THEY came to Hereford from all across Britain, but especially Wales, the Forest of Dean and Birmingham.

They were all shapes and sizes, but it was the women with dark hair who were to be picked out and placed first at risk.

For the 4,000 women working at the munitions factory at Rotherwas in 1917 and 1918, there was danger in the air.

They were working with TNT and Lyddite, two poisonous substances that caused toxic jaundice that turned your skin and hair and teeth yellow.

But it showed up quicker in dark-haired women – and so they became the Canary Girls, chosen to work with the dangerous Lyddite because symptoms showed up faster in them.

Many people in Herefordshire know the story of the bombing of Rotherwas in the Second World War and the tragic death of the family whose house was hit by a stray bomb.

But how many know of the miscarriages, stillbirths and ‘Canary Babies’ born with yellow skin, some of who survived, some who did not.

Perhaps you had a relative who was a Canary Girl or Canary Baby? If you did, then you should be able to help put a roll of honour together for the local munitions workers who helped win two world wars.

Hereford Archive and Records Centre has been handed national details by the Ministry of Defence to compile a website detailing the history of munitions factories and the stories of the men and women who worked on them.

This Saturday at 11am people are invited to a Your Families at War event at the HARC attended by Lady Darnley and Sebastian Bowen, the chairman of Herefordshire Council. It has been organised by the Rotherwas Together community group, the HARC team, Herefordshire History and the Herefordshire Light Infantry Museum.

Nicola Goodwin from Rotherwas Together said: “We’d like to find out more about the men and women of Herefordshire and what life was like for them during World War One and World War Two”

“Please come and share your family stories, your photographs and your artifacts. Do you have a picture from the first or second world war but you’re not sure where or when it was taken? We may be able to help.”

“We’re interested in everyday life during the wars: the songs that were sung, the clothes that were worn, the films that were watched at the cinema, the food that was eaten.”

“We hope to use the shared stories to help Herefordshire commemorate VE Day and VJ Day and to celebrate the lives of the people of Herefordshire who lived through the wars.”

“Staff and volunteers from the county archives, Herefordshire History website and Rotherwas Together will be able to provide information about Rotherwas and the work that was done at the ROF site.”

“Colonel Andy Taylor from the Herefordshire Light Infantry Museum will be able to give an insight into the part played by local soldiers during both conflicts and the Herefordshire Home Guard.”