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Many other sections of the works were handed over to new activities.
For
instance, a shell shop (in charge of R. B. D. Lauder) was organized
in a gallery
over the brass foundry, and a new building of concrete and glass was
constructed
for the manufacture of mines and paravanes. In 1916 when it was becoming
necessary to obtain large quantities of goods and machinery from America,
the
purchasing agent, W. D. Crumpton, sailed for New York, where he acted
as the
Company's representative for many years.
 Early
in the war, three B.W. men—Fleming, Miles Walker, and Mensforth—
joined forces with scientists such as Rutherford, Horace Lamb, and
E. W. Marchant in the Lancashire Anti-submarine Committee. Schemes,
possible and impossible, for attacking the technical problems
of the submarine menace were investigated, and experimental work
carried out on the more promising. A system of detonating mines
was examined at Trafford Park by B. A. G. Churcher, who also collaborated
with W. Symes in work with R. W. Beattie of Manchester University
on a system of detection. Another important research activity was
testing the hearing of naval recruits intended for listening duties.
In
May 1917, at the height of the war, the works was cheered by a visit
from King George V, who was making one of his frequent tours of
industrial centres. On his arrival the King 'clocked on'—at
10.05 according to the card—and he toured the shops for nearly
an hour before clocking off again.
On
August 18, 1915, the works became a 'controlled establishment',
and as time went on all manufacturing work was controlled by government
priorities; the activities of the branch offices diminished accordingly,
and many salesmen were brought back to the works to assist production.
In the same year Mensforth's responsibilities were enlarged owing
to Lange's growing detachment from Trafford Park, and in October
1917 he was appointed general manager of works.
British
Westinghouse had a proud record of service in the forces. No fewer
than 3519 men joined up, and over a hundred awards and decorations
were gained, The three hundred and four who lost their lives are
commemorated on a Roll of Honour at the entrance to the main offices.
About sixty joined the Manchester Regiment, mostly in B Company
of the Sixth Battalion, a Territorial unit. They went to Egypt on
garrison duty and then took part in the disastrous Dardanelles campaign
of 1915: very heavy losses were sustained, including some twenty-four
of our men, before the withdrawal in the following January.
At
home recruiting for Kitchener's Army was encouraged by a scheme
under which all men of military age were asked to attest, even though
on essential work. Others joined the district units of the 'local
defence volunteers'—the home guard of the day—and a
Stretford defence corps was recruited at the Town Hall, with G.
E. Bailey, T. Fraser, and L. C. Benton as company commanders. A
works rifle club was provided with a miniature range, where J. Hamilton
of the mechanical department was the instructor.
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