Background & Discussion:
Amatol is a highly explosive material made from a mixture of trinitrotoluene (TNT) and ammonium nitrate. Its name is derived from the words ammonium and toluene (the precursor of TNT). Similar mixtures (one-part dinitronaphthalene and seven parts ammonium nitrate) were known as Schneiderite in France. Amatol was used extensively during both world wars as an explosive in military weapons such as aircraft bombs, shells, depth charges, and naval mines.
Amatol was produced by gently heating TNT with steam or hot water until it melts and acquires the physical characteristics of a syrup. Then the correct weight ratio of powdered ammonium nitrate is added and mixed in. Whilst this mixture is still in a molten state, it is poured into empty bomb casings and allowed to cool and solidify. The lowest grades of amatol could not be produced by casting molten TNT. Instead, flaked TNT was thoroughly mixed with powdered ammonium nitrate and then compressed or extruded. When produced using the latter method, Amatol is relatively insensitive but may be detonated by severe impact. When cast, it is extremely insensitive. When storing Amatol, it was discovered that containers made from copper or brass should be avoided as the explosive mixture reacts with these metals to form unstable compounds which are sensitive to vibration.
A munitionette pouring a hot mixture of Amatol into a shell at National Filling Factory No.14 at Rotherwas, Hereford (1916-18).
The style and form of these tokens resembles several others known to have been used during the Great War in the United Kingdom. Several examples are known within collections in both Britain and Australia, and all appear to have been sourced originally from the United Kingdom. Unfortunately, no one region in Britain has yet been identified as being a focus for their origin. During the Great War, most, if not all, of the National Filling Factories (N.F.F.) operated Amatol Preparation and Filling Plants within their sites. These often included their own changing rooms and canteen facilities etc. As such, these tokens could have originated from any one of the N.F.F.s that operated associated Amatol Plants.
A munitionette hand stemming a charge of Amatol into a shell at National Filling Factory No.14 at Rotherwas, Hereford (1916-18).
Malcolm Johnson attributed these tokens to the Amatol section of National Filling Factory No.2A at Sefton in Liverpool. This plant was built as a separate self-contained facility to the west of National Filling Factory No.2 which was established on a greenfield site at Bland Park Farm, Sefton. A separate series of copper and brass canteen/refreshment tokens are known for N.F.F. No.2. Unfortunately, Malcolm left no conclusive evidence to back up the reason for the above association and as such their precise plant of origin remains a mystery. With such a generic design, it may have been the intention for the suppliers of these tokens to offer them for use to multiple Amatol plant canteens around the country.
Associated Token, Check & Pass Issues:
Type I
Function: Canteen/Refreshment Token
Material: White plastic with black lettering
Design: Bifacial with plain edge
Shape & Size: Circular, 25.9 mm
Obverse: Legends around the outer upper and lower edges reads AMATOL and CANTEEN respectively. In centre field the mark of denomination 3D .
Reverse: Legends around the outer upper and lower edges reads AMATOL and CANTEEN respectively. In centre field the mark of denomination 3D .
Date: 1916 to 1918 (Note 1)
Maker: Unknown
Published References: Yarwood, J.F. – Military Tokens of the British Commonwealth. Page 141 – MMT020. Private Publication. 2011.
Type II
Function: Canteen/Refreshment Token
Material: White plastic with black lettering
Design: Bifacial with plain edge
Shape & Size: Circular, 26.0 mm
Obverse: Legends around the outer upper and lower edges reads AMATOL and CANTEEN respectively. In centre field the mark of denomination 2D .
Reverse: Legends around the outer upper and lower edges reads AMATOL and CANTEEN respectively. In centre field the mark of denomination 2D .
Date: 1916 to 1918 (Note 1)
Maker: Unknown
Published References: Yarwood, J.F. – Military Tokens of the British Commonwealth. Page 141 – MMT019. Private Publication. 2011.
Type III
Function: Canteen/Refreshment Token
Material: White plastic with black lettering
Design: Bifacial with plain edge
Shape & Size: Oval, 37.8 mm x 23.0 mm
Obverse: Legends around the outer upper and lower edges reads AMATOL and CANTEEN respectively. In centre field the mark of denomination 1½D .
Reverse: Legends around the outer upper and lower edges reads AMATOL and CANTEEN respectively. In centre field the mark of denomination 1½D .
Date: 1916 to 1918 (Note 1)
Maker: Unknown
Published References: Yarwood, J.F. & Johnson, M.C. – November 2019 Supplement to Military Tokens of the British Commonwealth. Page 37. MMT125.
Type IV
Function: Canteen/Refreshment Token
Material: White plastic with black lettering
Design: Bifacial with plain edge
Shape & Size: Rectangular, 40.1 mm x 20.8 mm
Obverse: Legends around the outer upper and lower edges reads AMATOL and CANTEEN respectively. In centre field the mark of denomination 1D .
Reverse: Legends around the outer upper and lower edges reads AMATOL and CANTEEN respectively. In centre field the mark of denomination 1D .
Date: 1916 to 1918 (Note 1)
Maker: Unknown
Published References: None, but known to Malcolm Johnson (see Mal’s Tokens Web Site).
Notes:
- During the Great War, the bulk of British Amatol preparation and filling factories were operational between 1916-18.
British War Work Tokens 