For the first year of the War production continued at only a modest rate, because torpedo production was not considered particularly important. After the disaster of Dunkirk there was an immediate change of attitude within the British Admiralty and torpedoes and their accessories were accorded a much higher priority. Factory management changes were made, with the Managing Director J. P. Davison retiring and Arthur Reddell becoming General Manager. Several schemes to inerease production were instigated by Fred Pritchard and the Planning Office and in 1942 The Whitehead Torpedo Works was formally liquidated and re-named The Vickers-Armstrong Torpedo Works.

With many of the skilled men being drafted into the Armed Services it became neccessary to recruit female labour into the Factory - both in the Offices and the Workshops. In addition, with enemy bombing raids beginning to take place in' Dorset, the Works First Aid section was rapidly expanded, under the command of Bobby Johnson, with Peggy Paddock in charge of the Ladies Division. Other workers volunteered to serve in an enlarged Works Fire Brigade and Rescue Service and many joined the local Civil Defence Home Guard.

The Admiralty were so concerned about the enemy using Weymouth Bay as an invasion point that they asked Arthur Reddell to provide members of the Whitehead Home Guard to man the Portland Breakwater Distant Torpedo Range during the night. Five teams were formed, which meant that every fifth night they had to assume these duties at the end of a day shift in the Factory. Armed torpedoes were loaded into the Range launch tubes and made ready for firing on a fixed course across Weymouth Bay. Mr. Ernie Dingley was Foreman of the Range during the very early years of the War and remembers one night when the order came to "engage enemy ships". Just thirty seconds before firing the order was countermanded when it was discovered that the "enemy" was a Royal Navy ship that had been badly damaged in action and was unable to signal its predicament. Fortunately there never was an occasion to fire the torpedoes in anger during the War, but the Range crew were kept busy testing production torpedoes.

The geographical situation of the Torpedo Works, on the South Dorset coast and adjacent to Portland Harbour, meant that it was liable to enemy air attacks and during 1940 there were increasing interruptions to production. On the 4th July 1940 some workers witnessed the attack by twenty enemy Stukas on Portland Harbour's aircraft defence ship HMS Foylebank, when 160 of its crew were lost and young Jack Mantle was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for continuing to fire his gun despite being mortally wounded.

In these early raids the only intimation of danger the workers received was the sound of gunfire and the sudden throb and whine of German planes overhead. On many occasions the workers had to dash for cover with machine gun fire splattering down from air combat overhead. Groups of workers were organised into Air Raid Precaution and Firefighting Groups and Tom Stone, who had joined the Works in 1936, and whose family lived at 34, Ferrybridge Cottages, was one of many that volunteered for duty as a Fire Fighter. The photograph shows Tom outside his Ferrybridge home, dressed in the firefighters uniform, complete with helmet and hand axe.

The large Home Guard Division at the Works, under Major Lewis Jones and Captain Ernie Lloyd, was called upon to man several weapons, including two French 75 mm pieces and Browning machine guns. The A-A section was credited with shooting down a German aircraft that crashed in Bakers Ground, in the village of Chesilton.

Towards the end of 1940 the Admiralty requested that dispersal measures be taken to reduce the risk of a total loss of torpedo production through enemy bombing raids. The fall of France, the increasingly frequent air raids, and the constant threat of invasion, gave an added impetus to dispersal plans and possible re-location sites were studied at Nottingham, Havant, Axminster and Bournemouth. Eventually suitable accommodation was identified at Bournemouth, at Staines and at Street.

The final impetus for dispersal came on the lst of May 1941, when the Ferrybridge Works suffered its first direct air attack. Fortunately the attack occurred during the lunch hour, when approximately 100 men and women were in the Mess Room at an ENSA Concert. The weather was cloudy and overcast and although a warning was given at 12.25 pm, at 12.30 pm the workforce heard the sound of machine gun fire and then a Junkers 88 glided in low over Chesil Beach and, on reaching the Works, it dropped five bombs. The bombs fell on the AM (Admiralty) Workshop, the new Fitting Shop, and the Gyro Shop. On a second run over the Works the plane (or a second plane) was met by machine gun and pom-pom fire from defences in the neighbourhood of the Works and on this occasion five bombs were dropped about 300 yards from the Works.

Four of the bombs from the first drop exploded and they were estimated to have been some 5Okg. each. A fifth bomb of 250kg. was of the armour piercing type, but fortunately it failed to explode. A series of photographs (now held in Weymouth Library) show that damage was considerable, with a complete loss of wall and roof coverings to many of the Assembly Shops, to the Stores, and to the Experimental Department. Although there was considerable collateral damage to all parts of the Works there were only nine casualties within the factory site and none of them were seriouly hurt. However, one person was killed outside the Works as he walked along Portland Road near the Ferrybridge Hotel, when he was struck by a piece of flying debris.

The 250kg bomb that failed to explode caused considerable consternation among the workforce. Captain Cock of the 8th Dorset's sent a detachment down to the Works to lead a search for the UXB (unexploded bomb) and it was eventually located lying on its side in the AM Shop, buried beneath the debris. By 4.30 pm Mr Gourley, of the 143rd Section Bomb Disposal Unit, was at the Works and having decided that the fuse could be removed, Mr Gourley, Captain Cock, and Captain Ernie Lloyd of the Whitehead Home Guard bravely set to work to defuse the bomb. By 6 pm it had been made safe.

Owing to the presence of the UXB the Factory closed for the remainder of the day. Work was quickly transferred to other areas of the site, or to the Torpedo Depot at Bincleaves and by the 8th of May final assembly of 18 inch torpedoes was again under way. A few days later, at 1 am on the l2th of May 1941, a German plane flying at less than 400 feet released at least 15 bombs that were intended for the Factory. One of them fell on the Weymouth to Portland Railway Embankment where it demolished the siding, and caused the collapse of the bridge at the shore end of the Whiteheads Pier. A second bomb ricocheted off the permanent way and exploded at the base of the East wall, making a hole approximately 4 feet square, and causing a total collapse of the Gantry over the footpath and siding. There were no casualties, and within a day or so the damage had been made safe. At around 2 am another enemy aircraft flew over and dropped six bombs, presumably intended for the Works, but they all fell into the shallow waters of Littlesea. In the days that followed, many raids were made on Weymouth, but none caused so much damage as the attack of the lst of May 1941. After the debris had been cleared, and the Works made relatively ship-shape, the actual loss in manufacturing capacity was found to be small. No vital plant was damaged, and only three machines had to be sent away for repair.

Dispersal of torpedo production was now essential, and between May and July 1941 ninty seven machine tools - nearly one third of the Ferrybridge machines were transferred to Bournemouth, where an improvised factory for 18 inch torpedoes had been set up in the five floors of the Westover Ice Rink and Majestic Garage, right opposite the Bournemouth Pavillion. Along with the machines went the necessary piece parts and jigs, tools and gauges for the 18 inch torpedoes and some 120 workpeople. In spite of the dislocation caused by this move, the loss in output was kept to a minimum and production at the new Works soon increased. Labour was taken on locally and additional new plant was installed under Admiralty funded schemes until, by September 1942, the output had reached twenty torpedoes per week.

Production continued at full flow in support of the War effort until the end of 1944, when the tide began to turn in favour of the Allies. At that stage the production of torpedoes at Bournemouth was reviewed and it was decided that the facility would be better used to produce a special Submarine Mine, for use against the Japanese. The torpedo layout was dismantled and the Works was completely re-equipped for mine production. After initial teething troubles a total of 103 mines were delivered, of which 16 were prototypes. Later on, further cuts in the armament programme made it necessary to transfer the whole mine production layout back to Weymouth. Production at Bournemouth had included 18" torpedoes, 18" rear assemblies, firi.ng mechanisms for mines, submarine mines, air vessels, and mine spares. To the 120 workpeople originally transferred were added 883 local employees, mosty unskilled (or Dilutees, as they were called). It is a tribute to the perseverence of all concerned in the training of these newcomers, that the required output was achieved and maintained.

With production underway at Bournemouth, other projects were being instituted at Ferrybridge. The Tool Room had been completely removed and installed in another part of the Town and additional Foundry capacity was set up at a local garage. At the same time, extensive plans were being laid for a completely new Works to be installed at Staines, in Middlesex, which was to be a duplicate in every way to the Weymouth Factory.

Another large part of the dispersal programme was for one third of the Weymouth capacity to be transferred to Street, in Somerset, to occupy the main Boot and Shoe manufacturing shops of Messrs C & J Clark Ltd. Eighty one machines were transferred from Weymouth, with all their associated equipment, together with 250 Weymouth workers. The Street Works carried out production and testing of the main sub-assemblies of the 18 inch and 21 inch torpedoes. It also made such units as ARK and air blast Gyroscopes, Servomotors, Reducers, Depth Gear, and Tail Units.

The Street Works kept in step with the Weymouth and Bournemouth Works during the whole period from August 1941 to January 1945 and it was only finally shut down in March 1945. From the original nucleus of 250 people from Weymouth, the workforce grew until 538 employees were engaged, the greater part of whom were former agricultural workers, or from industries such as footwear and glove making.

At the Staines facility part of the Linoleum Works and Shops of Messrs H Gardam & Sons Ltd. was requisitioned in order to undertake the manufacture of 21 inch torpedoes and air blast gyroscopes. Many modifications had to be made to the buildings before productioa could begin, and 6000 tons of heavy engineering plant was moved out and stored locally. The buildings were then lined and heated, services laid on, and machine tools, jigs, and special equipment purchased and installed. Of a nucleus of 211 workpeople needed at Staines, 73 were sent from Weymouth, but the remainder were transferred from Bournemouth and Street. Men who had already made one move were called on once again to help in the training of the additional personnel. It was a remarkable achievement that the first torpedoes were being produced by August 1942. With the introduction of new local labour, production slowly increased and by early 1943 an output of twenty 21 inch torpedoes per week had been attained. In addition, air blast Gyroscopes were produced to coincide with deliveries of torpedoes, as well as many items of spare gear, such as Propellors, Groups, etc. At the peak period of production Mr. Fred Pritchard was responsible for 1,650 workpeople employed at Staines and the greater part of this labour had been recruited from clothing factories in the London area.

At the Weymouth Works, by the end of 1942, two-thirds of productive machine tools and other vital plant had been moved elsewhere, 585 trained employees had been sent to the new sites at Street, Bournemouth, and Staines, and offices had also been set up locally at Upwey Manor House. The great gap left in the Weymouth labour force was partially filled by taking on dilutee and female labour. The Ferrybridge Works did not sustain any more damage from enemy aircraft, although there were 787 air raid alarms, with some 500 High Explosive bombs being dropped on the Borough and 9,367 houses were partly or seriously damaged or destroyed. In 28th June 1942 Whitehead workers Ken Moyes, Colin Robinson, Ted Starky and Sam Dunn were on civil defence night duty at Foords Corner when Shrubbery Lane in Old Wyke was bombed, and they were called upon to carry out valiant rescue work.

With the continued demand for more torpedoes, further schemes for increasing output were submitted to the Admiralty and eventually additional machine tools were purchased and installed. The total personnel gradually increased, until the Weymouth workforce reached 1,667 and production once again achieved twenty torpedoes per week. G. J. Kirby in his "History of the Torpedo" notes that the Whitehead Works produced the following torpedo types up to 1944:

Of course, Whitehead torpedoes were not the only ones being manufactured in Britain during the War. The total number of weapon expended up to September 1944 was 6447, with the Royal Naval Torpedo Factory at Greenock producing the major share, along with a small contributions from Morris Motors.

In the 1930's and throughout the War, the Germans and the Americans carried out considerable research into electric torpedoes and into torpedoes with the ability to automatically home on to a target. The British had also started work before the War on homing torpedoes, but they concluded that such weapons would have to be restricted to slow speeds and therefore work was stopped. Towards the end of the War the British started working on a simple active homing torpedo but by the time that it was ready for sea trials the hostilities were over. The "workhorses" of the British war effort were the 21 inch Mk 8 and Mk 9 torpedoes and the 18 inch Mk 12 and Mk 15 torpedoes, all of which worked on the Burner cycle engine. Despite several experiments, very few improvements were made to the engine and it was not until the War finished that more radical propulsion systems were seriously researched.

Fred Pritchard, who left Weymouth during the war years to set up and run the new factory at Staines, recalled the great efforts by every one to cope with the many problems that constantly arose. The difficulties not only related to obtaining quality and quantity in torpedo production, but also in dealing with labour problems. The many dilutee problems, the billeting of the workers and their families, the supply of tools and the many changes in type and design of the torpedo and its accessories - all were accomplished and the task completed thanks to an unsurpassed team spirit.

Even during hostilities the workers at Wemouth managed to keep their spirits up by putting on various entertainments and sporting events. On Saturday, August the 22nd, 1942 the Whitehead Hospital Committee and Whitehead Sports Club combined to run a Sports Event at Downclose. It included Inter-Departmental competitions for the "Jones" and "Hare" Cups and the official programme records many surnames that are familiar in Wyke Regis to this day. The official Referee was Mr G. Barnacle, the Judges were Major Linnitt, Mr. Crabbe, Mr. Mulquin and Mr. Wonfor. Some of the other officials and competitors are included in Appendix B.

 Pantomimes became a regular means of entertainment at Christmas times during the War and the first one - "Cinderella" - was produced in January 1943 at the Sydney Hall. It was written by Margaret Carter and produced by Stanley Marquis and an official programme held at the Weymouth Public Library is of special historical interest, for it bears the signature of the son of General Charles de Gaulle, who, according to Wykeite Ted McBride, was commanding a Motor Torpedo Boat in Portland Harbour. Ted was a Call Boy in the Pantomime - in those days it had a different meaning!

In January 1944 the Whitehead Entertainment Section presented the "Sleeping Beauty", again produced by Stanley Marquis and starring Betty Sackly, Edith Haysom, Percy Daveridge and Stanley Marquis. (see Appendix A). By February 1945 the same team had changed their name to the Weymouth and District Amateur Theatrical Society and were presenting "Aladdin" at the Corn Exchange, Dorchester, this time in aid of Dorchester's Swimming Bath Fund.

The workers still found time for games during the summer, despite working long hours. In 1944 the `A' bowls team led by Bill Ashmeade were undefeated when winning the South Dorset Bowls League. In the same year the Whitehead Cricket team posed for a photograph before playing a friendly against V-A Supermarine.

The increasing number of ladies working at the Factory decided that if they could do the work of the men, then they could also play men's sports in order to raise money for the V-A Hospital Endowment Fund. They played their first match in November 1944, on the Weymouth Recreation Ground and the photograph shows the team before the start of the game. They went on to win several matches in a row and by June 1945, as the programme at Appendix F shows, they had raised £780 for charities.

Although ladies were employed as machine operators in the workshops of the Factory, they also proved that they could work equally effectively in the various offices. The photograph below shows the ladies of the Progress Office in 1944.

In October 1944 the 2100 (Whitehead) Flight ATC organised a Boxing Show at Bincleaves Hall, on behalf of the Mayor Goddard's Appeal for the Weymouth and District Hospital. Four professional bouts took place, headed by Freddie Mills against Don McCorkindale, plus one amateur contest that featured Corporal Don Glover (of the Red Lion, Hope Square) against Cadet W.Hall. Mr. A.E.Reddell and Mr. E.H.Sackley of Whiteheads were thanked by the Mayor for making the show possible.

In 1944 the area around the Factory became a hive of activity as the Allies prepared for the invasion of Europe. Ferrybridge was vital because it was the only road link to the invasion embarkation points at Portland, and American soldiers were stationed at what is now the Blue Waters Holiday Camp. Shortly before D-day an alternative route was made across the Fleet in case Ferrybridge was put out of action, and a concrete road was built from Hillbourne Road across to the railway line. Parts of it are still there.

Three seventeen year old Whitehead Apprentices that joined the Home Guard during the War were Reg Marsh, John Butcher and John Curtiss and they witnessed the huge flight of aircraft and gliders going over the Works on the eve of D-Day, whilst Portland Harbour was a black mass of ships, each with a barrage balloon. With the landing of the Allied Forces on the French coast in June 1944, and the improving trend of the War, the Admiralty began to reduce their orders for torpedoes. Whitehead's management team were then suddenly faced with the problem of drastically reducing torpedo output, and trying to look ahead to what promised to be a difficult post-war future.

As a first step, the Works at Street was closed, and the Gyroscope production divided between Staines and Weymouth. The torpedo output at Staines was reduced to less than half and the output at Bournemouth severely curtailed. The problem of reduction of labour at each Factory and the transfer of key personnel back to Weymouth was handled with such care that no dispute of any description occurred. The closing of Staines soon followed and although some attempt was made to keep Bournemouth open for a time to produce the Far Eastern Mine, it was fmally decided that even this should be sent back to Weymouth. By March 1945 all dispersal factories had been closed.

In August 1945, the break clause in the Admiralty torpedo contracts was applied and in September 1946 the last torpedoes and mines were delivered. Thus, at the end of the War, the Ferrybridge Works found itself in a very serious commercial situation, because virtually no foreign countries required any torpedoes.