THE NORTH WEST AT WAR.

ENGLAND'S BOMBER ARSENAL .

The North West Region, stretching from Crewe to Carlisle, and including the vast industrial concentration of North Cheshire and Lancashire, has carried nearly a quarter of the industrial war load of the whole country. Its people, born and bred in the shadow of great factories, have reason to be proud of their unsurpassed production achievement.

WOMEN'S CONTRIBUTION.

When war production was at its peak in the North West, the number of women working full time reached the amazing total of a third of the total female population, including babies and old people. No other part of the country could equal it. From early morning till late at night, on night shift, through the bombing ordeals of 1940-41, in blacked out factories after travelling long hours through all weathers, the women of Lancashire played their great part. To them and to their men, England pays tribute.

INDUSTRIAL SWITCH.

The North West was the home of the basic industries of peace, cotton and textiles of all kinds, garment making, textile machinery manufacture and general engineering, leather, chemicals, coal, football pools, everything that makes up our everyday life. During the war the Managements and men and women in these vast industries turned with a will to making the implements of war. Great new factories were built in the Region, until for the aircraft industry alone more than 20 factories were each employing over 10,000 people. Every branch of the aircraft industry was represented, from the manufacture of great bombers, of aero engines, all types of ancillary equipment, radar, radio, bomber tyres, and petrol, down to the smallest nut. The North West is proud to have been the home of the Manchester and then the Lancaster bomber. Its factories turned out great numbers of Halifax bombers. During the course of the war its factories also made Hampdons, Blenheims and Wellingtons, Proctors, Ansons and Beaufighters, and Fulmars, Battles and Barracudas for the Fleet Air Arm. Its aero engine factories delivered great quantities of the superb Merlin aero engines, as well as Hercules engines, and contributed the majority of the famous Sabres. In its factories were developed the radar devices which multiplied the effectiveness of our air force by several times. Several factories turned out millions of radio and radar valves.

From the peaceful waters of Windermere, Sunderlands were delivered direct to Coastal Command.

Very many factories turned over to the production of bombs, from the smallest incendiary to the 10 tonner, the majority of which were filled in this Region in the vast Ministry of Supply Royal Ordnance factories.

The North West provided the sinews of the airborne army from the manufacture of the raw silk to the finished parachutes. Thousands of gallons of aviation spirit a day flowed from its oil refineries, and thousands of yards of cotton goods from its mills.

AIRCRAFT PRODUCTION.

During the European war North West factories flew away over 25,000 aircraft of various types. Of these over 8,000 were the heaviest bombers, well over half of the heavy bombers produced in the whole country. In the Region of 11,000 medium bombers were produced, again well over half the production of the whole country. Production of trainers considerably exceeded 3,500, and over 475 fighter bombers were made here. The contribution to the Fleet Air Arm reached nearly 1,750 aircraft This was the production record of the main aircraft factories.

Besides that a great number of firms were engaged on sub-contracting for every type of aircraft, from the smallest fighter to the largest bomber.

THE BLITZ .

During the dark days of 1940 - 41 over 600 factories in the Region were more or less damaged, some of them severely. Such was the resilience and pluck of managements and workpeople that production was affected to a negligible extent and that only for a short time. High tribute must be paid to the Emergency Services Organisation for the rapid and efficient manner in which the effects of bombing were overcome. The tremendous work of this organisation was little known to the general public, but the contribution of this resolute and highly qualified band of factory executives can now be recognised with gratitude. Under the aegis of the Supply Departments, led by the Ministry of Aircraft Production they organised a system of mutual aid among the great firms they represented, and saw to it that reconstruction priorities were given where they were most needed. For factory repair they co-ordinated all concerned, including Government bodies and Local Authorities, from whom they received most enthusiastic and vital assistance.

TRANSITION BETWEEN WAR AND PEACE .

Already many North West factories, great and small, are turning back from war to peace production. Every effort is being made to weave in the gradual fall of aircraft requirements with the revival of peacetime needs. The task is a formidable one, no less vital than was the rapid changeover to war, for upon its success depends the winning of the Japanese war and the peace. The enormous industrial machine of the North West must change gear, but the machine must not slacken. The resolution and courage of the people of the North West at war, their power to work and to create second to none should carry them through this new transition to lead again the country and the world.