National Cartridge Factory, Waterford
See also National Components Factory
The factory was established in 1916 at Bilberry, the site of the Waterford South Railway Terminus which had closed in January 1908 and was being used as a store.
At the time of the Armistice this factory was manufacturing 18 pr cartridge cases at the rate of 25,000 per week; the lowest cost of manufacture which had been attained was 7/6d. per case, while the contract price allowed by the Ministry of Munitions was 8/-.
From its inception to its closure on 14th December 1918 the factory produced 246,637 18 pr cases at a cost of £99,604.
After the Armistice the production line equipment was put up for sale and purchased by the Australian Government at scrap price. The production line was then set up at Footscray in Melbourne as a dedicated cartridge case factory. The first batch of cases was made in 1927.
See also National Archives