Thread: WW2 Near Lithgow

Originally Posted by Pickles2

303. awesome info from you. plese keep it up.

Thanks, Pickles.

OK, here's some more.


Why was the factory built in Lithgow?


You may not think so today (current pop. approx. 16,000), but in the 1880 census, Lithgow was the third largest town in NSW, behind Sydney and Newcastle. Wollongong and the Illawarra was still a rural district reliant on coastal shipping and would remain so until the Illawarra railway was opened in 1887. The railway across the Blue Mountains had opened up the region's coal resources to full scale development, and coal mining was still a labour intensive operation. Many of the miners had come from the Newcastle mines, which at that time were still using relatively primitive methods. As the new mines at Lithgow were able to be planned and worked using more modern methods, they were more efficient and productive than the Newcastle mines, and although the more extensive Hunter coalfields were producing more coal overall, Lithgow was still an economic powerhouse for the state.


The innovation and efficiency evident in the coal industry was also evident in other mineral industries in the Lithgow area. Zinc, Lead and Silver being mined at Sunny Corner were being refined by the use of smelters designed in Aust by technology combined from European and US methods. The company was so successful, they went on to develop an ore body in the west of the state that was considered uneconomic, forming the Broken Hill Propriety Ltd which went on to become the largest company in Australia's history.


Iron works were also present in and around Lithgow using local mineral resources, and one of these was the first in Australia to successfully produce Steel. History of the Blast furnace.


So Lithgow had a reputation for innovation and a technically skilled workforce (kind of an Industrial Era version of Silicon Valley?). When Australia's Federation created the need for our own self-sufficient defence forces, discussion arose about making our own weaponry. Lithgow became to obvious choice for 3 reasons.


1. In 1901, the most powerful military weapon was the Battleship and the fastest means of transport was the Steam Train. Lithgow was entirely safe from the former and well served by the latter. Although Australia had a fledgling munitions industry with the Commonwealth Ammunition Co having ammunition factories at Footscray and Maribynong in Melbourne, it was felt that these could be too exposed to a conceivable naval assault. Strategically, Lithgow was an entirely safe location.


2. Raw materials were an important consideration for the factory, and Lithgow had not only a seemingly unlimited supply of quality coking coal, but also Australia's first Steelworks. Uninterrupted supply of raw materials was seen to be an important consideration.


3. Lithgow's local State MP in the 1890's and it's first Federal MP from 1901 was Joseph Cook, who would go on to be Prime Minister in 1913-14. An influential and competent member of Parliament, it always helps Lithgow's cause to have strong political influence!


The Lithgow Small Arms Factory began producing Lee Enfield Rifles in 1912, and had supplied sufficient numbers to the Australian Army that they were carried ashore in large numbers by the ANZACS at Gallipoli.

Am I correct in my understanding that one thing that Lithgow didn't produce was soldiers? At least proportionally far fewer Lithgow men enlisted than other towns in the state?

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

Am I correct in my understanding that one thing that Lithgow didn't produce was soldiers? At least proportionally far fewer Lithgow men enlisted than other towns in the state?

Probably because of what most of the men in Lithgow were imployed in, were jobs regarded as very important to the war effort and were probably incouraged not leave their jobs to inlist.

Baz.

Originally Posted by Redback

Probably because of what most of the men in Lithgow were employed in, were jobs regarded as very important to the war effort and were probably incouraged not leave their jobs to inlist.

Baz.

The 4 largest employers in the Lithgow area were the Small Arms Factory, Coal mines, the Railways and Power Stations. All of these were be "Reserved Occupations", where special permission was required by Dept of Labour (or later the Manpower Directorate) to release them from employment. But these regulations did not come into force until late 1940.


There was also a broader political story. Except for the Factory, the 3 other industries were very Unionised (as was Lithgow generally, quite Blue Collar). In the early part of the war, the Union movement in Aust did not support the war as Soviet Russia had a bit of an agreement with Germany not to get involved and there was strong Communist Party influence within the unions and the Working Class. Following the Geman invasion of Russia, Communist (and union) support for the war effort suddenly materialised.


While the Factory was certainly Blue Collar work, management and unions had a good relationship and kept industrial matters strictly local. Admittedly, pay and conditions were fairly good and greivances were swiftly and fairly dealt with, but the local union strongly resisted outside attempts to politicise (ie left wing/communist) the membership. Communist/Socialist organisations of the 20's, 30's and 40's like the CPA and the IWW repeatedly tried to recruit members from the Factory, but were often forcibly opposed. The local Trades Hall meetings often saw hostile confrontations between union reps from the Miners or Railways Vs the Factory reps.


However, many did "get out" of their protected employment, some by lying about their name or occupation in the same way as others managed to enlist by lying about their age or race. However, as the war progressed, men were released by the SAF as more women were trained to work in the factory.


WW1 was different. The Lithgow War memorial has the names of many from the area who died on service, including at least 4 who died on 25 Apr 15, and another 2 who were ashore at Anzac on the first day, but later died in France. More than willing to be amongst the first to sign up and have a go.


(BTW I sometimes refer to The Factory. In Lithgow, there have been and still are many businesses and companies that undertake work in a factory-like workplace, but reference to a Factory (with capitals!) will be readily recognised by locals to ONLY mean the Small Arms Factory.

This is an interesting read, Bob


Communism in Australia | Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal

Originally Posted by BathurstTom

Anyone remembering the old "windy way" concrete rd at Wallerawang? It was built by the Americans during WW2 to get the ammunition to Sydney.


Tom.

Tom, I'm fascinated by your Bathurst local knowledge, however I hope you don't mind if I correct you a little on your Wallerawang local knowledge.
It is my understanding that the concrete highway from Lithgow to the Lidsdale Pine Forest railway bridge was built by AUSTRALIANS and was completed by the early 1930s (at an estimated cost for the Marrangaroo to Lidsdale Bridge section of £20,000 per mile). See the newspaper report below.
Sun (Sydney, NSW ), Thursday 2 February 1933, page 22
ROAD TO BATHURST
Condition Of Western Highway
In the road report issued to-day by the N.R.M.A. Touring Department, motoring conditions along the Great Western Highway to Bathurst
MILES OF CONCRETE At Old Bowenfels the Great Western High way keeps ahead (left is the old Bathurst road through Rydal). Splendid concrete pavement is then passed over to Marrangaroo, just beyond which the Mudgee road bears to the right, while the main road to Bathurst bears slightly to the left. Concrete pavement continues for about six miles to the bridge over the Great Western Railway. From this point onwards the gravel road is mostly in good condition to within a few miles of Bathurst, the last couple of miles to the town being over tarred pavement


A large factor in the cost was excavation work (Lithgow to Marrangaroo was half the cost per mile because there was only earthwork involved). The desire to reduce excavation work (and therefore the cost) was probably the reason that the road was so windy, following the contours rather than ploughing straight through.

In the 1970s it was common practice for the Lithgow locals to make fast late-night runs over the twisty road to the Mt Lambie service station for a toasted sandwich. The road was demanding, and sometimes deadly, but it was great fun.

Phil HH in Lithgow

Phil, I wouldn't argue with you. I was always told otherwise, but that's how local legends are created . But I do also remember doing the Mt Lambie dash for take away from Bathurst as well!

Cheers,
Tom

Originally Posted by bob10

This is an interesting read, Bob


Communism in Australia | Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal

I didn't read the article, but we voted a few commie's into to parliament and even at least one PM that I know of... But we call them politicians, and most are Labour members...

Same as the issue with the student activists, they work there way into gov and office, and then of course begrudge the ones coming up who do the same...Hmmm, actually I see that in most of Australia...

Same old crap, just a different day...