A history of positive response

World War I began as a local European war on 28th July, 1914 and eventually became a global conflict spanning four years and involving 32 nations, before finally ending on 11th November, 1918. It caused unprecedented carnage and devastation across the world. During the war no fewer than 26 vessels carrying Tata Steel material were sunk. The war effort took almost 80% of Tata Steel’s production.

During World War I there was a requirement for substantial amounts of steel to oppose the German aggression. Through innovative efforts like stopping the manufacture of highly profitable ferro-manganese in favour of using its blast furnaces to convert pig iron into the steel that the war effort required, Tata Steel supplied 1,500 miles of rail and 300,000 tonnes of steel material at concessional rates for the military campaigns. The plant was geared to meet the priority needs of the government. It worked on a 24-hour schedule, and sold its products to the government at a fraction of the price prevailing in the open market. Two more open hearth furnaces, each of 60 tonnes capacity, were added to make more steel.The British acknowledged at the end of the war that the allied victory would not have been possible without the 1,500 miles of railway track supplied by Tata Steel.

In 1919, in recognition of the Company’s contribution to the war effort, Lord Chelmsford renamed Sakchi as Jamshedpur and Kalimati Railway Station as Tatanagar. It was also during this time that the Company decided to expand its capacity.