George Kent Ltd, based in Biscot Road, Luton, was one of several firms in the town to gear its production to the war effort between 1914 and 1919.
The firm had been founded in London in 1838 by farmer's son George Kent (born 1806). A move to Luton came in 1908, when the George Kent factory in Biscot Road was opened in June of that year (picture above).
Mr Smith of Saxon Rd, Luton is listed in the National Roll of the Great War as a Special War Worker at Kent's Munitions Factory, Luton.
During the war this man offered his services for work of National Importance and from June 1917 worked at Messrs Kent's Munition Works, Luton engaged on the manufacture of fuse-guages and rendered excellent services until December 1918.
Mr Dawson of Chatsworth Rd, Luton, is listed in the National Roll of the Great War as a Special War Worker at Kent's Munitions Factory, Luton.
Early in 1915 he was appointed manager of the mechanical fuse department at Messrs Kent's Ltd, Luton. In this capacity his exceptional abilities proved of the utmost value, and he worked with untiring energy until the conclusion of hostilities when he relinquished his position.
George Kent Ltd, meter manufacturers opened premises in Luton in 1908 and by 1914 employed 450 male workers. Within a few days of the outbreak of war they offered to assist the government in the production of armaments. By 1918 they had 8000 mostly female employees on two sites and were producing 140,000 shell fuses per week.
Horace Crump was a civilian munitions worker from Caddington who was killed in an explosion at the George Kent Munitions factory at Chaul End on 8th January 1917, aged 45.
May Constable was born in Fenny Stratford in 1896 and during WWI was one of the many female workers, known as munitionettes, who worked in George Kent's fuse-filling factory at Chaul End. She died on 7 March 1918 from burns caused by an explosion at the factory. She is named on the George Kent Roll of Honour along with 3 other women and 6 men as "lives lost through explosions in the manufacture of armaments".
