The history of No. 11 Royal Ordnance Factory had been largely forgotten for almost sixty years, until the chance discovery in 2004 of a private collection of photographs recording not only the arduous twelve-hour night shifts but also periods of relaxation and entertainment.

Amongst this material was an original copy of a draft shooting script entitled Night Shift, dated January 1941. “To be made at a Royal Ordnance Factory in the west of England.”

The Factory‘s success and efficiency had been recognised and would be recorded for posterity in the Ministry of Information film Night Shift made the following year.

The script was sent to ROF No.11 Superintendent Galbraith for confirmation that technical details were correct. The film sympathetically documents the arduous and dangerous work, along with the camaraderie shared by the workers. ROF workers who had ‘starring roles’ were given film stills as mementos.