Interview with Francis Edward Ball

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Sound: © IWM (23202)

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

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Use this audio under Non-Commercial licence

Embed this sound recording for online use under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence
By embedding this audio file you agree to the terms and conditions of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence, including your use of the attribution statement specified by IWM. For this item, that is:

Sound: © IWM (23202)

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

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Description

Object description

British civilian scientist served as junior assistant with Research Department, War Office Research Establishment at Woolwich Arsenal Factory No 1, Woolwich, London, GB, 1928-1936; served as scientific officer with Small Arms Research Group at Woolwich Arsenal Factory No 1, Woolwich, No 5 Filling Factory Royal Ordnance Factory Swynnerton and Projectile Development Establishment, Fort Halstead in GB, 1939-1945

Content description

Background in Birmingham, Derby and London, GB, 1905-1928: memories of First World War, 1914-1928; scientific education in Derby and London; early scientific research. Aspects of period as junior assistant with Research Department, War Office Research Establishment at Woolwich Arsenal Factory No 1, Woolwich, London, GB, 1928-1936: obtaining employment as junior assistant, 1928; early work on detonators; narrow escape from explosion, 1936; move with Small Arms Research Group to No 5 Filling Factory, Royal Ordnance Factory Swynerton, 1939; medical problems caused by powered silicone; problems using mercury fulminate in caps and detonators. REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of period as scientific officer with Small Arms Research Group at Woolwich Arsenal Factory No 1, Woolwich, No 5 Filling Factory Royal Ordnance Factory Swynnerton and Projectile Development Establishment, Fort Halstead in GB, 1939-1945: success of replacing mercury fulminate with lead azide; move to No 5 Filling Factory, Royal Ordnance Factory Swynnerton, 1939; work on fillings for 20mm ammunition at No 5 Filling Factory, Royal Ordnance Factory Swynnerton; nature of work in aftermath of accident at munitions store at Llanberis, 1942; work on initiator fuses on Hispano and Oerlikon 20mm Cannon fuses; his inventions and question of royalties; co-ordination with military personnel; post-war invitation from Dr William Penney to help design fuse for nuclear bomb; post-war work in United States of America as safety advisor. REEL 3 Continues: story of receiving Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct after accident at Woolwich quayside, 1952; problems with Second World War munitions discovered today; work at Projectile Development Establishment, Fort Halsted during Second World War; attitude towards scientific work.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), Interwar (content), Second World War (content), Second World War (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Wood, Conrad (Recorder)
Ball, Francis Edward (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 2002-06-21
Dimensions: whole: Duration 90, Number Of Items 3
Catalogue number: 23202

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Interview with Francis Edward Ball

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