’s best friend at Kippax Infants’ School was Nellie Farrar, who was also born in 1924 and was in the same class. Nellie lived with her grandparents, who ran a sweet shop at the top of Well Lane, and consequently Nellie used to bring chocolate Walnut Whips to school, which Ada couldn’t afford, so Nellie used to eat the cream inside and save Ada the chocolate and walnut. In 1938, Ada left school and went to work at Burton’s Clothing Factory.
Ada wanted to go in the Army when she got her call up papers but it was near the end of the war so she was sent to the munitions factory at Thorp Arch, where she filled shell bags with cordite. She worked three shifts (mornings, afternoons and nights) seven days a week. When stocks of shell bags were running low those with sewing experience, like Ada, were sent to Tapp and Toothills in Bramley. Tapp and Toothills were a printing company, but to help with the war effort, they built two large sheds outside their premises, equipped with sewing machines. Over 500 people, mainly women, were employed here, sewing all types of bags and containers for shells and torpedoes. They were only allowed into Tapp and Toothill’s factory to use the toilet.
Ada’s older brother Stanley also served in the Royal Air Force during the War, and towards the end of the War, he married Ada’s school friend Nellie Farrar. Stanley was also friends with Nellie’s first cousin once removed, Jack Hewitt, and Jack married Ada in Kippax on 4th August 1945. Ada borrowed the wedding dress of her cousin, Mollie Garlick, who had married in 1943.
Above left (L-R): Ada and Jack sat with Nellie and Stan. Above right: Ada stood left with Edwina, and Nellie on the right.
After the war, Ada went to work for Hepton’s tailoring, and Ada and Jack had a daughter, Edwina in 1959, and became a grandmother for the first time in 1987. In her retirement, Ada was very active, particularly enjoying dancing. When Kippax commemorated the centenary of the end of the First World War in November 2018, Ada was present to read about the war service of her parents and uncles (below). Ada passed away on the 3rd May 2021, aged 96 years.
Kippax Roll of Honour 