Thrifty Tips From the War Years_16.99_129pgs

ri"J ;{JF-r / rJF)FMEft THE

VY;\ia ( Er\ i)i

JANICE ANDERSON was bomand educated in New Zealand,but has lived for many years inBritain. After working for some

years as a newspaper joumalist,charity press officer and editor for

several of Britain's leadingillustraled non ficfion publishhg

companies, she became a freelance

writer and editor, specialising inillustrated non-fi ction books.

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I

'ritiilFrT'fl?trorfdc

T*\R$Although Bitain had be$n climbingort of the slump as the 1930s

progtessed, the dse of NationalSocialism, accompanied by anincreased militarism, in Germany,did not allow anyone to think thatthere was a great chance oI an evenmoderately affluent and peacefulfutu.e aiead. The govemment,krowing that any future war wouldhave a najor effect on life at home,began plarling for, among otherthings, rationing, evacuating citizensfrom danger areas, ald mobilising thewhole nation some yeais before wareventually broke out in 1939.

When Worid War Two finally endedwith victory for the Allies jn 1945, theBritish people rnay have looked ratherbedraggled, tired and dreary. But theywere, on the whole, warnly clad, withshoes on thefu feet, and they were farftom starying in fact nuhitionistsand heaith experts say that peopleenjoyed a more healthy diet du ngWorld War Two.

f,76.99

'r;J;iJF rf 'rJPsffisftffiffi

}Y;\i{ Y*\;rIThe British people leamed to be thrifty in the two decades before the

outbreak of World War Two in 1939. They had been introduced to foodrationing towards the end of World War One. Then the 1920s, starting out

in a mood of quiet post-war optimism, quickly became a time of increasingunemplo;,'rnent and financial instability. In 1929 the Wall Street Crashbrought about the Great Depression and a slump in manufacturing

which led to more unemplopnent.

How they did it, and the stratagems of careful planning and'Make Do and Mend' that everyone experienced, is the theme

of Thrifty Ttps ftom the War Years.

ISBN:

llillI

978-0-7088-6528-6

52

THRIFTY TIPSFROM THE

WAR YEARS

JANICE ANDERSON

Futuro

CONTENTS

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . - - . . . . . . . . - . 6

1.LifeinBritainin1939......................................... 8

2. Food for lhe People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

3. DigSing for Victory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - 38

4. La the Kiichen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - . 54

s. DolrYoDrself About the House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . . - . 72

6.MakingaHomeinWatime...............-.......-.......... 86

7. Wardrobe Make Do and Mend . . - . . . . . . . ... . . . . .... . . . . . . . . - 100

8. Wiming the War by Saving and SalvadnS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - 116

t

INTRODUCTION4lthatgh u,. drtot .f1 ll ul^e dP hdrd'hiPs Ll&t !@Plc eduft.t Aliltg t'tlot'l W'dr

Tn,lrr d lut.to o ln.isi! hd! 1o,t thdt tld l PeoPk Ldrt hdd ta !irh!!" tkntJdts. L.dnin! r4ts of ! t1g lo ey r d noknl! da tuith ahdt rc hdE dtll I'e

r Sard thitrr, so olry not tt)t to rtPli.ak en? af t], kto t)-'d'nv tr!rcs hdr auptulase3 Pndiel to ndk t!t'c 1ore Lo faftdbt.

hanaged d lerrned doi to .onrpliin The

moderd Semrrtion has g.t so Ned to havinglL'rurics!h vhenapie.eof equ,pndnrbrcalsdoIn, they lindit,liifidlt ro.opc lvithout itlvlolrile phonet comPubB, n ashis fra.hires,hlevisions

'nd Lctigcrrtos m j$i a 1i\! of

ihc rrhinss (a bke ior grantcd, and I imagnrc

it n difri.ult lor you con.ejvc ) oLtr lifc x nhort

otrr rn.c*o6 nor ody.oPcd, they n:n.rj.dcxrrnciy w€ll and did cveryrhinS thc!.ouldt help the Mr efi.d ,d in tun - L\eir

.ouniry ErerJ,Lhing p.$ibl. $as ru.ltLcd,salucc4 or rlpaiFd a|d $hai peopl. di.ln t

larc thel didn't m$s Today wc rru benr8

tauglt to @cyd. lor diffc'.nr reasons - to

save.!r planci- so i tu$ tips of how i. be

mor cconomlcrl 'nd

how to be aa?€ of thc

poLlutionneircGunnsouldbcncl noriu{Iourhousehdld but tu cn!tu sond

P.oplc who hvcd Lhrough thc war learn..l to

!ringthcN Jrarsn!,rlf eve{thingMs mhon.d food. .ldhes, tudl

rnd h.u$hold goods blt pcoplc

. KNp CJfr :nd cdry on

. Ahlays walk whcn You Ctd

. S'vc (n hen straps to Feed the PiSs

Liling by ihse rimpl. n'lcs ncant that

cvelyodc pullld toscth.r and rhai therNcr phying theil pad hr di $inningthe Nai Thcy nar have lmkcd a lit c ritud,

trLrlraAsled nlrd $mcwhrt dr.rrt but thcl,

NeLe (r'mly .kthd, \'crl'red or itu $hdhand had sl,dds or fien reei. Hotr did thcy doitr Careiul planoh8 and Liriis bl the noto'vake Do and IvIsM' an4 ol .ouA!, ncacr

snhsup Formarr iha ni!J,€r $se spe.tin tularile +curiry ol th. orntysidc atic.blhs cvaco cd out or London. Tho6ands

.anJinrg jLuta fc( poscssions ItLristighienms indbeuld ing, but ir Nr. to. thln.$rgood. F.r thc pcopl. Nho werc lelt lrehnld,nanr h to $ihc* horn6. sighrs rndexperer.e malo' uphc !k cspc.iilly shenrhel lo$ lold oic\ Lir. rxs .hanBiig Ia{and rhcyhad k, mrkc mrny idjushlnh

People had to lre deative to mik. c thcir

horks Ncre nade se(rcc\.ipsd thnrgh rh.r'iido\G kr_yhcary Itabs lrad to bc Drdc b han8 * are .1..G dnd,rindo{s ind shuticrs crcftd rhe Nindo\Ls

'riih broNn rdhcsivc

paFr or a trpe of.elloFhrnc to $op rr glrstor.h,tbring vany nigh6 rErp spanr hairmid sh€lte,s b the$und ofbonbs dcstoy,ng

People lcamc,l t, b,rt( lt v.u l:d a

strplus or poraloes J'otr ould sLap it for harrr dozen eggr .. so'he apples. Hou+\,ncslctrrnc.l to rnaltc soD,c rcally tast-a dishes usin8th. nlnihufr oainBtudien$. Popl. turnld to

8ro(ins rheir onr iood oL even midins tLcl,edlemws ron'ppleinerr rheirdidG Rationingwas ju$ a Fart oi lverydry Lirc ind poolins

it ,Qsnl iu* r.od th* was hard to .o,nebJ1 dorhing .oupons w.ic jun as pr.iousDe.ausedoihesrverdi16.ultk,Eethold ot thc

arery hou*hold. shec Nsre turned ouBidc

sint& !oaa, ncr'.olhs and cufs rar lirtcd

ton n shift md ,rcol Nas rkni(cd to Drak

school j$npef or vGb nr .hjldn., ev€n ir

Thc ndb bom! r Fn.blp,e.e.requipmcnt, with pcopl. not onlr l!.lvinB on it lornens or the war hlr ior rhe; only sor@ or

rt s rhrt Mrn A{ru -Nas lcry rnurh a p r of tbc \ar son. $ithToDmy Ilaodler ptarins i su<esion otnr se charads6 isin ofrilr.r Ttr erps ro thedniFp(ii.B ovlba.k it rLL s.cms rcrI unompli.atcd, bntsonehorr ercrlon! l.ored oi thc bright sidc

Try (oikiirg vour (at $.o!gh soine orihe lliriny rp borcs ind scc rlhethcr you!i. d[ng. r.ur Nr) ot lirr shrt br doidB:onarhrg.i.h wccri ind scduilly b!,Ld !punhLii bcomcsa pa ol),our normilntilc.Rlmcmbca .!rq$ ng rq di5po{ dt.rd b!rcct dcd ind L s.d lor n !dillucnrrc.sons.

cilcH Hlx

LIFE IN BRITAINtN 1939

An 3 Sc]ttu1b! 1939, th. Btitish VaPh far"d thons.l$ at ut t'at the *'a t tim'

ntiktrre tn uh,\t Tht:/ lhed tu a N\ difdr tati !t'ta t tht llost-Ediantdidn

rrntry Iha! lau"g d' had jan:l.d uP h) liEltt ttu'Ba.ht sa'nth*latti'rll)t i'r )9t4

Thelt .r ala abn tobtpl",80dn'!rN'!difl.dtknxloJ rir 'o ea'ltnhPtt

thd anan1ljatt, iar! ttuHa,1eEtunt'.sitrnsson 'att'.l rsdiizdr t'hnta ts

BiiLii',.TnLe, ii Ihebis.i6d!1h$! r'ere$lllIaLtronrrr llttoorPsDPL-asrhcnatior\!b dnro\e, ,!her rlbu$fd: DI.hir!n?n iLhctr morhr$ rom .ltils and r.du{ iiLrrer.o hi.lcred ni bc in linger .f bo biu rLm

1rr9. Rur rDr m.( P.!plc, Britiil i,r thc hre

lihid a lrl]qc nriddh d.$.1i,rdcpcndcnE

$LPPorted Lr\ n(ngr!g.s,vdconrhr nt. Ihemilldlc dr.lb.trdr r$.tinr .13$e! had .onti'ru.d tlr. nPi.lc\pansioo thrthid bcsm i,r thcliturreiA rtQuccn vi&r ii s rcisr Thc rrc, iga n orlelhi5 tim, y fln\ lircd ur a Pl.is.rLy dcsistud

fi,idltrdai l$tri rith ! oNn sardP. {tLrrhi.d r neat rere i. otu or ths b!.ritd

! drc crd or th! r9:r0s, dr had rerloI rla Dlpr.sior \e! b.si..nrj to

e.i, a bad itroLv rltr drnP.oplr i1

nr..rs oi the n'bu,bs \hirh lse sPicrdi'r!iro$ thd\imds ol iae5 0l rh rs Df.rtinnliid ind lilldgls or LLc ..lge! .r (orqril .ines {e.s Bih;, moL. th r qu: er

oirLL|.Gcsrrc(.\nedbv th.no.d+rieh-lJLin n.L .!e, indNd, t(n the cnJ .t rlr!

hrrheav.l.Fslim, r"dr\Lntnd n]faLh

\is the Li,riri,ner |)!5p tc tl,lir c$!trrialru[duiirg\\ond l\lrone, mo*]rom.n nLll

follorl.d (he ptu Lrar.or\qnioi of gnhs up

thNrobs irtherhrd theD,ann m.ny Driddl!.l:$ Foncndid iot rur Nhci th.r mrridrhe i\rmge lllGh \oftnr \d! i houk\irc,ind a good numbs or middle d.5! hor$,

dudi,r: n iy or those ncr scmn in lhc

nlbu,Lrt +illemllored llo cni. $rThsc Fre id n+rcnJrrec, rll tlt

hof r,' i!didh., na,pPur| ni,rnse.IslroFi. thc hish *rue1. shc li' knorr br- mr

by dre brth.,r biLli 3N rs,..ei and sctr

Thnertnr !p.atl*t6rsatLntu ttr kdry,!h*ia\dnu lnu st1ry b nlop ]0btv tti rt Hvnuts. Mdt)aLhhlg nsn1tudututdrti,$fiEtfttsrlI3r!!,t,thaka nral tMtian;! $tr!hr&s. tht hh tt t&t rttotrtkn ifs tiilli t, tds rxlq nnntn$qtaPsalr" nldd& ta1!D tht srt

Nher she.hopped several iimcs a rNk indca.h trip ro rhe shops was a smiar o..asion.Hei shopping wis oncn aelvepd to her homqcither in I vm or by a man or : bot .n a bikThe wo*rs{las housewitu ikohid thclo.aln ket, wh{e sm,ls Kn .hcaPci bd dill

rn no$ \olsehol.{s fo.d was $orcd in.r pbo: dr lardeF and panfi cs. RelngeLaloB,Nhich No!.ither sae or eledri.ity-po$crcd,wer not vct wide\' uscd and ia r ho$eholddid not\ave om in r93e, nxas lcry ur ikely!r 3cr dvdi a second'hand onc nnrjr alrer rhe

A WARTIME ESSENTIAL:Fuel Economy

T)rE \ pii,-D1....,: * tt,"RrnLni indun{ mi\r. ft rLr$utcrrc$cnri:l Lr cv..voi. b b. LlY nr rn1

'Ftrel Comn,n{L'r',Hrr!.t +i,jmigazlnc r9rl, pLt t

'Brn. 15 Ir-000,000 hons.hold! Irionb n, thn rj,!.tEa.hontouftr Ea.h

or inst d. ir! pMii kn]i enougli to d.P nJ*;s <!l ol

rJA or dqki{ or nrnffin; thR munb! .rdtr,,is ii thc u5c or tuel h rll tr

d LJ' !' hr rou hir. pul rorr hearsi,to rrc g'!at .rnDt b hdlp thc ricibrt (:r,rd.r rvc h.r Drt.sth.nrtrEskhJncr tor ror foN

AnJ, rd\i\cd dr rlilrisrl\r hs!

shr ns rnh LLi.n.ls rnd.!ighbdurs ,! (rlo, Nke ndsi unng rhe ovcno.boircrbr bink6i rr. rir.rp s irhai.k, tlns pLcr.nts.old.,i, d trri,,ssar!d.\.ur sir h rbfrcr tr'dre irfL,llofr or irrorhare rd cl!.hirh.tur\[idr n.5 h\! or 00r, L 5 !!.od\

s a.r'hile .ooki,rs \ unns thc5nuLL

5af.hor rrar(br n$e.usi.ll nor.drrn r D.hcs in Llt ti hrrrlbrdoi,,gthe dir! Nanri.! uF ill*on( timrTtrin ror r.etclhe.ti.s drooondoNniml.h or r\..ri PL r!1i,]Prta h\ e b rr.P r ou rram

1:,

r rniri,iLr .r L$un5 i Lo\'s r(!r; \.r! nrn<n1r nr the m.in.rr !{lsre.riiirr tu risbriiS nl

,rll) htur la.nni h Lr rlrltftr rra!..,!of

tu forFlLr h.rr !r,\{! n\n! ftrhin.!.D!l.len.. b rlds G.mlres ..t i 1.e. !

rnr lor r.{o hr rs, \,irh !rtr.rhrrla potutrofhor$ hiriru!L.drr r:r.s, rht. r ncron.n !$ ! FJ n) rir irtu i riL.plr.., lnd -cnr.no h Ti.l.d,ir ,re \ \k,nhoN!*ittrr o|.r ftlpri.rr, Lir,ru5! loiL r..\.hrip

lL to hr.rr.ir ,$darr.nrn0!rrhirP Linss :i'

. \.,ir.ni. ii rhe h.,.tm.d. rLiro t.i a.nft \

rio(r ur,r !h!te nlisnlDnoidt g.x !r

El.n nlr mponrn rd rr hd Llfr.,o nr\ r.r n.(Jrd nrdr '! trel rr.u.r nu rtrr .{ rri... Ai tln \ri'riir or rlet

!r\ l,r ,ntr,000 hodB rill prLidr.i.qshn( roLrL d i Lr$rr\o L\ouRh.'i!hdpirsbrju!]iLls!.r|ls.lelLjl.rBAT]L[,lL. e.onodr\ .Dd Dlri.g l n. oo* qoun.tr{, fo$ih. or rh. ...nn r.s, r!$ rrc strn d)t!ns di.n.. itL.ldnns' jnilc d. .nD4al .DiJ 'le

rr.rid, I lrtr ir, i rrr.r iii rr, r, r,lirriii

.u!r nr|ise 5.r. .s dur Jof rrd litu orrl[ Hqnc rondL dra ihc rQr

rr drn rr1 | ufi r D ttrenEi

iil]Lh!{furr..ndo., rr! \r rnrr.r Fu!lrnllulf rtr(.fr1!d \ rf.r\hiriihoo, rhcrrr{1.

1

,rur,R rrrr r,flrJrr I. 5r nr. Itui.nhrn,lt Llrrdrrr lodr. rftrrr n,{t. rrr.

trr FkL hn crhiL, ioi rn! dc!!n.d rdLndrirh dun0i Di,'.s

\u ku,A rt rh.(iLtr.ernlJ tual Ln.ttronr. nq r OD.! rnorsh th ,rl i,l th.{nb ri5 r.rtLon{rr\nr r l.xg!.rhiliit orii \hi!n tbc Drr\ nav! r rhrJr ntL$rld|.l\ .d iIri 1irn. |e]e h sh ghl..l \i! .1

Hdt.ri i!ar d id.d i,r tlro dL{\ hpr.pLn)l\J,\! obn lniD dr. lF \ir i ltlc J{LLLt!'l

rrar ths e\lriLi riD rduld l.r. lre icsiad,lr!d: r rh rL tlr.onl\ lr6s llcrn..l,nL tluii h\o sr or Lud..r holLls aLioui rllli ofoalor

JLsr 6 r.h i,,! is th! hd rir Br bi,, 'ras!),r.pdnr$r.n Gn L.i$l sr! r,dcLd.nrtt

ras tt sntr Flr dn or Dr Dr tDoLr rili\rt.d, rr\inE L\ !e. o1 thr srP! oi tlrcnrq.Lirn ..rr' .t Itriir d minr othr

.olnris Lrrihii r?5 n t rlp lohc .ounr)n, i !.xr einpnc hos. drNtieF annua|!shippcd nr t hundruii'.f rtrousr s.rtrnsofaro?rn m., rrr, hurBrld regdihtcs, n1

1,I

:! !3. hrhlnLi!n- mf ,oi+ ., L

\\ E huniis o

As Nith ru. r.onorJ, {r $iilshiPPior rom o\€rui th c r:5

3 \(on.l mrr,r (,nnd ro rhe nrcd roLe()n om ies \ irn foo.l spi.. !n thDs on.s fill.llb) ro.d imp.ns no\ hid ro bc f-^cd rp rrrb.k' rcrplii.! rNrms ard amnuniti.n,

BATHROOM BLITZ

baihroonr riles, noronryF irhcauhtd rdyou and rcurfanillr,utftjs kmdcr ro dr.

Spcy shiightlindgironto rhc (il.s indrhcn scrtLb ueinsi so( damPsFonscTheF ,s .o nc..r ro inle i6e lincsar orraritsirr qunuv.raponrc tcarinsno

Malc rp a p:.G !sif8 egmt PMr Lvarc4

baring \.d' an.r sal Rub r6is piic onroLhefle with:, spong. l\'hen rou h:!cfinish.d, s mpll nnsc o r rhe sp.nscard !{ iiioftnoverhe pastu lrom lllerires.rinrrhrdrp trd. sp.nsd,nnctrrlenon junedd \ri?c thc ril. rharFtlDvcju{ d6ded h Pmove any rclduc

FIGHTING THE WARWITH WORDS

Emf 'he odfl 8$qnmr, 'ii' 5

I rF u{d "..d( ed ,ro!r. s imajor rool in the Nor li or Peilurdins the

FddpLe ol B tain th .v$ithin8 thcydid ould help o.hirder thd $ efionTh. Minidry oI lnform (r !!r !.dnhglfinB rhe Batle or rhe Atlanti. in drc

pa8es .f \lomcnt magazines su.h as

Cmd Holrr|l,ri! \ith dosans like:

Fishithe R t.ofdreArLintit ii y.ur

FiEhtth! Br(ld.rth!Adinri.iiI our.odk,n8 - b! r$ufttu|,.€cei

Fight ihe BatLle ol tlre Atl ti.nrlonrshoppinA d. with.ur rndlend!

Agai', .nd agii',,rhc pftli.ir-a ld drc sr r),s r.r

lmphl\d fh? irf tnf r.erl Pi.L \.q, n.r.riidt son d hoinc LcIt spa..Ior munitiotr on ships:'L$ sprdcs \otShip\

\rhdhd ir (rnrc f.on /ru$DL;, N-vzlaland .r s.tth Amerkn India or the F

[a{, or a.Loss thc Atlantn, thr ].i les tn ihc

rourner lq ill \hippids ri3s nb th. N.dh

ard up ihe E$lish c\ rel to sorthimptonird rindon 'Ihe shiFpiig l:ici \8c ,h.rulNrrblc to U-boar rttr.k rdrcrc ihcv rvc(

rh* R, .lo\r b homa.

Tlis Nas Erirai,r rhe outLleak of,rtrr: farrrom rLaru16.eii ii the es.a rls orl;rd atrd

with supr\ li$ nr crcrlth,ns th*.an. tomoreEeas ruliennne a nd lra s il. Erc, ronc kncwihdrrc.nd\rNiihinaEenarrttundrthplndot th! lgltls r n.rld havc a dcrana $cficct on Lritajn bcGusc or Ccmany ! gi.dfighting *€ngt\ h rhe air and atsei.

Lireathdne.h:ig<l l tloin rh. firr \'.clsoId1cn , Nnh drc cxpc.tcd all.out bombi.s:tralk drning ort to be a non e\€nt. whil. itworld bc$nrcmonihs benne the'nran in rhe

{ed'nnd rhe\.man il rh. kith.n'bc.amc,as r4a$ Obs.r'aiior put ir in r r 942 rcFo inbBritish rrai pmdtrdion, 'tbc Nn in{'nitumrl 1le *onh in th+\rorrd,.p, or vim

TOMATOE.S ON YOURWINDOWSILL

Y.! don,1 ned a r:r8e taiden to 8nNtomatoct they .an be lmwn outsidc po6

v.' a&] n!] dJr} ,iJ] d,i2 i ii'\ in',

riirrir/l Lo,,J.i, nrr, ttr/rtrdtrr,rli',r

. choo{ a vrricty ihrtislasy togroN thcbush .hcrr-v rariciics dc idcal as they donotneed rheir side shooh piNhed otrt

. Ksptomrto-+edli.Ss :nd toldS plinGi,s lishr ma as Po$iLrl. so thcy

.onpo{ shonld be

. Oonotfc.dtiihiomatoIooduntilLhc

ve64rifeiorBr aint fre(h,ni navy was vdrydiffcrcnr. l\tthin hour oI thar quicr scprcDbcrsunday morningMinhter Nevill. Chamblrliin that tuiiain Nftai(ara3lir, Lhe 8,{le of the Airanri. begrn

That battle began so guickly that ihc mai'lhcadin3, in laqe bla.r .apital lehaG, on thefionr paSe of rhe Ndd cJri,ri.J! f.r Mond'{I Seprlmber 1939 shouted 'Bdtish LincrTorp€doed, Repoired sm( and ,,4lri.'ii Nithr,40 0n Bo d Feared Lo{ 200.\ribs ure+ ofHcbride'. 1Ie announ.eneni 'Drnain and

l'ran.e d war with cermy, war in nuchsmalcr ]creu, albe undenincd, at thc ropdr rhe pag.. To sy the lcast thc Brtlc or theAdanh. \'as a 63hr for Bnb;i s very suNiyat.

In the 6si rour nonths or the war, c.manu boab sank nesily 200,000 i.ns of merchanrshipping and thcn pE.ious cal8os cveryh.nth: 63!r$ so bad (Lhoq+ \ror+ ons wcrto comc in 1910) drat Ihe Goverinhr did nor

lf cernm) had been suc€stul in toialynopping ncrh r ships fsm .anying f.od

lty 1942: R.sa'dtss al ts., r4vart

PRECIOUS METAI,S

Mafy irenE ldeft ra6on.d durins 1\roddw.r Ttro ii inefaonhnakcstrlhdthrrulould bc no la.kof.crbin iLemr

Ioods ind pctLol Ner ralioned, butso rycie mdbrslLai $dre despcrntcttrcqun.d for r'.apons. Th. phpaSadd:

si\rr oii[ b Llru Pon of6e ro bciurne.r into nu.h,n{dcd bulrcb rnr:cr ady metals th .o!ldbe meiieddo$n d us.d :8ain ,!eE sa\lgcd lorthe rlrcffo . old.mkinSpors, i6nrairinSs, sn pr_1 rins and silver rerapp inSpape' $erc arr .oBidered to be'pNiousm.rak' duri$ l\bnd r\]ar Two.

SAVE YOURSTOCKINGS

Don,ithnNaNa!Ioui.Lddo.ki,rg5 :nd hgh$ drer. ba

uscd r mI nrmberdaLyays:cnr inrosm.,lLPi.$

'nd us. Lo

urr.ushd.sorhand made tors ror

r .iftrLar mrtu.nr\ b0r rn, rrrcour.oDcotitu s?r.u,rJ hil. Lr(n y.rv difreLenr rr is

rosibl. thrL 3rihi,, ould hi!! bce, {'rsli,t. lubDDsion, $ th.gorc,.mon krcN thq

lhe 8ollrnntffs r.lponi ,ras 1o erhort.r.nor. Lo lrisrc norhine, trr 3,dr' 8 ,iudr6od as posiLne, a r t. rcin (r Lic husr i]rlur lrourr4pirs, i n Fhri$ rhL (eLe (o

t(oDrc rcdN\1 ddp'ln )sl! rafrili,{ ir rhe

l,r odrr No r t.ru^nr Br i6mDn]]crly ftr rnr dr BrirNh ltoptr mui l.:Ln rheruLhin rhc ol.1sa!if8, l\h{d rn, $.nn ftn,rr rooka \r|itu nncr.,{n,. r, rofl rhar rh.!rre!d , h hk. i tul \odsrLomone.rl B

I]lilrrr! 5 turnrirr, l dkF.nilnis non,johcdtolcLh.r'i,rthgr. bnrlsnrrlFturE

'''|,^'',,.m fh, m di. d rc ," ,r 5 ..'ts. //" ra e.prt rhai.Bd tr l{ 1\4i

d rlc tuir \r..P Im'h. hrtur. fh.hrb \

L,!i, - !.r.i!,r '{-I irh tuel, *rud dr!fr rd r\dl

EF rone . n.d r) n.b\ LlreDor.lwanr an elri rrlsc rnrbcr rr dicrrno.tinsintoihin*ip1 ind u'rs trroor rhrue\FPtrlund ablordleof

ord no.king! miko i Nond./rl padlorbfffidsuP i rrood.r noor io:

Ir!.u droF r.onhcr hns.n thc aq)qovcrvoul v:.uum nozzh snh a

P e.eofnrr0r hose bnoP dre rdns

bcirs ntrrcd up intri oLlivnr

FOOD FORTHE PEOPLE

Er.\Ftu n1Btitailt tithet kn.a, atft "djon

nt h6t tl? mitl l93t)., d athm:j dftuPtn.MiiistttChnnlbcllni'sM" icit AgE n. t (,ith tho Ca nnr Chn allaL AtjalJHit \,ir1938,thrtry ,n 38t nrrt ilrs n|titnble Eurto,. alsa k e(, thnt, i1i th..!.1t(f rt, hiletln Nds a.f 111a$ttl/ nt orrtinre loauld tupan"nmt, ttt mtst

n8tnrltufta\,'14 be hn,dlu ks sa

rhrr rhc nnLntr! \!urd nrn h. *aned i'nos'bfrninD br a ccrmr brd.rrdc da rr

m.!..hanr5hippir'! id ihc^ir.ntn ftiou*houtrhr r920s drd 1930s th. Erirsh So\dromonnidc, ur darsd atu] tu\ nld P ins io gci dt.omh!! r n.r! *rn l ind asriftuu l...nomvon roin cft!.( f. d pd]u.fi( {,ar loori'rsas quirtlr as rositil. i.d Li as inportani

i. cnnn {hc nai .nM.c.r nrd suppli.sbr liodr p.opl! and lne*o.t lun as tuiraindjld.n imtons h fNd i6Fcopre, so it rcl€don heavr iinport!.r alcdin! dufG n, f.d jlr

rrr 936a food (Def-.n( pLrns) D.p.ltrncir

., ons brror Lhar $arbdrne.duarnr

pcdPle hcsin hling rePs ro er{fd

d\rnons, evs4, LNil6 appo r i nNd .\enltnr ofn.cr \nioftn$o.ks oi non pcr nuble e*rtnl loods su.has Ih.} rd n'sar w.,. lcr riJe i.d foodEtiorns shen.s $ m Phnn.d

rh! Arj.iruLb( A.r or 1er7 :d!t iao.i.r.dLiill fr r l,rr s.h.md Le8rd i l,rurs oiscrins rmd i o sood odcr ror ploughi.!hJf0 J ar]l€ elF tfududion l.l9:]3, thl r.ir oIC{mn)t r:*ion .a

^uiia is rclL r dr

vrij.hAs.cenrnr, tlrci\'t risr\.rAB,nutnrcnrc.tcd rh. r.. rdo Noutd b. .ha

'n.n of

rh. \ :gri.ulhrENrndld {rlinEupirr dr!evurorr?r,nd tlpnin,nry oI food +&!d preparinrg f&)d ra!o.

r-ro sprjngrere,thr\rinish orASr.utrurcri[ many Li.ld ncps rorfardr ..\!]ins Llur

i sood nrp. \hcn Iarcrnc, iftlldi,rg.ni,h! Iiucr a n,b5 dv of

1'ua4 di!lilhtnu rn\,, th r)b alrrlntks lht Lretjr pt ri"sald) Itttvo,u ru,in m,r.r.{,,r3 drlr,r iJ)t t ;ptt tj, ||'nnrd ) )d r s4h 1r nn!

COQUET PUDDING(Sufhcient lor four peoplc)

2 qgs (ot u! dtkd tf not tt\tihtbb)

1 tabbsPNn dtid tr rit at in1

cook rnd nmh potatoes with mrr8rnndAdd sugaftnd es8s, briting rvclM innilkandrflirrnd pour inroa8Fa*d Pie d*h BJke in a no.terare

AN AGPJCULTUMT REVOLUTION

nrrh! $c se.ond Wodd wJr BnrshL-,1"g. i,r.* *r,.r,r"r u"" L, ,gh,to r pdlous $b during thc Depre55n'r,

rnturLLlr turn€d ib prcdudnrn IiSuLes

tpside down 5 ir be.am a litanl'jmportanrsurc oI Iood 3a6'ear l9r9ad 1914, r.u8hly si: miLLion actus olgiasl d lvcrc turned i.ro arablP land, $tharthdramla.dunderrEble.ullivationincruas.dnomschetoeishtclT million

The rood produdidl lirjrrcs bchi.ddris tinsronmlion ectu vsrl clcar:

10 a.rcs .r nedn'm $a$laid $cdror do.k{.ising cduld lc.d 12 poPletonvcit iho* 10 ftts oI land ro arable

r.d lbN whcat on it, a.d I'ou ]q,ul,lf.cd 200 rlopLe. Gm$ rotii.es on itand ]'otr ourd bed aoD p.oplc. ln r.mror.aloiier p'ovillcd -.nd that Ms thc

cskntial liEurc in \'dtimc therttr^srocont!+: meat, .1lss ind milr, all ol whi.hrc!trircd lalge:mornb of grazjns l:nd i1r

their prcdudi.n, s ould htrrc b b{ore

And ihrsn tju forms frd E.azinEland ih sas tumed ovcr to abl.fa'minE. Id r spllndi'l extcnsi.n or dP!:+c not, \Lrt nd \pdt, King ccoEevrturnedwi',dsor creaiPa.kinbi allpmnie of $hert ii .xanple rh r3sopi.d bv many othd o ne$ of lirxeparks Hundftds oI a.N otountr'sidcthathad ncv(treen farmBd, lndudi,r! drc

suss.r Dorvn! (l,rrdr, Kt ,lv, turned

I'otatoes and $hed $eP among thc

rno*ihp.d { cr.ps taNcid in llriraind"rin8 thc rvq Nih odr b€dL, pris,rlc or mxcd 6n also on ihc fiat lnr! dr

lFpror€dcmpJ th rarnea.duldlNircsubsidie!ror gdrinsonn.NlyFldghedn0G Sugar bd (b tupla.e thP ft.e lugirtom $c \!e{ Indics ihir h:d lonB bccn

thc tuunq,-3 nai', $urc ol sus ) also

becmean impot thrmdp.

1

I tr rer:, (-j., irr I r i,rl,, r rrr rr

4rn ft.f gffnrnd ollLtuan s.\N \uv!!.n u trr., t \.\ PhL dr,!r )rr(lrilRL,d

,s nrh oi tltu nrhrr ! g $Lr .r.r Lo

hi.g pr( ., i nr I ii* lr sprinr] Ll[,

pui5h.rNc !o!! nr{rJ b! q.nd.d, .ir ,n

fnrtrred rir rlP

Mrty al r RAF rhfttds n\rk o@t p ne rnbhphr* rht ptttu 4s hkdt n 1e16 n wt ofr

l.Dd, trs thelt d.d tniel tfts bB r.oJBtirai')tP E tt itr

Scri.c cErly in 1939 sugg6ted th:e as well

!s sood sro.ks of canned roods, ho$esivNshould bc thinking nho t Sctins in srocks oIsuch thin8s as floua eDalt pds€s, t {, c.ffeao.oa, sugar and dried fruib and sroing drem

wiLh tidLfittins ljds

Bt, rhe timc war eveirLally happencd, n.*Iolscholdt had emd supplies of rood in $eir

Although Iarning s€s a $crved oauPntionihsugholi the *ar, m:ny work.s had l.rt the

land ror L{ cFpaid arrk in indGrry in the

FOOD FOR THE PEOPLE

1920s and 1930s and continued to do so duringthe war. Ho$, could a scventeen-year old be

expecied to rvork as a farm labourer for 20/(tlventy shillings, or €1) a week wherl he coul.t

earn 85/- a week as a carpenter's mate in onc

of the mjlitary camps thatwere being sei up all

over the Salisbury Plair! or a shepherd to m:k.do with 35/- (f1.7sp) when there 'as lnorcthan t\ .ice that on offer for waiters in the mcbb

at the nearby RAF camp?

h1cide11taIIy, RAF sltes .rested morc than

labourers from lurassed n'artime farmers. They

also took some of their best :uable land. IMler1

farmers asked lvhy wouldn't poor land do,

they were told that the speed with which newairEelds had to bc built meant that they had tohave land that rvould very quickly prodtce agooo hi.k -c F or 8rd'. o.drr) drr. r.llt tl-, '/.of heavy bombers.

The demands of wartime agriculture creatcd

a dcsperate need for agricultuml lvorkers.

They came with remarkable speed from many

sources. Several monihs belore war was actually

declared, the govemment revived World War

One's womcrl's Land Army in JLne 1939.

Wherc thc housewife in the kitchen beca!,erhe n.r, norrar ir rhF rac.or). r"n, Fr . ir

offices becarnc Land Cir1s, \^'orking down on

At its peak during the wai, the Women's

Land Army and its associated Imber Corps

cmployed more than 80,000 rvomen. Thcmajodty of Land Girls .orked nr arable farm-ing, lcarning to plougb so 'and haNest, digdrainage diiches, and even catch rats. But abouta lJdrler o rrFr \\orleo n dJin IdrnrinB

espccially in the l]ilking parlourld ro t rl- o'rr. torrrd .hen-el'e' norl , rg

.id^-l-)-, J. s h par' o-p,. o\F- 700.0f0 ,'f

TIMBERI

LdntliitLs af the Tinbet Cott's Jell n tree it n forcst,aI B tlt St Etlntflis

n'hom were rccalled into active work .turingthe war, manl' of them into agriculture, andwith German or Italian prisoners of war. Ath. \c-l-r:"re Lelped ro 8Fr irthe haNest by an army of temporary workers,including seNicemen on leave, schoolchildren

25

THR Fry TLPS FROM THE WAR YEARS

:i

We live in a throlvaway age trherc one

. ljse your teabags more than once.

. T efioler ro-rst Dotatoes ctn ,< " ' 'be ri.e,r and i"""a r. //-.0"*."" t",uu-.,,," [i- r,,et"']omeietie. \ 1\v

third ol all food bought is actua]ly putin the bin. Takc a tip ftom the war years

and lea-rn to reuse youl leftovers ratherthan scooping thcrn into the bin.. Use up cooked potatoes alld

vcgetables by maknlg bubble alld

. Makebread and butter pudding with

. Make soup oui of a chicken carcass-

. x4ake shepherds pie or cottaSe pie outof the Sunday roast leftovers.

on holidar,, happy to earn as man_v sirpcnces an

hour as possiblc, ancl pLatoons of Bo]' Scouts: a

true natiofal cffort.Once American GIs were in Brltain in large

numbcrs, many of them helped out at harvest

time, too, usually bdnging their o!\rn trarlspoltto movc what they had helped to harvest. They

did not warlt cash in return for lheir lvork - just

hol baihs, pl11s maybe some apples and miikfor their calnp canteen.

While the contuibLrtion of Britain s farmers

to lhe rvar cffort was hugely importarlt - b!the last vcar of the $'a4 they provjdcd cnough

food to kccp Britons ade.luatel-v fed lor six out

of seven days of the n'eek by iiself it was notenough to enable the govemment lo avojd

bringing in food raiioning.As ear'l1' as Nen' Year 1910, Sir ]ohn Bol'd

Orr, r.elll<nown for lTis influential booL FoD.l,

Ilealth dtrl lncome,p$Itshed in I936, was tellint.her.r or l'r rr\ ol hFBB\ -H 'rr' -.rr ''that'porridge and nrilk lre better for you $ar1

ba con and butter'. Christopher Torn lh, a )roung\,vriting-papcr salesma4 noted in the diary he

kept for Mass observation that Sir ]ohn had

also said that 'potatoes are good [.Lnd that] $'e

should grow sonre lcgctables even ii it's oniyi1,1 a floh'er pot'. Chlistopher thoughi thnt Sir

lohn was making a propasanda point about

the importancc of avoiding importcd foo.ts,

an.t'grorvnrg .s mnch as $'e can'becausc the

goverrmcnt i{as scared, thinking'wc tr'on't

able to gct cnough food across .ith all those

Thc governmeni rras indced deeply

concencd about how badly the Battlc ol the

Atlantic \vas going at this time, but some

sections of officialdom $'ere also scarecl

of ihe conscqucnces of intuoducing firod

2L

FOOD FOR THF PFOPL E

RICE OR POTATO

4 teaspoa s bnk"tt po1L,Ller

13A I carr nenj

BREAD

1 trblcsp1t,l sh\ tenirlg

150 !4boiled rice or fresh 1t1shtLl

1 sc,q

Pour thc scalaed milk over corn meal

and add shortening. Beat etg until verylight and add slorvly Cool arid addbakhg powder and salt. Mix .ell and

adci the ce or potatoes. Bake in greased

shallorv pan in hot oven for 30 minutes.

ratjornrg. They thoughi dlat largc sections ofihe populaitun l^.ould be irriiatcd and even

., . r. t J b\ ., , . lt- rp, r{. -ir l' . Lo.e

of foo(ts and the amounts they could buy.

u'hjlc such officials may have seen Sir lohn'spromolion oi potatoes, porridgc and lltilkovcr baco. an.l bultcr as snnpl) a softening!p ploccss for thc day - no$, imninent .hen

biiorl, buttcr; cggs and riuch else r{or1ld have

ro -r , rr, nFd -i- Jolx, . r .,...,., ."nirgfrom a diffelent direction altoileth€r.

Hc had lo.g seen that incomc s as a majorlactor in dccidjng how pcoplc t'cd thefLselves.

lar tuornany of the natjorr's children - bet\\'een

a 6fth a.d a ctunrter, hc calculatcd - came

from iamilies whose hcomes l{erc so low thattlleir children coulcl onl,v be fe.:t a diet lhat'r,vas scriously dcficicnt in csscntial nutrients.\\lh, t g'e rrr l ' ll\" lJ riabout intro.lucnlg rationing - elen thoughthc raijorr bool<s wcrc nll printc.l and read)- tobe dislribuied Sir John tried to corlccntratc

mincls by pointnlg out that for thousancts ofpeople,'loodstuf fs havc h fact al!\'nys been

ratiorecl by price'.Food ratiolling in Britairl i{as announced

''nF nLr.r't olLi lr'tu. r.,rr.rp J-

sised the point that rationing would ensurc a

fair clistdbution of all available foocl, rvhile theunv ir1 illljch it u,ns being ratjonc.l - throuthlocal shopkeepers and !o people rcgistcrcdrvi!h thejrlocal shopkeepers nrcantdlatprices.ou].l Lr!: co.troll.:d nnd rvould bc faiL.

The first foods to be rationccl rvcrc bacon.

han, sugar and blrtter 'ji\,o months later meat,

exccpt sausagcs and offal, rvas rationecl, and in

Jult' tea, nargarine, cooking fat and chccsc. By

Tuly 19,12, jim, mannalicle, treaclc, syrup, cggs

and milk l1ad also been raliofed or put undcr

.,\L.t...r1,

2l

IR FTY TIPS FRON4 THE WAR YEARS

never casv to keeP ii so saving bread rras a

major themc throughoLri the \{ar 'The kitchen

is the key to \rlClORY Eat lessbread'cried ihe

postcrs, \{ith the N{inistry of Food constantly

pushjng the polalo as an ideal substitutc for

bread, espccially in main mcals.

Thc bread ihat r.as riost rea.tily a\-ailab1e

for much of the rvar nas something callc.l

the Nitional Loaf. Ii was rather Srey and .ot( v F\. ilir ts r r.l oJl \\. . rr.'J. l. - r" rp"

ihat was said io be lull of vitamins and high inmrtuilional valu€. It also icquircd a]l unlikelyreputatior! .hich inspircd d1e MP anct diarilr

1'\'!LL STOCKED

A slnpk.|per nr lt rti lr F,t]|Jln t1, proudhl

nitlDu ces the t|L,ailabilit! af rta.k, oJ lL,hi.h a nlrl

controlled cljstribetion. Vegetables and lruitsand tish lr'erc fevcr rationed thotgh mosl

e\otic ftuits $'ere seldom, ii cver, seen duringthe $,ar arld trrcad, not ratio.ect dtring thc

\ ar, hacl to be ior a time in 19:16 bccause the( orLd's l\.heai harvcsts \{ere so poor.

Although bread i{as not rationc.l, it \vas

EGGLESS, FATLESSWALNUT CAKE

s)A I flout15A x chopped ,iltLuts

210 1L Dlilk

201) ! stqat4 ttdsi,oa s b.}ntg paludet

Mix florr, srgar a]ld choppcd i'alnutstogcther Add sall and bakn18 po .der,

and thcrl the milk. It should be slightly

wctter than ar ordnlary cake mixture.

Pour nlto a greased cake tin and ]eave to

dse for 10 ninutes. Bake in a slow oven

until risen and bro$'n.

j.- REcIFL;,1.,.,,,..,

2rl

FOOD FOR THF PEOPLE

Sir Henrr*'Chips' Channon to ask the mlnisierof foo.:t, Lord Uboltol at dinncr in Apdl 1942,

.irng di ,r.nr.r' h . tt r

brc.rd, the National Loai', if it 1\'as r.cally an

aphrodisiac.'His Lor.lship looke.l startled',noted Chips Channo. jn his diar):

Foocl rationing lvas explainec:t as an

emergelrcy nreasurc attcnpting to ensure thatevelvofe Bot a fair sharc of the limited t.rocl

supplies then a\.ailable. ln faci, it woulcl be

morc than fourteen )ears before the lasl foods

came ofl the ration:nd people could thro$,

awal'Qr keep as a souverir of a \'€q difficlrltlime) lheir rntiof bool<s. ]n those iourteenyears, the lhing that Sir lohn Bo)'d Orr hact

hoped for snrce the mid-1930s, actually came

to pass. A health)' diet was no!\. enjoyecl b)' a

nuch larger proportnn of the popLrlation than

thrcughout modcrn histor)' an.{ many more

t,,pl..., - dpo ,p ,por' | .. F,iroa h.alth)' dict and lne$,u'lLich foods more

.rften than not the lcss cxpenslv€

the nutdent packed ones. Even sr.rch sjmplcthifgs as rationn-Lg bacon, for instance, had

an riniorcsccn rcsult: it brought bacon inio lhewccl.) djct of many people for rvhom ii haLl

hitherto bccn an occasional luxuqr if it was

During lvorld I{ar One, rcstaurant rneals

had corne \^'ithin the tovernneft's foo.lratjonnlt schemes, and diners had to hand

over ration coupons in resiauranls. If 1rorld\ /ar Tiro, restauants .ere kept 'oilration'.Thc govcrnment eaplained that tlis $.as

becalrse il r,'ould be very .1il6cult to crtendthe .luite complicated ration coupor system to

rcstaurants. \\ hat the government dic:l noi say

\\'as that it would actually prefer people lo e;ri

out of thcir honcs as nuch as possible, paril,v

BREAD PUDDINGThis ncipcarly us,sis 1n11nna ntolsugatuhi.h af caltrsc nids rntiDned dulitlg \\'orldWrr'ftro. It also llscs ,".otjstit etl dticd eigpolLltter,1,11t ltar.,r, ,srtesl, cg)gs ds tlcsc

tre rctLlil1t alj ltlble t\da1t.

225 g stilebr!fltl50 S Srritrd srcf259 srgd/1 tdbltspoan marmnLdi.

50I tttitd Iu;t1 rcc.nstit ledrltbd $g (at I fiesh e::g)

Milk tn mir1 renspoalL grou tld citlmttnn

. Pmhcat thc ovc'r1to Cas nark4/180'C/350'f.

. Put the bread nlto a basin.nd addcnough cold rvatcr lo colcr Lca!e to

st.nd for 15 minutes and lhen squeeze

dry with your tuters.. Cnmblc thc s.rakcd bread into a basin

.nd ad.l all the othcr ingredients.. Add cnough rnilk to make a sticky

. Spoon into a greased iin (appror 20 cm

or 8 in) an.:t bake h the cente oi iheoven tbr an hour Altenatively you can

steam in a greased basin for h^.o hours.. SeNe either r{arm or cold.

. !:\

{ -t ':,t(-:."rlrt' .' '-.- c,i| t

THRIFTY T PS FRO\4 THE WAR YEARS

THE'BASAL'DIET:A Diet Far

Ai .t n ahut.l,ill Mn, l9lt)

Too

Tn the surnner ot l9l0 3rt., th,

Idi..,\t.rotDrrnlirk th.uirCrhi.ptcomrnissloned a report from the

Scientific Food Committee on the fNdsnecessary for an adcq atc sur\-jval dietin ,artime- Hcrc is thc esscntial dailldiet the scicntists camc up rviih:

120. (3759) brel

1 i (5409 pottltaes

2a. (609) artuleal

laz (30!,) frttaaz (184p lcgetdbles

sir-tenths afd prtt (12tlazl)sAn, miLk

Thes€ essentials could be slrpplcnrcntcdeither b)' nore ol thc listcd fcncls orb1.small quantities olchccsc, pulscs, mcat,

fisb cggs, sugar and dried fruits.

Thc djet rvas tesled on a group oivolunleers, none of 'hom reportec{ an)

ill effects. The U/ar CabincL rionr Prime

Minister Churchill down, lvas appallcdat the effect th.1t such a diet would havc

on the morale ofthe nation and thcMjnistry ol Food \a'as none too happlteilher

In thc dict's favour ii shoul.t be said

thit lvinsion Churchill's own idca ofrvhat was an adc.luak' diet rvas larger he

thought the meai ralior! l'hen shownto him, was 'a cl elt uate' until it was

cxplaincd that rrhat as put in front ofhnn was the actult ration, rLot irr o.cmcal but lor one $'eek. Ihe Basal Dict$ras quietly shclvcd.

l0

FOOD FOR THE PEOPI F

bccausc it lvould save a family's rations andpartlr because restauranis and other forms ofcomnrunal feeding r.ere less likelv to 'asteIood than households.

To enslrrc that everl'one was dealt .ith

fairly, and to prevent anlr sutgestion that thewcll-off rvere gettjnB rnore food than everyoneelse bccnuse they co! d afford to eat outlnorc olten (.hile still getling the same rationbooks and coupons, the govemmerlt subjected

rcstaurants to somc quite stingent regulaiions.Only tluee courses could be served, with onlyonc of them a 'main' course, no matter howgrand ihe restaruant, food h'as simpler and a

n., r.rr pn.F ot ive J,llr .t, /.rcr r-t ..

The 'V' in 'Victory V'meals, served in manyreslalrrants, did not stand for '1-etetadal1', brtfor tha jdea ihat Britain coul.:t achieve victorythrough food. Such meals, carefully plajlnedto be both appetising anct nrtdtious, 'erebased very much on hone grorvn proctuce,

showint that restaurants wcre doing iheir bitto save on shippiig.

Thc most popular of Blitain's $'artimerestaurarlts x'cre Bttish Restaulants, a nanesuggcsted by the prime minister. They betanduring dre Blitz as eme$ency feedint centles

sei up in heavily Lrombcd areas to piovidegood, hot meals for people rvho had beenbonbcd-out. The Minjstry of Food plomotedthe expansion of British Reslaurants to a much$'ider popu lation, becau se they could do muchto improve pcople's nutriiional intake. theemphasis rvas put on 'ell-balanccd, healthymeals that wcre renarkably cheap abouttenpcnce (,lp) or a shilling (5p) a hea.l.

Vr I Brit.,\ R,.t ur.nr' nFr- .e' up irdisuscd buildings, such as evacuated schools

C]LD MOTHER HUBBARD'|'he insitle af n tlpicdLtaittmefood cupboaftl,

prcridi g jLtst the essentiils.

though a former henhouse rnade a good

home Ior a British Restaurani in Nottingham -and later h the war the go\.emment supplicdprefabs (prcfab cated buildings) that could bcqlickly erccted on nnt vacant site. To save or1

staft many opcraled a self service ststern thatother caierers soon adoptcd.

Frank Edwards, a war factorlr buyer tuom

Birmingham, $.as very impressed bv hisfirst visit to a Bitish Restaurant in 1943.

expressir-ig surpise in the diary he kept for

l

TfR Fry r PS FROIt THE WAR YEARS

il,i:ilt\tt'tt )' ' ' : t't : ';

ili:i:tt ':itr .lir.tr. ,,_ lr d

Kccp i{ccdq at ba), ancl iletiit at the same time b,v cloi.genergetic hoehg.Start a (ar nerv as they are nol onllbeneficial to _vor1r soil brLl they a.ill ( n t

up Your kitchen wnsle as l\'ell.. Slugs are nocturnal so attacks .rn lh€

b€asls are lighly effccti!c aftcr dark,especially aiter rain.

. Lcarl about cornparion planting t.lkccp pests atball

\4ass Obscr'\':ti.'r at thc q .lity ot thc seNic€,

Llrc .ouftcoucncss oi thc hclpcrs and the most

-"iiicieni nanner in wli(h il was run. [r'en rnorc

nsbnishint llas actualh being aske.l lf he rv.1s

hLrn:ir\' '.ot frc!,iousll durnrg thc Nar ha!eT Lrccn askcd that qucstion n1 a restaurant' he

ilrotc, sllilc h.r!n1g thc qucstion iollowelt rpby':. crcccdnlglv gcncrous helpnrt' ('as egg

or:1 . prr. .l;ir o J\ "'.1, .'.'i g

to t$o srlrl'eYs cardecl orlt b\. the Britishlnsiitlt. of flL1lic Opnriorl ir] 1942 ancl 194.1,

thnt.carl,v 70 pcr ccnt ol thc pcoplc nlter! ie\\'ec1

sniLl thc) \\'ould lil<c b scc British IlcstaurantsconijrunrB.ftcr thc uar

fte go\'e rmcnt took its eilols to inocisccommLnal iee(ling into tr.o other impodartarcas, factl)'ics a.d s.hools, quitc cnrly in the

w.r. An ord.r issuc.l in No!'cmbcr 1940 naclejt conlprlLsor) lirr factodcs $ith more than 250

workcrs Llohg sornc torm oi \\'ar h ork to set upcartcc.s. r\brkcrs in hcavy indr.rshics, su.h as

mning, ship br lcling anrl steel making, got

.rtra rationsin thcir cantccns, sorne of which,such as chccsc, rrcrc providcd through the

Lnitcd Statcs' Lcnd-LcascprogLalnrr€.Facbry c..tccns tr crc soon sccn as ic1eal

placcs in ttich to rajsc mor.lc as \\'ell as

fee.i .orkers, since happl'rvorkers Nere also

Likely to be efflcient \\,orkers, rtilllng to spend

1(ng houLs at work tur not vcr)' hith u ages. Aparticului) successtuL $av of raising mor.llearnong \rar industrt \\,orkers r\,as to s€nd

conccrt parties int(J facnrr) canteens clLrring

'lhe .dter T.B. Priestlev na.le goo(t use oto.c of his cnorlnoucl)' popular lr.stsn4rts,

''.'Jo'clocli c!c.n1g r1c$ c Liullctnls on the BBC'S

GARDEN TIPS

Cjrorv pohtoes in a barrel

- this is an eas) \\,ay togror! potatoes l{ here " + rl;

FOOD FOR THE PEOPLE

CROW YOUR OWNINaitrcsses Jiam the Qa: ityl ni Regen! Sneet, Landal1, untetitq ind Satheting tomatoes thnt arc

grcwlng in bo]'es o the paremen! aulsile the rcstnuant as pirt of the Dii Fot Victotv schene.

I

Home Seffice. In it he descdbed a lunch-hoJr t\-A (-'llerldiTnFnl. \d.ron.r -pnic,.Association) performance by 'an orchestra

consisting of foul )'oung women in green silk,

after which the two thousand stronS alrdience,

'who were mostly young and feminine, andvery natty in their coloured overalls, returned

much heartened - to another five or six hours'

TtsR FTY T PS FROM TtsF \I/AR YFARS

A SATISFYING MEALFOR PENNIES

ritish Rcstaurants began as

emergenc), feeding centres, provided

For exarnplc, tlrc ch.lk board hung on

the si.te of a Londoners' Nleal Set.vice

mobilc !an (l,Plrzrt h 194u offerecI:

Spaln sandwiches for 3d (lcss than lEp)A cup of tea tor 2d (tuppence).

British Restaurants clevclopcd muchmorc extensi\-e menus, su.h as:

Lentil sorlp, 1dt

Rabbit pie w-ith lcgctables, 6d and 8d,

Br.iscd ljvcr and vegeiables,6d anci Ed;

Steak anci kidney pie and !'cgctables,6danci 8d,

Sullana roll and rice pudding, both 2d.

Chilclref's meals rvere 4d (lcss than 5p)

Brilish Restatuants were lunded b), tllcgo\.ernment, through local cou,1cils,

aj1d wenl a long way tir enslrrint thatdespite string€nt ratior-iirlg, ihc Briiishpeopl€ got ilood anounts of hcalih,v

food on a rcgrlar trasjs durhg ihe r\,ar.

Restn!ri.ts such as the country r.lclechai. ol I-yofs'tea shops and CornerHouscs provjded affordable mealsthroughout tlre Bljtz.Ii odi' clos€.:t forthrce days in Sepiember l9.l0 whenthey had no watcr supply. Their menuincluded tlro starters, se\.en maincourses ancl a choice of fou1 puddings.

by an organisation called London€rs'Mcal Scrviccs, dudrg the Blitz. Both

orgaiisations p1o!ide.l nutdtiors loocls

for a azjngly 1()\ prices.

Cold ltoast Veal, .ith carrots & potato€s

for 10d (4p) a p].ltetul (with crlstomerc

brnlgi.g then own plates, or maybe

a neighbou's, iftheir o ,n had been

r€cluced to brok€n bits).

34

FOOD FOR THF PFOP F

l\

)

SEIIVICE A5 NORN'IAL

/r1! 1!1.39: lre rrdit'?ss is prlik:i|!l ourtea \tltthtLvtlsT,RootltuLutlt:lteCtrclsa:tht|rnlttnr)lj;lii\ ltlst'cir,trt'ltn.h b.to1r join lg the fofts.

THR FTY I PS FROlvl THE \'1lAR YEAR5

-rL .ftheir machines.'

Pricdll' sar, 'this genial conspirac-v bchle€n

the N4jnistry oi Lnllour ancl ENSA 1l) provide

cntertaifmcnt during the meal hours in Lroih

tbc day and thc night shifts for r\,orkers in ('.1r

produ.tion iaclorics as 'a rlrarinij slr(ccss' Tr

ilas certainly grcat for morale.

s.hool nreals \{ere another major \\'a,v

in which the alrtho ties crlsurect that the

population ,as eainrg well. Full meals 'crcplovided it lunchtime in schools, which .lso

reccivecl exua frce milk. As the 'ar rvcnt on,

manv school canteens wcrc abl€ lo scrle the

vegctables grou,n by pupils in their s.hool's

oi{r1 leg€tablc pLot. Even tradiuonal rurselvrh,\''mes wcre adaptcd to encou|age childrc. toclig for victory:

Their \ls rn ald uann ttholi.-tt itl i d]i*.

Stu hnt sr mt1-! childnr stu didlt't ktLttlt:

. -'.. b.

t\nd the chiLlt'tit l,trc lnpllt dltd 'd: ry ttll Jed

'Eating o!rt', at restaurants, Brilish restaur-

ants, iaciory canteens ancl olhe. forms ol.^,rr.'.rir t:r. re. " e -n ul)dr'rrr -the war. Sirangers r,'ou1.1 sh.ue lablcs to save

P "'orn 'o ir ''and in opportunity to share war stories. h alr

efforl !o gct people b eat proPcrl) balanccd

meals during the ,ar; rnany small caf6s and

restaurnnts opefeLl Provi.:ling mcals such as

cottage pic, steak and kiclne-v Pic, failgols and

mushl peas, sausage and mash or toacl ilr thc

hole. B) the encl of 1941, aroun.t 170,000,000

,Fdl . ,e- b .'.,outside thc home all of thern Lrsing rationed

foocts, such as meat, lugar and ints, that camc

.rrrside thc.liners' l] ornraL ratiof s.

SCHOOL DINNERS

T. 1940 the m]ll]sleL f!,r food. LordIn,.tton ,"rnt.a h, mnLe qL,rc ihite\.ery British child had at least one hot

meal a day so he inlroduceci trce schooL

meals to chiLdrcn of poorer families.

This gestlrre ilrmed out tobe a nlirecl

blessnlg f(rr some childrc! as ihe,v rorul.:l

themseh,es singled out and were nlade

to feel diffelent from those who didn'tqualif)r Uiith the addiijon of free milk,cod liver oil and olante juicc to theirdie! chilctrer grci! generally taller and

hearier than belore thc vrar so LordWNlton s effods rvcrc not h vain.

School di]xrers wcre usually cooked

as'ay from the school premises and then

delivercd irl insrlaied lnctal container's

The food was nu titionally bal anc€cj

so that it provjded a mic{da-v meallnschool to all chjldrcn, giving them'10

pet ccnt ofthejr dajly protein an.] 3lper ccnt of their dailv cnergy needs.

The govemment co\.crc.1 70 per cerlt of

the cost, rising in 19411o 95 Per cent.

Fanilies r,ho wcrc not €ntitled to iree

nrcals paicl5d (2p)peL clal'.

Those schools that had their oNnkitchens .erc a far-cry from to.1a\'s

purpos€ built caitcens. With thcir cold

stone floors and basic but tunctional

- cquipnent, lhe clinner ladjcs had to

do their besL to iurn out hunclreds ofn.rifion,l mcals cach \reek.

36

FOOD FOR THE PEOPLE

SCHOOL DINNEITS

J univ 1912: Schaolbaqs tLi d WVS drilicr 1lnlant1 s.h'.ol diti ers h in ulLlttl e tnitet5 tr1 l.t:am

DIGGING FORVICTORY

One of the nost impottltnt a11li most sLlccesst'ul adzterfising and propagamla campaigns

eoer canductetl in Britiill rpls the o1rc lhat .uas launclerl b.rl tlte Ministt'y of Agriatlture as

thc 'Grozu More Food CampliStf in AugLtst 1939'

y itselt the campaign's title l\'oulct

probabLy har.e bccn enough to achicvc

its aim ofgettnrg evcr) one io gro{'moreioo.:{, but ihc real spur b th€ exiraordinaryo'pa r o 'l' . r'e li, ^.,1 or.o. .'. dJ ,c

thc ,ar \^.ns the canpaigrl's srLbtitlc - Dit for'

Viclory.'Let Dig lor Victory be the motto of

c!elvone with a ilarden,' said tlle thcnN{inistcr

ol Agriculturc, Sir Reginald Dornran-Smilh,

a former President of ihc National Farmers'

Union, at ihe outbreak oi war. And every

gardcner indccd, every nlar! 'cnnan afdchild nble to liit a spade, a hoe and a garcien

fork clid just that.Britain, of necessitt became a 'gow-

your-own' country du.nrg Wbrld Urar :lwo.

It was able b do so remarkably quickl,v and

cxtraordinaril ), comprehcnsively bccause of i ls

- u,g .lFLr ord,rin- rrror'.rl,d:'Nhichby thc cn.l of iherlineteenth ccnturvha.li r. r. po u \" I'or.-. r. . ' .n-:ll g' d" r. rfront of anctbchhd subLrrban houses

Poets rvrote (,hole pocms extollinii the

'glorics of thc garder' and lvrotc aboul

'borders, bcds and shrubberies and lan'ns and

a!enues'. Whilc ltud)'ard Kipling's Tld C/irnl irf

tle Cd,dc, concerirated on lhe gran.l gardcns

of stately homes, thc houses of the \\'ell t}.loriith gardens largc enouth b support a ctoq cr

lalvn and a tennic court as \!t11 as tr \{ia]]cd

kitch€n garder! and d1c cleliShtfll gardens

to be found around English thatched countq/

cottnges, he kncw tull \^'el] that gardens

werc not macte b,v Pcople 'snrging 'Oh, horv

beautitul' anct silting in the shadc'.

Ofc vcrse ofhis Sreatpoem coLrld have stood

as a call to alms for Britain's householders:

'lho't's nat R pr af ltgs sa tlLin, theht's ffit a

Thtlc s at a hantl sD uenk nt\lrhite, nor qet

Brt it u"lfinLl solue nccdJtl iol) that'; c1'1tit18

Ft, the Glr\t al ttu Garien gL("ificth tftt||

Jrl

D GG NG FOR V CTORY

Once i{ar was declared everyone with a

garden,large or srnall, {,orked ovefime to fillit lvith as rnany food crops as possible. Later,

householdels rrith ftont and back gardcns

tended to grow f'lower.s in the front garden,

rvhere thcy could gladden the hearts of passers

bt and keep the \'€getable plot in the back

gardeq safe flom piuerers.

Also potential valuable gro .intspaces .ere

the pubfic parks and gardens that, since earlyVictodan times, had been established in everytown and citv in the countly, for town plalll]ersLrd Frrl) rF.og n cd .he in-po 1d I. F or -i' r'rg,:r;c- lu rg,. ho j Fr- . ould .orF or I ol lhe

rrc o,i. -a rJ h"LudoleJ., o.e pa .e. Lo'r-iro

in lvhich thcy Iivcd to breathe the flesh air andenjoy the beautiful plants and green spaces to

be found in $/haL by the 1930s, amounted tothousands of acres ofpublic paiks.

Even before the war began, the grass and

lawns ofpublic paiks in cities up aj]d downlheland were being ploughed up and tuIned intoalloimenis. The neatly hoed rows of early pcas

lu irirB Jp.ri.\- r'l .hF d olmFnr-5ur-ounor'rBthe Albert Menorial in Kensington Gardens,

LondoL! photographed in 1912 rirere iypical ofscenes in p11blic parks everywhere.

Anoihcr clement in the iJdtish people'sabilitl to feed ft emselves'ell in such a crisis as

all out war was the alloiment h'hich. Irom the

i.r --ncLirto rL.D8 or\ .lora.dmp.ib.l.the Ministry of Agriculture's

Ta I d.\'.rdn. ir '-re l.Fk ol Eetirng BL. irdigSing. This was lartel), because the NationalAllotments Society had many affiliated bodies

ofallotment holders inboth town and country.

The 1908 Allotments Act obliged localdrr\o' F. ro -e d-rdF p rolr. ldnJ lor rprtrrsto people with little or no gaiden space so that

BATEMANSBaF .t.;, Br.at r',t.^..\ J ,.n.line home af RudVard Kipl in,">. The house :,,trs

bought il11631 anLl nou h.longs ta the NitionalTtust.

they could grow their o .n fooct. Allotmentssoon came io play a big role in providing theordinaw family rith tucsh vcgctablcs and lrlrit.Dufi1g 191,1-1918 the number ol allohncntsdoubled in Br;tain; the same thing happenedduring World War T1\,.o.

Grcatly helped by Cultivation of Land(Allohncnt) Orders issued in 1939 and 1941,

$.hich allo\"/ed local authorities to take posses-

sion of any u.occupied land \.hich couldconvenienilybe turned into allotments, councilsfound cxira land for allotments in publjc parks(Hyde Park in London, for insiance) and on

THR FryT PS FROM THE WAR YEARS

OFF THE BEAT

PDh.enen frcn Peckhan stntialt ill Londou, tr*e i rocltr)ne btu)k by ttrtiry o1)er then flauet heds ta

,Jorring -,iegttablcs n ica tfibrtiolt to the Digfor Vidary' ciitlipdigtL.

common land (such as Clapham Commorla:lain nr London). There rvere a little over

8u0uOJ. o.ne-'- I fntld.ll "nd Wre- rr1939; by 1945 the number had hcrease.:t tonearly one and ahail million.

Dudng the {'a! all these aspects of

gardennrg Briiain gardens lar'ge and small,

parks, both public and private, and allotmcntsplaycd hcroic parts in the task ofkeeping the

nation properly fect. And thev rreren't ihe onlybits of land pressed into service. Spurrcd on

bv the Nlinisil,v oi AsricultlLre's huge Dis for

DIGGING FOR VICTORY

WINTER VEGETABLES

The idea of the Ministry of Agriculture'sleaflets were to show people how to growtheir own produce throughout the wholeyear Leaflet no. 1 (cloze) explained how toprepare the ground and plan your patchfor growing. Just because you have putyour lawn mower away for the seasory

doesn't mean you have to put all yourother garden tools away as well. Evenwithout a greenhouse it is still possible tokeep your kitchen garden going throughthe winter months. This has the bonusof giving you plenty of fresh air, much-needed exercise and delicious horne-grownproduce all-year round.

. $,lt""Jn"t I am b's lettu cerr'2"'T\

ll"':-p' , t(i{r.fl\F1Y". Spring cabbage ,- t r't rp. Brussels sproutb \" ; )

Produce that can be grown during the chillywinter rnonths include:

. Broad beans

. Asparagus

. leas, ped shoots and sugarsndp varieties

. Garlic

. Leekso Onions, spring onions and shallots

&^,', otlTOP TIPS

. Make sure you buy the correct variety forautumn planting so that you will alwaysget the best from your crop.

. Don't be tempted to dig up any morethan you need at any one time - thevegetables will almost always keep betterin the ground. This applies particularly topotatoes, leeks and parsnips.

. Don't forget wildlife will be extra hungryduring the cold winter months, so makesure you protect your crops from pests.

. Crops that have to be dug up can be

hung, as in the case of onions. Shallotsand onions look great plaited into anold-fashioned rope-look and will keep formonths.

41

THRIFTY TIPS FROM THE WAR YEARS

MAKING USE OF EVERY INCHNot one inch of space of Lond.on zuas zoasted

during the uar. After Mr Sabcha's house was

bombed. in Kensington, he conzterted the site intoan alLotment to groru food. Before being allorled in,uisitors Ind to buy a Saaings stamp.

Victory publicity campaign - in 1942 alone therninistry printed 10,000,000 leaflets of adviceand instruction - school sports fields andplaygrounds, golf courses, bomb sites, roadverges, railway embankments and every scrap

. of land capable of supporting life, even themoat round the Tower ofLondorl were plantedwith potatoes, carrots, cabbages, leeks, beetrootand much else. Garden clubs flourished duringthe war. Their members shared expensiveand increasingly hard-to-obtain tools, offeredexpertise and advice to eachother, and swappedseeds, seedlings and plants. Seasonal displaysand shows of the produce of garden clubs andallotments associations became increasinglycommon as the war went on.

\ Ignorance of gardening and growing plants,

\ or the frailty of the female sex were no excuse.At the head ofthe food-growing army stood the

. Ministry of Agriculture, bombarding the nationwith leaflets and advertisements, organisingDig For Victory Weeks throughout the country,issuing pamphlets, posters, cropping charts,' even 'Some Notes for Sermons', all exhortingeveryone to dig, dig, dig for victory. TheMinistry made a special target of womerybecause, 'while the men are away and farmersare using their fields for other vital crops,Women Must DIG'.

The Ministry provided plenty of free, well-illustrated leaflets to help them: Dig for Victoryleaflet no. 2Q for example, showed how to dig;leaflet no. 1 showed how to do the preliminaryplanning; and leaflet no. 19 explained exactlyhow to sow seeds. The emphasis of the news-paper and magazine ads and the leafletswas always on vegetables, especially greenvegetables which children must have, andpotatoes, which could replace bread. The onionwas another vegetable heavily promoted by theMinistry. Until Germany invaded the ChannelIslands, most ofBritain's onions had come {romthere and this sudden cutting off of an essentialvegetable hit the nation hard. Onions quickly

42

D GGING FOR VLCTORY

Voluntary Service

{!1rv5r\^'rsamongI the 6rst to see the

'' value ofwindowboxes for grownlg

many people erected in theirback yar.tsand gardens. Much of the soil ftat was

dus olrt of the gaiden io make space forlheAndercon shelter could be pui back onits corrugated iron roolto make a handily

accessible place

for growing beans,

cabbases, marrorvs

and other plants $'ithshallow roots. As an

Amefican joumalistcomnrented in the

summer of 1941,

passers by were

in 'gr€ater danserof beins hit by a

vegetable nla o\^/

Ialing off rhe roof ofalr air-raid shelter d1an

of being struck byabomb'.

As u,ith {,indou,boxcs, so Anderson

shelters were also

used for $o .intflowels. As eirly as

autumn 1931 one gardenint catalogue

was offering collections of plallts su&as berbeds, cotoneaster and cydonia &atwould make good covering mounds Ior

notjust food,but also flowers,especially in the

inner.ities and inbombed areas.Inthis the lWS was

supportedbythegovenrnent, whichencouiaged thegrowing of flowersbecause their colour and scentnade themgood morale-boosters and also helpedprcserve seed stocks.

Rather larger &an windor{ boxesbutalso very small as growing areas rvere theroofs oI the Anderson shelters (arore) that

air raid shelters.

43

THR FTY T PS FROI',]] THE !!AR YEARS

THE VICTORY

PIAI{T fi l' GAROTI{RY

\ /icror Crr.len\, ,l\,r l nor.Ll fs ,\ alV :nr.t",r, o, rn,,.l eu,OerE tor detelr...

rvere clesigned Lo groit vegetablcs,fruits:nd herbs Becausc Iabol[ andhansportalion ditt'icultics during thewar nlade il llard to haLvcst..d movevegetablcs and irrit to markct, thegovcrnnrent turned b thc pcople ofBritain to pl.nt Viclory Gardens. Thcaim r!as b get citizens to pro!'ide th€iroi{n nesh produce so that no one went

GARDEN

rvithoui. Anyonc who had any sparespacc $.heth€r it was on their largccountry estate/ in an cnrpty lot \vhcr.chousc$ had been clcatroved, publi. parl<s

and even on rooftops nas cricouragedto piant produce all in the name ofp:lhiotisrn. Portior'rs oIHl.le Pnrk jn

Lorldo. a'rd San Francisco's coldtn CateI'ark i{cre ploughcd for plots to givccity ds.ellers access to lan.:l for troi{ing

\4atazhcs ga\.€ lnstmctions on rvhatand hou' lo plant and ways of plescr.ningthc proLluce. The idca qujcklt caughton and it ripi.tly becarnc a massivecomnu.itv efiort. ]t ilas a wav t'ornrdiYiduals to tccl ihey I'ere donrg lheirpart on thc home front and the campaigrl\{as. trcnendous success.

rhen World War Tl,io €n.1ec1, so didthc governmenfs promoiion of !icbr]'gardens.In then clntjon at the n$vsthat lhe lvar had cnded, peoplc l.ilcd !.)

ilro\r fruit and \.eiletablcs in lhe spdng of1946. Uniorlunately thc iarm€rs hacl rlotgcarcd up the prodlction to c'rpc i{iththe.lcnranci ancl thc coulltt.-v expedei.c.lcertain food shortagcs.

\ijcb.., garll€ns rlcrc not ust the idcaof the United Kingdom, citizens jn theUnited Statcs, Canada, Clerman]. ancl

Australia also did thcir part.

MAXt-Y0UX nAr!O!S f! RI lt Et

DIGGING FORV CTORY

becanc a luxury food, so valuable that theycould rnake rvelcome itcms in charity auctions-

All rou had to do to get the lvlinistry'sleaflets, (/hich lvere promoted in hundreds oIne\{spapcr and magazine a.lvertisements, \ ras

to fill ir the coupon ai the loot of the a4 put iiin anrnsealed en\'elope (chcap to postbecauseit only needed a one penny stalnp) alld sendit off to the Ministr)r $'hose leaflet departmcntu'as saJelv out of th c bomber's r{'ay in theHoielLindum in StAnne's on Sea, Lancs.

Almost as hetpfr to the amateu tarc{cncr'as thc BBC'S Home Service, r,vhose managers

were cajoled, even bullied, into seNice as

providcrs of gardening information by thcmen of ihe Ministry of Allriculture's lvartjmeAd\ r'o \ ao,r'ri' ee on fubl;, ). lh, BrJ r-Trust regularltr featured agricultural expeltsand therc i{as a special 'Radjo Allotment'programme. For this programrne one of itspresente$, the $.ell knor/n NIr MiddletorrI pol \i o\ r ..1 o -ne r . H;. \ er) Flp rl dd\ icr$d undF oirr,db\,or.orr "n^ .[ buo* n2,

and sucl, exhotations as'save our seeds' aJlcl'turn our gardens into munition factor.ies, fo1

potatoes, carrois ancl onions are munitions ofwal as much as shells and bulleis are'.

T,e\4i)i-" .'Ag cL urc.l-ool er \/,wattime C"ftlcnitg Cuid€, issued in slrpport ofthe'Dig for Victorv' Campaign, lvas givenextrasales potential by being edited by Rol' Hay, ar.ell knorn prcsenier on 'Itadio Altotment'(and also a menber of the Ministry's advisorlpubiicitv com rittee). Rov Hay's familiadtv. tsa d, nF= .ro^d h r ir good -."ad ..f.r

the $'ar for hls gardening books were strorLg

sellers foI several decades.

Or F ol reri., I u?. n-d j on b'r"n. du".'l8the r.ar was filling the gap il] livestock

TOMATOES IN IHE WINDOWwinttal] ba}?s ii1 this urhrn black of ltrls nrc bcing

sed lo fttlsc tainnlues ta suppleme (tntti e

production causcd by the heavy drop h thehport of feedin8 stlffs: from 8,500,000 tons a

year to 1/125,000 tons aJter four years of ,a1.

Beforc the \r.ar, manv small farms grcu, verylittle anjmal feed-stut:fs, relyht on ;mports,with some grazing and $/ater, to do all that\4,as necessary for their animals io producemilb eggs and mcat, especially pork. Turning

45

THR FTY T PS FRO[ri TFE ,r'iAR YEARS

SUBURBAN SWAP SHOPS

/1f .. disgnrA ror \ 1.1or\ $.\ $ !11

\-,,"".r., " ", subu,hrn gr,.l.f. dr.t

allolnre.ts, bartedng their produ.ts began

to be another aspect oi the nauonal eil.rrtio pull together for viclorl: Il has been

estjmaied that barterinillr.as goi.E (11nr

e.rnest fi)m the summer of I941. and h as

a perfectl)' acccptable llabii.It h.d nothhgto do 1!ith thc blackmarket in lood.especialll' mea!, \\'hi.h s'ent on dlrifg thc

war. Itather b.lrterifg lvas all about on€

neighbour hclpint another.

I..\\, gardcners could gr.o1! cvoy type ofvcgctable th€l'rrould need jn thc kitchen,

so thcy might s{'ap some of thcir gltlt ofspring oniofs, for instance, for one or hrocabllag€s from n€xi door, o, grccnbe.nstor carrots... Or perhaps vour;rllohrentsoil was proling alll\'rong ll)r spriigo|ions, Lrut .otlld mLrn.lge somdhnlg that

lour nej:ihbour clid not groal Vegctables

coulcl .rlso b. s$ apped for olher s.rviccs:gi!e some ton.Loes and potatoes to ihe d.llad) ncxt door \\'ho does.ot h:ve a tarderand shc irill do that dif6cultjob oi tuLrlitlgthc .ollal of vour husbi.d's Lrcst shi4

Pcrhaps, or darn . ren socl<s lor you.

Olkr1, local trcengrocers, h;i!i.g.lifflcLdties geliin:i rcgular deli\'eries,

x ould bu)i tlp back garde. a.d allotmenl

VTGTTTBT[$

sLrrpluses, af.l sdl lhcnr on to tl1€ir man,v

crlstomers rr'ho h.d no ...ess to hom€

glo$ n vegetables Local shopl<tcpcrs also

rna.1e use of ihe reEular''bartcr narkets'established jn manr local comrLunities.Here, there r\.ould be a mr.,ch Nider ranile

oI leiletablcs nr-j.1 othcr foods available tors apping.

fqr thsir sake -

0R0w Y0uR 0wll

D GG NG FOR V CTORY

many acres of thetu fams over to animal food,as \ .ell as to the wheat and potatoes that thcgovernment $/as ordcring them to grow f^rhuman consunptiory meant that therc was lessrcorn for livestock.

Poultuy numbers on large farms {,crcconsiderab\' reduccd, so thai farm eggproduciion quickly fell to half what it hadbeen before the !var, and farm pig numbersrvere also cut- The amateur Sardenel arld thehouscholder stepped n'rto the breact! ririth

8ra.t numbers of them takint enthusiasticallt'to keeping livestocle especially hens and pigs,but also rabbits and ducks al].l even goats.

DUrinB hc h.r- l)e -1d;n orod.r,er. o pigmeaL especially bacon, but also pork, andhens' eggs bccame small gencral fanner.s,cottage gardeners and the owners of suburbanback gardens. All these people were buoyedLrp by the kno$4edge, continually dnrmmedinio them by officialdom, that the importedgrain the pigs 'ere uscd b feectint on would

WARTIME CITY PIGS

Apri|1943: A NntinnaL.t'ire af.ficer raunds pngnupt)fpigsa thebomb site t)f the M'seun oJ the RoyalCalLqe of S tge]ns in Central Lalt don. He antl his colleaiues ha1)e shnres in a pig renfitg dub uhi.h they

41

TFIRIFTY T PS FROlvl THE W" P YEAPS

hn!,c to be substiRrtcd. Tlis was so that space

rP ' .- All.nL'. 'l ooir -Ior aeroplanes and armam€nts that thc Unjre{l

States .as scncling to Britanl. In shorl, b!changing the pigs' .1iet the fanler coulcl helP

ectuip Britain's arnr,v.

Withsuchfacts b sp1ll them on, it is perhaps

not surprising lhat donestic poultr!' keeP€rs,

'. J sF Ler'r E.".lc o I0'0 .\'l' I

1939, had incLeased their flocks to 10,772,0U{l

by 1944 45. OVcr the same years, cgg outoutincreased nom ar50 million to 970 million. As

fol plts rearcd on holctings oi less than an acrc,

the fi€lt1les for numbers slaughterecl lvent up

from 272 lnillion in 1939 to 323 millionin 1911

:l5. An.] most ol this was achieved on a hen alld

pig dieibascd verl' largely of kitchcn scraps

Hens wcrc rclativel\.easy io !<cep in the

garden and cori ld be kept rveli fed $'ith kitchen

scraps. N{any a home kcpt a Sah,anised b cket

I'VARTIVF CHTCKS

S.plelnl) 1939: A lat'g cln.ucc akes J1i11ds \t)ith t'trt 1r1I' hortl.hit16 a rfdr t itL ItertJahlshh'

\Nith lEr is rlrliiri|l ,ho hds the trsk o.ftl1r"rittg f(tt)tl ptoductian dutlut 1t',:11 tit1tc

48

D]CGING FOC VICTORY

HAPPY WELL-FED PIGS AND HENS

T\€spite rh€ s!ddpn d,5rppcJr.rnLL Ui

lJtnel pr..,:,, (lictuf lais.l\ rmp.rtE.1

trah (mostb.barley) and maizc mcal nrash.

thc Briush pig clid not do badl1-du$gthe rvnr. As the Ministrr ofAgricr tureponlted out rcassurhgli a! thc start of thcrrar, the pig is an omnivorous animal and

'wil]thrive onfooci uslrallv asicd, such

as chat potatoes, house scraps ind g dcn

retuse for the fattening pig, and aconrs a.dbeechnrast ior $c brccding pig'.

Pigsl\.illbins, aor collcctnrg kjichcnwaste and food scraps, wcrc put out on

ihe slreeis by councjls up and dohn thecounir]. Thebins wcrc collcct.d rcgularlr

and thelr contents processed into.rnutriiious feect thal both pigs and hens

coulct teed well on.

The version oi concentrateci kitchen,astc proLlucecl in the cill' ofBristol from

RAI arlnl'and iactor)'canteen kitchens as

well as ftom domestic kitchens, came tobecall€d 'Bristol Puddlng' a not suprisingname, given that it was dark bro$,n nlcolou! an(t hacl the te\ture .1nc1 consistenqr

of prunc moulcl. h hot ileathcr it qlrjcl<])'

began to sj\.e oif an appalhs smell. The

hens on Ralnscombe l'arm nr Wiltshirc,os.ned by Anlhony lllLrd, one oflheMlnjsler oI Agricdture's lialson ofilcers,

dntn't nfid. 'They eagerlv picked o\.er this

rncss:.d found some suslenance,'i\4r Hr.rrcl

recalled in his book ,1.fdr wi Wtit Lm

"ltaspoons, metal tops olmilkbottles, and

false leeth they .llscarded.' Clearhr not allBrlstol hoL6ehold€rs heeded the stan.:lard

advice for kltchen waste put into council

strcct pig loo.1 Llirls:'Kcep it dry irec liolnglass, boncs, meial, paper, eic.'

PIC I-OOD COI,LECTOR

Augusl 1910: Arooi+0 ftofl trc l\rySsuptrists d lmntn t$ she nnltits hj|s.lnld1 Istu itttr a leparute rLrbl)iJltbi far pisf.d.Thk n6 s ti|'el echc . i1l thc Latldolt harcu!,h

THR FTY T PS FROM THEWAR YEARS

SOLD]ERS PLAY THEIR PART

Iannry:1911 E-oen sold.ie/s uere ol ercmpttom playi g their patt in supplviry Btihh withfoad. These

me11 arc fion the ltianlry Training Centre i Eastetlt Cannand uherc they kept ol)et se&nty piis.

in the kitchen into $/hich \^'ent such thingsas potato peelings, cabbage sialks, vegetabletdmmings and stale bread crusts. These rrereboiled up every day, and although the rcsultmitht smell holrid, the hens thrived on it.

By 1943J, domesiic alrd small farm poultrvkeepers werc prodrcing about a quarier of thecountry's officially kno$.n supplies of eggs,

despite thc faci that rnany henhouses in backgardens provided eggs jusi for L\e houservife,

her farrily and her friends, with perhaps a fewgoing to the local grocer with whom she wasrcgistercd (a few eB$ '11nder thc coun ier' mightget her somethinS else on top of her rahonallor.ance). At war's en4 the Domesiic PoultryKeepers'Council (by this time also responsible

for domeslic rabbii prodrction) had one .u1d a

quarier million members, keeping some tlrelvemillionhens.

Despite these valiant efforts, dom€stic

50

D GG NG FOR V CTORY

USEFUL TIPS ON KEEPING PIGS

. tlake enclosures piC proof as ihey arc

gleat escape artists.. Pigs lo1'e attention and love a scraich

behind thc car or a rub dora'n with a

brush. Ho .ever, never slap a pig on itsbacksjde ai ihey hate this and can sulk

. Pits are \.oracious ealers and wilL eat

virhlally anlthing including a stray

finger if l'ou leave it too long in the

troughl

. Their smellins abilities make

them perlect pets for sni16ng out truffles.. Ifyou make cheese, they love

eainlg the excess whey rnilk.. Phk-skinned pigs can suffer from

'Ir'oJ r'.'rrk. J_olL,) 1",FJoF Ldeshelier.

. Always try io choose a piC 1a.ith

a gentle temperament oiher .ise jt corldsho!r aggression to you, your childrenancl other pigs.

. Makc sLrrc frcsh, clcan watcr is available

al all iimes ot the day and nighl.. Make sure your trouChs are iough and

heavy as pigs have a habit of movnlg

. Feed youl pits on horsehold scraps orold crops fuorn your vegetablc garden.

Rpneroer tl.uth. pib. h |ot, d. '.r.fruit, peppers, onions, pineapples and

cer'tain brassicas.. Your pig will love a bed of deep clean

stra . of litter. Pits will not soil theirbcdding, thcy rvould iathcr choose a

corner ol their pen.. PiCs arc .allowers and love nodring rnore

thar rolling arounct in a nlud bath.. Each pig should har.e at least 8 s.I fcci of

space and the lloor should be concrete so

that your pig hns sure footing at all times.. Pigs do noi like cold .inds or draughts, so

make sur€ vour pig siy is inslLlated.

-/1 ': ''\ia." -,r11' <rO

I

5l

TF]R FTY T PS FRO[4 TI]E WAR YEARS

pouliry keepers anci large sca le pol,I try li nn ers.ere not able to keep the country s uppliecl .ith

enough shell eggs to allow everyone io eniotr

tbeir prc-war alcrage of three eggs a ,eek.

By mid rvar mosi people !\.erc seeirg just onc

shell eitt a fortniilht, and often none for longpedods. In 1941, ihe tlrst ctried eggs, mostlyfrom America, via the Lend Lease progranme,r€ached Britain.

I'ig-keepinB became lery popular rvithpeople wilh el]ough larrd, such as n. allohncntor a r€asonablv sized back garden with roomfor a pigr an.t with groups of people, especially

men rforking totether in places like air raidwald€ns' posts and fire stations, but also theregulars of prblic hous€s. The \,Iinistry ofFood called such peoplc'snrall pig kccpcrq'I Fr "-r? pF.'1r'".i I. l-ep J.lo il. J pibprovide.t that it .as to be consumed by themand iheir familjes, ihai they had had jt forfattening for at least trvo monlhs and ihai the)

obtained a licenc€ to slaughter from their localFood Control Comrnittee. O.e of thc snlallcrheartaches of the rvar was the very real dislress

caused \,vhen the inevitable last day inthebackgajden came for ihe fami\' pig especially ii ithad becone such a friend that it followed the

children to school.

hr Noyenrbcr 1939, thc Sm:ll Pig Kccpcls'Council !\.as f.rmred kr encourage allotmentholders, cottagers anct suburban householders

lo ppp pg. oro to.*-L , t F orm..ti. l

of pig clubs. Pig Clubs were frxmed in large

numbers: there in the London/^J. a .rp ) \irl) d. n.r'bcr- r.l-dirgseveral keepers, 1^'ho fed their piils ftonl ihe

zoorestarrant'skitchen'aste( .iththekitclLerL

eventually getting its !\.aste back in the forn oIbacon). By micl .ar therc rvere nearly seven

thousand I'it Clubs in Britain, i{ith hun.lrcdsof thousands of mcrnbers.

Lr t'F. . '1, .i 'g \ lL b- lJ r., .r. .l p ;e, ,-r \ r rhe r ro o kno\. eoSF ooo, p I

keeping thev posscsscd and, norc practicall.",

lhe fact lhatmernbers could obtanr fteir licer Lce

for slaughtcring - granteLl for the slaughter, ^n, pbi h,.r" h.,,\.tid,,-.norlths - through the Pjg Club. Menrbers ofPig Clubs could also sell theft fattened pigs to

- lo. I re.dil l-Jr.l, l'l p,i., r, , .r,., i''!,'the wholcsale price ior the time benlg', saidihc pricc-control-conscious Nljnistr]' of Food).

Alihough it s.as noi possible to gj\.e totallyaccuratc figures for the amount of food grownby Diggers for \''iciory dudnt the war, it was

estimated shortl), afterwarc{s that in England

and lvales sonrc 2,500,000 to 3,000,000 lons offrnd camc from allotments ancl gardens: a qujleremarkable tdbutc b ordin ar)' nr e. ind womcndoing their best in vcrl' troubled tirnes.

PICS AT TO\IDON ZOOSeptetnber 194A: Zoa lieet)cts nL Londa Zoa :olh

52

D GG NG FOR V CTORY

-'- trrt\F1 \

l<rFTHE PERFECT SITE FOR GROWING

FRUIT AND VEG

Tlollorv these sinlDlc rn\h u.irons of ho$

-F '. p,"p"r" , "", ".ir

"nd \ uu should

very quickl], reap the gvards b) cainrB

fteshcr and iastier vegetablcs than ]ou canbuy in any srLpermarket. Just like the poster

sa),s Djg for \''ictor,l

. Firstl,v make sure )orir plot has access

to plenty of sunshine as most !egctablcs\\ill.ced at least six to eighi horirs ofs!nlight a dal'.

. Make surc the slte is in closc proximlty to ar{,ater supph-.

. I'rlrtc.t your site !!ith a fence !o keep outrabbirs and any other animals thnt nraydamage your crops.

. Dig over the entirc sitc to a depth ofaround I l0 inches a.d contiJrue to 'orkthc soil uftil it ls loosc and ftiable (easily

. hnproye the condition oi the soil bydd,9. n.,'.,,,.rJ, .-t I --l-.

nitrogcn, lninerals and other nutrients lor.... \\ . , .rFo.o.rpu, .,.

manurc is ideal for this purpose.. 8€fore you slart planting consider the

layoui ofyour bcds. \4ake surc you haveenough sp;rce bet 'ee. tlrc ro 's.

. I',J . . ,'. r|g h" ,r r|vegciables )'ear aftcr year in the sarnc bcdca. lcad to an in.rcased risk of {lis.)s.

. Fnrd out which conrpanion plants go wilhu.hichvegetablc to minimise thc risk oIdanugc tr) pests.

. Hoc yourbeds rcgularly to keep on bpof tll{] rveecls and lcave the soil in a loosc,friablc cordition to abso.b maxim n1ainlall.

. Mnkc sure vou \!atcr regular\,, vorrvegetablcs rrill requlrc:l rjnirnum of Lrne

inch olr,"'ater each neek. tr\iater early in themornjng to a!oid cvaporation by thc suf.

5l

IN THE KITCHENThe kitchcn that zLtas tlrc proitince of the apeqge uartime lnuseeife uas a -.cr\ dlt't'erc tafafu fon the 01rc her grandmother hadknolan. Not lhat most lLousewixes could nou be

calleLl 'dxerage', since tlrcy proltably also either hatl a full-time job or spent mony ltours

o;f eaery week making a great colltributiotl to the u.ar et't'ort hy tuorking i]ith Doluntnry

organisations like the Red Cross, the Womek's VDlulitlr.! Sefilice 6,NVS) anrl the

Wonen's lttslil ute (WI).

t was .lriring ihe $.ar that the concept oilhe narried r,oman as a sort of houser.ifesupefi\romary able to hold down a full

tinrc job anci be a full time hollsekccpcr; $,jicand nother as .ell, becanlc rcalit). As the\a.ar dragged or1, morc and more rvomen rvere

drax n ifkr industt]' atriculture arLd thc arncdforces, or into Civil Llefcrlcc, so thnt by 19,14,

o .\. .t"1 , ,rllil, \.omenlnE . r- "5"d lFr\ F.r f., rt . o ift) F

l\rere emploved in thcse nreas. Several millionmor€ rvorkec{ outside the home lor manl'hou.sevc|v week doing essential voluntarv rlork orrcplacnrS men on active servicc in jobs in publictransport and similar arcas-

The average kitchei in 1939 .as quitesmall small €nough for many ivonre. to catlil their 'kitchenette' - and u'ns designed withthc convenience of one p€rso\ thc houscwifc,'rt.rlrdr".o^ J, .lL.rd,.,r-.. -..i .

mind. Man), $1)mcn s,ho began the l\.ar itha cook in the kitchcn, lost he. during the watusually to somc lonn of lvar service, but also

tur fan1jl), reasons.Vrginia wbolf's Mabel, whohad been the cook in the WboU househol.l fora\F \-. .. trt ir to.+ . . I F B.r rt, ot U,i :r

was al ils height, to livc nith her sister.For manv rppcr micidle class womea

keeping thc domestic staff was a m.ttcr ofhonour. One day h lvlay 1940, Virginia lvoolidrove past a fdcnd's garden and sarv her 'n1

an ol.i:t garden hat s.eeding. Orlt comes a maidh muslin apron and cap ried \\.ith blue dband.'WA)'?', r\,ondcred Mrs WooU nr her diarv. 'Tokeep up standards of civilisation?'. N'cll, ),cs,but thc lvar was only just conrifg io Lhe en.]of its 'phonev' stagc on the Hom€ Front, ancj

solcliers snatchcd from Lhe beach€s of Dunkirkrvere only just begi..nrg io gei back home.Su(h'civills€.l standards'as maids in caps ancl

nlLslin aprons ilould soon disappear fromdomcstic life.

V o-or hor',n ,. rl-o o.. l'"dail]' helps, as b.,th gj.ls and married worncnquickly ctiscovered rhcv.ould earn much morcin the local u'ar nldustry factory than bl donlg

]N THF KIT'NFN

HOW TO TRUSSA CHICKEN

You mighi ihjnk that trussing a chicl<cn

is a difficult procedure -not at all.Irussing is a snnple procedlLre thatenhances a clricken's flavour and

Prescntatjon. If you hale stuffc.l the

insidc of ihe bird, trussint makcs sL cthat it doesnt fall out.

. The 6rst iob ls to clean the chickeninside and out ard dry thoroughlyusing kjtchen paper

. Nou' take a reasonable lentth ofkitchcrl strjng and put it undcr thcbase of thc chicken's neck and tlrcrlaround the rvings i.d legs.

. Cross the siritrg LLnder the legs,

cross both legs and then loopthu.h if g.rro'nd thcm tir,t /Zafr,rm rhe nsht s,.le and //rhe']rromihereftsldc" l{ir"i\?

. :liilhten thc string, then \rbring jt back to the top. \.- ":

:

Makc a double knot, thenmakc a sccond doubl€ knot bcforctdmnljng oti lh€ stuint.

. Your chicken is no$,ready to be

i\ HELPINC HAND

^4dnv L,anH 'lnbesatl thcwr ioith i .oak nl

thtt kitcht, last htr t0 stnm Jatn af uar st1 d.e.

the cleannlg jn another $onran's house.Nella Last, desperate for hclp to keep herlittlc house in Balroi{-if Furness neat and

clcan, coLd.l afford to have help just o.e daya i{eek becausc the going rate - 3s ard (about

32p) a day was as much as she could aflorcib), thc end of 1941 - farbelow rfhat thc horr.lyrate irl a war industlv iactory addcd up t.r lora rla\'s ilork.

The coal fircd kitchen range had alreadv

8ore, replaced by a compa.t gas c.rok€r.Lj:ihling rvas eithcr gas or electricit)', x.jth thelatler a\-ailablc, at the immenscly convenient

55

THR Fry TIPS FRO\4 THE !'NAR YFARS

.;

DON"T WASTE WATER - EVERYDROP IS PRECIOUS!

. Do,1'l lhrow ar\,ay lorlr rlashnrg up raier.,

save il and rater vour plants.. Ii you lrash dlshes by hand, make sure you

do it lighi a tter yolr use them, that \\Jay thcfoocl doesn'l stick to them and,-ou can lsc

. Make the most of your sashing nrachnle bya]!\.avs runr.ring lu11 Ioads.

. Select the short cyclc option o. boih yourdishs,ashcr. and rvashint nDchine.

' a\v\- ..,

'flickof a switch', in aboui 70 pcr centolhonesb\' 1939. Hot.nd cold water.arle out of taps set

ovcr akilchensink that \\.as often placed undera wnrdos' so that thc houscivilc had a view ds

shc i{orl<cd. The.e .ere fe ' reirliler.rtors, so

kccpinB ft\rd r,esh afd 'hol€some for rveeks ata tnnc u.as fot ensl', especjally ln the summer.

This rvas ihe t,vpicnl kitchen in the honses

'' rill.'-p o' r r, a, n.' .l\ 'lthe majority ol farnrs. A.atjoral larm sLrNe_v

concluctcd micl-r'aY th|ouilh ihe war foundthat clcct.icit\, mostlv tuom the prblic supplvbut in onc out oi tc. cases iroln prlvat€ plrnts,hacl found jts wa), nrro 78,000 iarrns in Engtanda.d \'\ilcs, rvhich rlas 47 p€r cent of tlle totalnLrmber of occupicd and h orki.E farms. Themain itcm that the fannhouse kitchen sharedr!ith other \a.nrtime kitchens ..rs a good, solidkitch.n table thal everyone could slide under

t'.nber: \\ er. lLe

The relauvely snnplc nraticl of bL,yi.g loodrd-- r i h ,h, - .-.,r.'jor

un(lertaknrg durinl; the r.ar. \Arartime loodratiorring, with its ration boolis and coupons,l\.as bas€c] on a svstcDr thn ! p Lr ! an exlra b ur.:ten

onthe house$' c, I(rcing herto shop regularh,t,

atspecific shops, r! ith r\.hich she hacl r€gist€red,

llost days ol the r,'eek she \\'ou]c1 have tostn.d nr ctueues to otrtain hcrrntions and toblry.rFr oa d,d , h,1. ,t , .lulr,.r.rtioned goods likc so;rp, in .moonts that she

could car{'homc hcrsclf, tur most deli\.€rvv.ns and bovs on a biL<c soon Llisappeared. It

.as a good iclea to gct dor,n kr lhe shops earll.,

\\'hilc sbcks r,'ere high, \\'aiting orlil to ljstefl.r ihe lrdd F,o,rt programnre afler the 8 a.m.

BBC Hone Servicc.cu,s broaclcast lo .lisco!er.hat lras cullentl) avajlnble and to get some

ideas for prepa$1g and cookifs it.

56

!N THF K TCHFN

BREAD STUFFING

-f.lhis re.ipe is a h dl otusingupbrea.lI that i" not tresh enoush to use tor

sand$iches.It can either be placed

inside the carcass oI your chick€n or

lurket or made inlo stuffing balls as an

accompannnent to your Sunda_v roasl.

l 2ozb ttet

Frdsft fur.lrs sll.l ,,s srg.)thy te ntld pntrlela

..tA

5A0 n1l af'oe !,etnhb Dt rhi.ketL sta.k

. Tear vour breact into small pieces andplacc in a Iargc bovvl. Chop thc hcrbs

and season rvilh salt anct pepper.. Dot the butter over the top.. Chop the onion and garlic Hnely and

saute in butt€r. Add to the boirl ofbrea.l and mix thoroughly.

. Take the /arm stock and pour a littlcover the bread unlil il is rnoisi. butnot too \^'et. Stir rmtil it starts to sticktogether.

. Either stlLffyoul chicken or roll intoballs usins your hands.

. Cook ln the o\'en at about200'C/390'l-/Gas 6 Ior about 30 Lo

'10 minutes or rntil gollten bro\,\'r!

turning once during cooking.

iE'-

TH! LUXURY OF RI]NNI\G \,!ATEIiNIr)ry ho tes hriltlte lu|l!t'itafhot rntl ..itrutltLiIgitattt rt ih( kitch(rl srtli.

As the war l\.ent ory wa)s had to be foundbhclp nolnef in full time .ork act all) to getth.ir ratjorecl loods an.:t, in.leed, any shop-pnrg at all. N{.lss Obsen'ation made a cletaile.l., I " . p..p,s. s n\.. rir -r,r..J r,r'ur.allcd Profb ir ?rod lr.t/or. It l^.as published firstin hardback and then, presurnably becaus. ofthcplblic inlerest ln th€ subj€cl as apaperbackPenguin Speclal in 19:12

THRIFTY T PS FROI.,4 THE WAR YEARS

FARMHOUSE GINGER BEER

fAfhc' r o'ls,1,...s:rrll, TbhV V ^..',""4 r ith th. other errls in

her school from Bromley, on the iu tskirtsof London in September 1939, she felched

up in a large farmhousc in the Kentcounirtrside. fte farll1had no electlicityandno running rvatcr All water had to be

brought nr from a pond h one of the farm'sIields andboiledbefore betug used for

cooking and ddnking. Cinger .as added

tq the bojled pond watcr, wl-iich tasted

. nasty, io make it pilatablc-There i{crc plcnty of compensations,

as Ceorgina, nos.Cina Hughet rccall€.]

years later inherbook Hd r:..st of Mdllories.

To bcgh lvith, there was bacon fromihe {arm's pigs and hvo cggs from itshens, ior breakiast every morning- Later,

although she hated seeing rabbits shot,

she discovered ihe "onderlul' tasic

of a casserole made ftom those rabbiis,

cool<cd i{ith onions and fteshly choppect

sage, both of them Etrown on the farm.

Th€ rabbils' skins were not wastcd. Likemole skins, they (.eic strctched out on

boards and trcate.{ lo a dryingploc€ss thatenabled rhern tobe sold.

T T.rF i+n o d h.rti . rc.nre for

I-lt;i,rgc' u irrc ancr it i. s el] rorththe efiofi.

1 gdLlott (4.5 lihes) rcLl wltet3u Lb (1.5 kg) sugnt

1.5 0.. Q5I btrised gitger1 az (3A ! split seetled 'nisins2lenans2 jltiatantrges (SeriLle nrc the best)

1,Loz (15 I ct npress(d yetrsl

. Removc thc the skin from thc orangcs

and lemons \a.ithout taking ihe .hiie pithas this $,ill make thc winc bitter Put theskins in with the sugar ginger, raisins

and water and ihen add thejuice fromthe fruit.

. Leave for ihree days siirring ai intervals.

. Strain and add the l'east to the liquid and

pour nrto a caskor demijohn and leave

. Boiile a.d ork a.d leave b nrature for at

least three nronths.

IN THE KITCHEN

The Mass Observation interviewers quicklydiscovered that all the difficulties involved ingetting time off work, in getting the shoppingdone in the time available, and of losing pay ifthey were late back to their rnachines, addedto all the'present war-time difficulties', wereputting a considerable bulden on womenworkers the 'main new reselvoir forproduction in 1942'. If something wasn't doneabout it, the result could be poor time-keepingand a considerable loss of morale amongwomen woLkets.

While some major war industry companiesrefused to allow their workers any extrashopping time, many didhelp, mostlyby givjngr,r'orkers extra time off for shoppin& agreedby arrangenent r'r,'ith section foremen. Some

factories set up allotments in their groundsand sold off the produce at wholesale pricesto thejr u'orkers. In some places, the WVS ran

THE POINTS SYSTEM

A shopper extnines the poil1t system chnrt register

for tlLe neru ration books,

shopping services, providing books in whichwomen wrote their requirements and put themoney to pay for them in an attached bag. TheWVS representative took the book and noneyaway in the molning, and returned the bookand goods in the evening.

Just as Diggers for Victory got plenty of helpand advice from the Ministry of Agdculture,so the Ministry of Food, headed by the verypopular Lord Woolton, appoirLted Minister ofFood in 1940 (and remaining in the job untilhe was made Minister for Reconstruction inNovember 1943), provided a very full adviceservice fol the women in Britain's kitchens -the troops on the Kitchen Front. From the firstdays of the war, the Ministry of Food deliveredits message in fighting terms:

59

THRIFTY TIPS FROVl THE WAR YEARS

WOOLTON PIE

A chel in the kitchen* of the erand Savoy

Alot"t origina)ly dreamt uj\\oolton Pie,

which appeared on the Savoy's menu as 'LordWoolton's Vegetable Pie'. One version of the

recipe called for 1lb (4509) of diced vegetables,

with potato, swede, cauliflower and carrot

suggested as a good mixture. To these could be

added 3 or 4 spring onions ('if possible', saidthe recipe, using two words that, along with'ifavailable', appeared again and again in writingabout food in wartime), 1 teaspoonful ofvegetable extract and 1 tablespoon of oatmeal.

This version of Woolton Pie ticked all therighl essential l:oods bo\e5, e\ en managing

to include oatmeal. As the war dragged on,

other, slightly more sophisticated versions ofWoolton Pie were cooked" including plenty ofherbs and often involving a tasty sauce, suchas a cheese sauce, as a topping.

:. , , a!H

LORD WOOtr,TON PTE

rhe dieticmios. Tlnlo the voErecipe: -1llo tlb.

Tlnnks to gopernmellt plann ry, tlrc

\i1\L food; tlnl ' ill Jttd you rttd vot'rfanilv !o tltc pi!tlt oJ Jlghling

t'itness are right at t1our hand.

They ln'oe been deliberatehl clnsen

for t!rc purpose. To release ships and

seimen on the fightitrg ft'ottts, yor.r, ot'L

llp ki!clre,t I r,,,tl .l,otr tltr jabofrt'ittglllrrl food' lo llP y (tli'l nlmttla4 .

The Ministry put these 'deliberatelychosen' foods into three gror-rps:

. Everyone's rations and allowances, whichwere the foundatiorl of the nation'sfighting djet.

. Vegetables, which provided manyvitamins, important not only for goodhealth but also for that other wartimeessential,'buoyant vitality'.

. Unrefined or wholegrain foods, whichpro-vided both valuable health factors

and bulk, to help build up satisfyingmeals.

Throughout the war tlre Ministrypromoled lhese three iood grorrpr in

a publicity campaign that rivalled the

Agriculture Ministry's one in scale and

extent. Every time the Ministrv developed

a new policy, Lord Woolton l'ould explainit himself on the n,ireless, usually in a

broadcast lasting more than ten minutes(and into r,r'hich hc hacl put severai hours ofpreparatorv r'r'ork). There were hundredsof advice, instruction and recipe leafletsputting for\\,ard'Food Facts', which weledjstributed to new'spapers, magazines andwelfare centles. Public broadcasting was

vL _-

60

N THF K T'HFN

THE ROLE OF THE CARROT IN THE WAR

Docfl| cAPE0fthe

thitdrewkbest ,

frlenw

T\octor Carrot the .lildrcrl s b.stlJr,,cnr rraa aLn, ed. ca, nrts a ere

the one \.eSetable that was in plentifulsupplv c{uring brld l\/ar Tlvo and theMinistry of Agriculture promored themhcavily as a substitute fovcgetables. They also advcrtised themas a srveetener in clesscrts ir the absence

of sugar, which rvas rationed to 8 oz peradult per u,cck. Children coul.l evcn erljoyan iced cariot on a stick to takc the place

ln 1941,I ralt Disney everl offered topromote the carrot as a nutdtious foodsourcc, but as the Ministry ofFood hadalready 115ed theb or.n Doctor Carrot intheil prornoijons the charactcis of CanotvGcorge, Claia Carot and Pop Canot .ere

At onc tnne there s'as such a glut ofcarots that the Ministrr ler ir slip thatthc carotene in thislrutritious vegctablehelped consjderably r'lth night visionand thal ii .as r€sponsible for the RAF'Sincrcasjng success in shooting dolrrrlenemy planes. Of course the popr ationbclicved what they heard an.:t the dcmandfor carrots trcw as p€ople believed itwould help them to see morc clearlydurlng the blackout hou rs. It was a clevcrrusc that rvorked and morc and morerecipes appear€d in magazines to jazz upthe othcr\Vise rather bland vegetable.

As u,ell as the Docbr Carr.ot charactcr,there was also Poiato Petc 41o l\rasintrocluccd lor the same reason, toencour.ge the population to eat honcgror{,rl vegetables.

Herc's the wrn wha plol1thr the.ftdds.

Here's the gitl lDho l;JLs up the yield.

Heft's the wr tuha irnl.uith the

clntnp, so thnt iillia11s of jalrs Gtn

che( ad chatnp.

Thnt's thc stary andhere's the stn1,

61

THR FTY TIPS FROM IHE WAR YEARS

A BEDTIME STORY

FFhc Nlinrstr\ ,ri Food ntroduLed ,)

I h"ati'n",to'i to encourage peopLe

Once upon a time thcre ilerefive horservires. Their names

{'erc Lad}, Pccl potatoes, theHon. Mrs Waste-fuel, MissPour-the-vcgctiblc'1^.aterl:tos,n-thc-sinl<, Mrc Don't likeuncook€ct-\'egetablcs, and Mrsl\bn'le.rlcarrots. Don't lei one ofthe r pui a nose inyoul kitchen.

BTIfiN PIIFTUCK

withthurchill

today

THAII HUTBIT PIT

ultdsr${itler

tnmwrcvt

DoiltrvA$rr roou/

fL I)'' utiliscd, and regular Hone Scrvicc radi.)plogrammcsr particularly (ii.lrrn F,oit, r,rhichrras broadcast every rveekda), monjn:t, weredeYoted io ioocl and its nnportanc€ for goodhealth.

r'\rr ^f r.,.d r r t r,r. : .. : .n1,:L et e!. \-

rvartime radtu fromoters \^as, in fact, n mafL". p" r a.r.hot r' -rr. r r' ,.r.r"..1 n"

about the hcallhl.flmctionnlg ol er.ervone'sinner l!'orkints. Dr Charles Hill, Tl. Rddro

l)o.tdr, began broadcasting in 1941 a scrics ofta lks th:t h'ent on forten ycars. The housel.iveswho listc.ed to his man), livcly cortributionsto'Food Front'got as rnuch ialuable advice onprcParnrg tuods 'vitanrins crr't be l\.ashe.:l

olf l'egeiables, but thcv rir/] be cooked ou! and

that's aform of wastage', he once said - as thcydic{ or1 thc nutritional \'aluc,rf foods.

Dr Hill said ihat if he h as alloNed to sa\.on\'three tlitlgs on the'Food Front'- and he meantthe food froft olihe Honc Frorlt as much as he

mcaft fte radio progrirnme thevwouldbetorecommend cvcryone to 'eat sonrc rn$' :ircen!egetablcs every da\i I \!ould praise milk andnorc nrill< and I r\,ould prcach the virtues ofthc food which contains so nruch nuirim€nt

The \,firistry of lood scnt an arm_v oi HomeEconomists from its l-ood Advice Llivisiorl upand do\'vn thc counlry talking about iood andgivhg advjce. One of the bcst knonn ot thoseHome Economists, Margrerite Pattc., has tolci

l' .. e r-s., .r'^ 't .i-small portable cookers on stalls;n out.toormarkets,lartc shops (on€ ofher'beats'tr.s thcfamous Harrods department storc nr London),racbrv canleens, \'illatc halls, h.rspital out

lJ,,-.1,1-ne,,.rJ.. |tuF lr u...'(hr campaign was to ii.Ll people, 'herever

N THE K T'I-]FN

d-Lcr might bc, an.:t nakc ihen-L au.i.e of theimportancc or k€€ping their larnilies wett fcdol1 the rations avallablc.'

Onc of ihe \4nristr,v Home Fconomisrs,main ad\.ice tllcmes \\'as what to do, nor l\ithr.tione.l ioods, but irirh vegctables. Thc5c$,cre home-grown foods, ivailablc n.om one'sosn kitche. Barden or allotm€nt is well as thcrr:.r' '.Lh, ,. Iuprn,",rr .,lrp.from o,,crseas, r{cre not r.rtionecl, and werceasy lo deal with jn the kjtchen.

Tte trcat nnportance of vcgetabtes h a

hcalLh\', mtritioLls dict could.ot be ovcr-cmphasised. I! l,\'as not suryrjsing that rhcmost fanous dish to come olrt \ b.tcl Whr Tifo,\\r.]olton rie 'steak an.l krdney pie r\ithoulthe stcnk and kid.ey' was naned ifler the\4..r-r o t^.o .i,., h, n..t r'.. /ro.n^.,of !.egetablcs, especially the potaL.r and thccalrot, a peFonal crusnLle. Both !,cgetablesbec.me pronrotional 6glrres, call..,d,potaroIrcte'and'Dr Carrot', thai figurcd larg€ly jn theN4inistry oi Food's propaganda campaign.

The housc(ife soorl le.rrne.l to use everv

P. I.Ia.(o6i...i r-r ;',t," - .,as the r.ater thcv werc cooked n1, (t1ich h,ascaretulh'kcpt lor use as siocks or i. soup Thc'$,nste not, i{ant not' rule extended to rhnrgslike thc brLgh, ortcr leaves of cabbagcs, rvhchl\.ere added to soups to give flavour and bLrtk,and k, the pods of gar.{c. peas.

Thc wartimc horLsewilc did not cncountersuch 6ne varicties of pca as n1anBc tout orsug:ir-snap pcas, al1cl tcnded to shctl her peasand throrv out the pods, or. use thenr nr henieel:l:nd pigstrill. 'No, r1o,' said thc Ministrv otf ood, comnlg Lrp r,ith a tnst\. recipc lor cookjngpea p.rds, n1int, n potato, onion or spring onjo.(if.!ailable) ..d salt ancl pepper if warer trrrtil

. Finelv chop the onions an.l carrcts andcookthem in 1 pini of r{arer until sofr,this ll.ill takc about 30 minrrres

. Sdr in seasornnt arrd l'east cxtract andthe milk and brn-LB back up b lhe boit.

. Sti. jn the p.rslev and seffe.

CABBAGE AND ONION

z lrr]i! hr'udfi.ls of fnel,! stnddc.l .abbrgt:2 rrrsetirl,le st.r.ft cIrl.,sselectlnL af ficsll he tbs

sdlt (1nd pepper la tnste'LAA I petltl barletl

. Chop the onions and sa|t6 in thc bulreruntil thcl arc soft.

. Add \\'arm \.egetable sto.k an.:t \^,hcnhot add the pearl barley and stirSirnmer cover€d, lor 25 mnrutes.

. Act.:t thc shrecldcd cabbage, herbs:ndseason to taste. Cover again all.l slo(,simmer for a fu.ther 20 mi.utps

1t.'

WARTIME SOUPS

CARROT AND ONION

,pint nilk

tcnslaon yrost e\lract (ar Matnite)

THR FTY T PS FROIT]] T]]E WAR YEARS

tender. This mixturc \\'as thcn rubbe.l thLough

a sie\.€ and retur.cd to ihc aalrccpan, rvith aflour and .ater thickcnjng mixcd in to make

the soup crcaml: It \,\'as sel\ed very ho!.

Lacki.g as she did safe, Iongterm storage

for iresh foocis, ihe 1\.arlinre house$,iic bccamc

skilled at p.eservjng thcm. Bottlhg an.l jam

nraking, prc\'idcd ihc Minjstr) of Food hacl

made available su16cieni quantitics of pr€cious

sutar/ \{€re the easiesi lvays io deal with lruitand ivith sonrc vegetables, srch as tomato€s.

Nella Last rras annoyed b) what shc sas' as

the'shocking waste of sugar jl1 conticctioncls'

wnrdorrs'('didf't the \\br Cabn',cr, whichrvould be the belLer lor a fe$' rvorncn in it,realise', she rrrole in her diaryr'dratil \^'ould bc

bcttcr to lct people have srgar for jam?'). The

Mjnishy of l-ood did, irr f.ct, do its bcst to see

lhat ihere was enorigh sugar availablc to ttunthc cornhy's prccious harlcst of berry fruitsnrto jam, n.ldjng an cxtra tw'o pounds of sutario the raiion ai har\.est time.

At fruit harlest tines, Ministry oi Food

Home Economists hclpcd to sct up FruitPrese.\.aiio. Ce.tres jn thosc parts of the

countrv wiih lirgc fruit crops, partly to offero - ro -lf'\r .,.ir bpr .,r',, miliJ,

.,- \- r h{ I ,r; ",Iocally grorln fruit, and partly to ensure ihatthc Mi.ishy's precious srpplies of sugar

ifere properly uscd. Thcrc u,crc also manyof iiciallr-recogn jzcd jam-nraking cenh€s, oft€nin somconc's own kitchcn, $fiere h'om€ngatber€d together to ral<c jam $'ith local fruitsand the extrajam-makinS sutar ration.

lvlargucrite I'atten got usect to doing politebattle \\.jth experic.ccd houscirivcs Nho had'bee. making jam si.cc bcforc ) ou s'ere bom,

-voung woman' in ordcr kr pclsuadc thcm that

tor their jirn to keep l\,ell Lrnder all corrditjorrs,

it mlrsl contain 60 per cent sugar and it nustbe carefully and tightly sealed. There 1^.as an

official recipe for $,eak or 'runnv' jam rvhichused thc ninimum sugar, but r,vhich had tobe eaten lvithin h^'o months oi its makin&olherwiseii .olrld gomoulcll'and thepreciousiruil and sugar r.ould be .asted.

Oitef, houservi\.es coulct noi get enouilhfruit to mak€ more than a pot or two oi jam'' il '. rr. . , ."ulo - , it ru l-. J n;

\.egetables such as carots (to add sweetness),

swedes, iurnips aj1d marrows to the mixtur€.,A.s

for a p€riecl, Seville orante basect marmalade,

w€ll, that became just a dream for jam makers.

\\',e,1- -r1, rte di, nd ,:lirl^B il., I

dulnrg lhc !var, thcy ('ere gjven to chil.lrcnfirsi, r.vith adults getting al1v that rverc lefi over.

Once the oranges had been eatei! ho ,ever, an

accepiable rnannalade coulci be made irornorange peel, .jth cooking apples added lo the

mixture. At l€ast lt1\,as marmalade of a sort an.:t

l\'as bcttcr thn. .othing certaifl} betkrr than

ihe carrot marmalade ad\.ocated by the Minisl{rof Food. In October 1942" Frank Cooper, makerol lhe counirt"s favourite 'Oxford' marmalade,

took adveftising spac€ to tell Bdtain that'owing to the r€quisitioninij of our factor_"- at

Oxford by thc CoYernment x.c rc:irct thrt thcmanufaciure of Oxlord Marmalade must cease

Lnt d- er lre \\ A mLJr the dme me

lames Roberlson and Sons had to actmil ihal'Tolal \/ar Eaf l dernands the withdra ,al of'Golden Shrcd', the world's besi marmalade.Il$'ill rcturn $ ith VICTORY'.

Drying, picklifg andsaliing were all used bythe .arfine house .iie to preserve both iruitsanct vegeiables. Drying iruit a-'1d vegelables

hao r, th--r , ., r pr r ; ".i r l -F ro.e ol-

N THE K TCHEN

A membo af thc Wamen's Instit te in Mauntoltthshirc 8i71es a talk to ather nenberc o11 ncthads aff it nnd

xqetahle nni g,bottling anlldryiry, and jtm n djelLv tnaking.

the war since the climata lvas hardly suiied to

outdoor drying, but now that ther€ was a warory things were diffelent. House\a.ives wcredd\ i-ed io u e d cool o\ Frl. d J,ell ljl lhF . irind

cupboard, or the heai rising from boilers and

radiators to dry such things as apples, pcars,

grapes, stone fruit, rnlrshlooms and onions.

The importani point was that the temperaturcshould not rise abovc 140'F, otherwise the

foods being dried could develop moulds.As for salting, a common sighi in wartime

kitchens or larders was a crock of salted green

bealls. Schoolgirl Ceorgha Plumb recalled

watching the famer's daughter at the Kentfarm to whjch she had beerl cvactated prcparerunner beans for salting. 'Floss cut [then1] intothicker pieces than she would nornlally do

when cookins &em stuaighi from the garder!

65

TF]R Fry T P5 FROI!4 THE WAR YEARS

O #q!

frillllrly$MINISTRY OF FOOD

LEAFLETS

-F e Vr i r|I ood . ( (d .m d..^ rr r. .r ealleL.I or lrov .o n-a wLr.r r . -Le

nourishment. Thet, covcrcd a wide vnrieiy of dishesincluded Cooking h'hite Flsh, Using Checsc fo. Breakfast,Lunch and Dinner and arl assortment of llh Cook€ryr-eaflets (/./i). lhe Mnistrv also employcd food advisersrvho Nere trained as homc economists. Tfeir role $,as todemonstrate to housci{ives horv to rnake interestint andnutuitional meals dcspiie the constrajnts ofrationing.

layedng thcm in a big stone crock i{ith handllrlsof coarsc salt. A fel\. days later lnorc woulct beaclded ancl in tnne the jujce from the beans

r\,ith the salt madc a brine, rvhich prescrvedthe beans for molrths and were so uscful in thervintcr Thev \a.ere well rinse.l bcfi,re gojng intothe sauccpan and tro further salt $as..lded.'

Sonc people recalled saltc.l beans withloathnlg aiter the l\.ar, brlt perhaps theirs hactnot bcen properlv rinse.l Llccause Georgina feltthai, although nothjng.ould beat tl€sh run.erbeans, prcscrved ones $.ere a good vcBetable

in bad hcathcr u'hen all l\as frozcn n) theground.

Frcsh €ggs \\'ere arother iood that could beprescNed quite successfullv in ihe kitchen.Thel'l'ere plescned in isinglass, a tolnr orwaterl gclatjne obtain€.] fton fish bladders,$'hich prcvcntcd air g€ttint thr(,ugh thesh€lls of thc cggs. 'Whter illass bucl<cts' fillecl

with eggs \\'cre to be firund jn manv kitcl-Lcns

during thc $.ar. Even aftcr dried egils bcgancoming into ihe cornh.y 1941, as part ofthe American Lc.d L€ase programne, miin!peopl€ prelcrrcd io preservc fresh eggs il thc)could gct thcm.

Althouth 6sh was not rntioned dLrdrt thcl\ar, it lvas seldom availal.le in any quantjtl,and gare thc l-oodNlinistrv's llome Ecotlonrisrs{:Iritc:r lot oI troublc, especiallr'$hcn thev hadto'talk up' the \\,o.ders of unianrjliar llsh likesnoek (or snook), a fish from SoLrth Afticanwalers, whalcmca! (not a fish, bui treated as

such), or fresh-salted cod, nost ol which camefrom lceland. The prlce of frcsh tish soared.turing the rrar: Fishermen $,hosc boats hadnot been requisitjored bv thc navy and rvere\ero. -\' L . p"lr'l pr.Lrn-. rl..h,.

glln on c{cck to fight thc Luttwaife plancathat bombcd and strafed thern in rhe North

N Ti]E KTCF]EN

USING DRIED-EGG POWDER f, .,c1\

T::J't;:l'J.:::t::i'::;l:Ji"ri,i

I " -: iFt i.

ror.dr,l ' \I promoting dried-egt powder $,hen There \vas no nccd to hoardit firstbecame available as part ofthe theq since tllcrc r,.ould be plentyrationing, for most p€ople $'ere suspicious morc conling.ot it. 'DltlED ECCS are ll1y cggs Drl

whole egils and nothing but my eggs' Using dri€c1etg rvas si,npte. All _vou hadsaid an alert looklng hen stnrttnlg across t. d. \fiqthe top of a well-known l4inistr) of Food

leaflet. . Store packs if a cool,.tr), place andThe Ministry's man-L themc was drat fiLnly rcplace the lid ofthe tin aficr usc.

dded e€igs, $,hich thc ration book-holdcrcould gei in lhe fomr oi one 12 egg pack . Make one tuesh cgg by mjr;ng one level(price 1rr3!t) per four rreek latioring tablespoo. or lhe powder l\,ith tl\'operiod (that is, three etgs a wcck), w.rc tablesPoons or: -ate! being caretul toas rvholesome, digestible arl.l noLdshnrg keep measucmc.ts exact.

as fresh eJtgs. They also built nuscle an.lrepaired tissue inthe sa;nc irav as chops . Treatthc reconsrit ted egt as \'ou \\'ould

a hesir on€. Usc it at once. ancl clo notmake up morc egg than you need for thcdish vou arc making.

. l-se dricd egg dry in batters r)1 'ftbbcd-in' .nkc mjxLur€s, increasing thc Lc.iFc'slicluicl measure b)' 2 tablcspoons lore\.er)' clriecl cg8.

As they becanrc rnore practic€d in theiruse, housesivcs were soon successfull)'scramblhg drjcd eitgs, turning theminto onelettes, soulflis and batters, anct

makinil alL khds or crkes, incllLding

IHR FTY T P5 FROI\] THE'A/AR YEARS

DRIED AND IN TINS

A hnost is familiar is Dr.l\ rrf driEdA-Z \pgH po\\rter in the rvrrtime krt.henwcrc tin5 of dricd milk. Conirollecldistribution of fresh lictuid milk had iobcgin nr Novenrber 1941, wit]1 evervone,

excepl chil.:trcn and prcgnant womenwho hcrc allo(.cd rnorc, bcing allo\!(dtwo to two and-a half pints a .eek. Inthe idlownrg inonih somelhing callecl

Household Milk lven I of sale. This la.as

drjcd sknnmed milk porvcier, each tin ofwhi.h rvas equal to four pints of ]ntlddmilK once water had bccn a.{dcd b it.Evcrv farnilv was allo$.ed otre lnr oiHouschold Milk a morrth.

and coco. rnadc it inkrarl acccptable hot clrink.

Holrschold \,Ii]k rvas verv usefulas a substitlric lor flesh mjlk in cooking:1nd biking.

Frugal horsewives also cane up \\,itha spread that could bc uscd on top ofbrea.l or toast by filling a cup hili llrll ofpo{dere.l rnilk, a qu.rtcr full s,jth sugaran.:t a quarter tull with co.oa arld mixi.gto a paste with watcr.

National Dri€d Milk lvas later n1ad€

avallable for one'and tlvo-year-olds. This

was a product bas..l on full-cream milkand so was nuch ncarcr thc rcal thnrg.

Atlantic, coulct ealn anlthn1g up io sevefieenljrnes what a ilood catch \\'ould have gol lh€m

Because elcn ticshly causht iish tended tosnrcll rather less than fresh h thc scvcral daysit ofien took to gct fionr its lancling port tothe inland tlshmonger's slab, nranl |ood Fncl

recipes lor fish lncluded spj.cs, curry por.de!.lr.\.,,., on-o Le1.- r".., L,,u r -(or 'le1non substitute') .l1d olher flavourfulirlgrcdi.nts. These acldiuons Licc.nrc csscntjnl

\^.ith snoel:, rvhich Lctt to itseli:, was, like\a.halemeat, a nemorabl) unpalaLable tish.

The arrival of frcsh-salkd cod brcughl a

l\.elcome a.ldition nr thc fishnronger's slab. ltt\.as usually the fishnronger rvho c.lrrielt outthe busirlcss oi soaking the isl! lor up b 48

hours, to liel rid of the tnstc oi ihc salt in r,rhichit had Lreen prcservcd, bclorc selling iL !o thehouscs,ilc, rtro kr1€( she had to cook it the

da)' shcbought it. As al\ n) s, thc Food Minisirvwas lo the fore promotifg this'good nelrs onthc Kitchc. Front it's almost frec from Lronc,

it's c.sy to c.rok, and thcrc's .o x.stc. Above.rl ,lr": L i,,,, ,,., p 6

js 9d laboul 4pl per ]b.' Ir was also a frelr.yurex.iting fish to eat - Ior manv i! hnct the't.ste anci t€xture of boilcd flafnleletlc' an.:t

the Fo(rci Fact recipes isslred by the lvlinistr)'$ctc full oi extra flavouring hgrcdicnts, p usplurt! oi\.egetables,of cousc. E\c..fter iresh

saltcd cod be.ame available, nany houscuivespLclcrrcd b nrake c:to ,ith thncd fish, tal<olfronr thc precious kitchen sbcl< or ai'ailableon points. Ncll: Last, as she noted in the diar!shc kcpt for N{ass Obseffauon, coul.l n1ak.:i.., \ir b - J.r| ;,r ,- ..rtir r

pilch.xls', heiiing them ancl scrlnlg ihcrn o.hot tuast.'TheI rverc only 5rd, and yct ucre a

, ;;;\ Alihough it $'as Prctty

N THE K TCHFN

better meal than two cod cutlets costing at least

2 shillings.'Even Nella was astonished at how far three

soldiers made one tin of sardines go. Oneday, three soldiers came to the I4ryS mobilecanteen she worked in (and cooked foodfor), one oF them saying as he affivect at thecounter, "'Nine slices of toast, a tin openerand a fork." I felt frivolous and said, "\r'r'hat

about a toothpick?" But he said "Nay, missus,

with one tin a' sardines mashed on nine slices

of toast, t'borles'll not have a chance to sticki'teeth, nor anywhere else."' NeIa calculatedthat each soldier managed to spread one and a\.r.' ;rdrr.-. mo'h"d up. orer d th r" Ji l i-

lurtl) "- r re'ult o tLc o . hc redu,' or rrimpolted animal feed and pafly because ofthe change ftom livcstock grazing io arablefarming, there was a laige reduction in beef

FRESH SALTED CODF amili9 queue oLLlside a Jishma ngerc fot fesh sulttd cod, which , unlik athet ptaduce, uas not h:ttioned.

THR FTYTiPS FROM THE WAR YEARS

,NAF,DA

Thfoughout the r,'ar nrea! exirn(ts such

as Oxo cubes and Bo\til 'ihe cof.entratcdessence oi p[me ]ean beef' said ihe Bovril a.ls

- rlere used to add exha mltlitional valLLe toand cnhancc thc llavour of vcgctablc soups,

casseroles, and gravies.

Thcrc Ncrc nany iva) s h i{hich the n-Leat

r.ltion coul.l bc ckc.l out. Anrong a list of-Lrbg,-.r" .LJ L tr' ..1

1p-.o \ru.r or F.lil-' \:n-plcnt) of !cgctablcs, both root ancl greery at allmain meils, usnrg as much internal mcat bffal)as possiblc, and rcplacin:inrcat altogcthcr $'ithnealsbascd on foods sui-h as chr:r'sc, prilscs ancl

'rll ' rh.Jr.r,h"- . . :Ii1\.alue as meai. Less obvious were ideas likeacldmg mhce.l vegetablcs or sago to mincecj

rneat, at thc ratc oi2oz (609) io llb (,1509)min.c,.hen lsjn:i it ns a filling ior pastics and mcat

roly-po1y, and aclcllngnashcd potnto orrnincedvegetablcs tu ihc nrinced mcat uscd in nlcatcakes, baked meal loaf and snnilar dishes.

Ii8-'.1 ^J "l'\i u rlrll "jabolrt warli e .utlitional advicc is to in.kc a

basic, post war eclucated nistakc. Thc i{artimcl\-orking rnan, i. pnrLicular, knew !tlj/ ljttlcabout nutrilion. E\.en aiter lhree )'ears ofMinistry of Food propaganda, many Brjtishmcll still bclicvcd that nrcat was better for theorthan chccse a.d thai tcn u;rs norc important intherr d aily djet lhan pLrlses ljl<e bcans or lcntjls.And as ior tr)'irlB to nral<c plain boilcd bceland .arrots morc jnk'rcstjng and nutritionallyr.alLrable lor the fdctortr wut<cr by idding a

'Lt.,...^r^r'r-^rgr .q.orilo tl'rc fornrcr hoh'l chcf no$' in nla.aginil a

faclory cn.teen i. Birmjnghanr, hjs customcrs'clid not rindcrstand lood'.

F'OR

W[\ E-S

Trn Bnrnst Housrwrre ir h{lpios to hrlc a

srcond frdt rhL Ist hc! l_ont-Egtnst HtCeiTh3! is shJ_ we say "It.dals fot yDd, -[ladrm."

cattle, sheep a.d pig numbers irL Bdtah duringlhe \^.ar. The laluc of ljvcstock products also

fell consnterabll' as a consequence, and did not- ,r t.l ,g ..p..Ba rl r -. a ), dr. tr-r

Good .]uality meat becamc a trcat ratherthan a regular Ieailrre on mcal tablcs, rcplaced

in partby offal anci sucb products as Span and

comed beet $.hich rvere lo become iamiliarparts of thc nrcat ration. Spam, \l,hich was

canned spiced han from thc Unitc.l States,

became a greal warinne st.ndb), and, alonil\a.ith the sound of \rera Lyn. snlgi.g'There'llbe bluebirds over thc \\,hitc cliffs ol Dover',Iio",lorrlFI.p. ,Ji -r-s r"rJuSpam, arailablc on the points system ratheriha-'1 as pari of lhe rilion, nadc an cxcellent

sandlvich illing, .ould replacc pork in 'pork'pies, anlt could even nrakc a hot rcal $'henslic€s of it rvere fried rvith bre..1.

/u

]N THF K TCHFN

MAKING THE MOST OF RATIONCOUPONS AND POINTS

/'aarelul thriltr housewives like \ellal_\/Lact t^ ere lgentous tn the wdy.they made a little meat and other foodsgo a lorrg wa) and contrived deliciotr:meals out of very little. Here is Nella inNovember 1941, describing in her Mass

Observation diary how she turned a piece

of bony mutton and a kidney, bought fromthe butcher still r,r'rapped in good, solidfat, into a generous meal for three, cookedslowly and lr'onderfully fuel-effi ciently, bythe dining-room fire all morning:

'Mv bonv mutton made a lovely casserole.I first fried it and then added onion, celerr,,

carrot and turnip [befole putting it besidethe fire, then] adding potatoes to it three-quarters of an hour before lunch. On theother side of the fire I had my big pan r.r'iththe suet pudding in, and it really r,r.'as oneof the best puddings I've made for a long

time. I minced the suet from the kidney.. .

and also two slices of wholemeal bread

[Nella baked her own bread] and twostrips of my candied peel, rnade by boilingorange peel till tender in a little honey andwatel. I added an egg beaten in hot watetto bring it up to the quantity of the twoeggs that I used to use, and then a 5%d potof sweetened bun flour and a tablespoon ofsultanas.'

Bccause she had no milk to make a saucefor the pudding, shc contrived a saucen'ith custald porn'der mixed with wate1,

and added honey as a sweetener. This she

passed off lightly as'a clear honey saucefor a change'. It fooled her hr-rsband, whodisliked being fobbcd off with what hethought of as 'economy dodge' dishes:'By Gad, it's grand and brings out the realflavour of the pudding.'

r- --i ril:.,rAf."l' t'-. ,: \V

BalttY tutllrrrcFOOtts

'kF u**'EICRGY *OODS

gfP cnourll orouPa -\

16rcilrc8lL P <ARRoB

i.*.'"'-isci.EN.vEGErA!13i . huosl.-,^,.,,i.-"*."-."..-.l*o*.*r^"

: ".

.." " ,..,, :). ...",, ,.. ..-,. ...:,:r. - "::;:i,,,,:i:i::1.:::.;:ii.: j t.)liJ

.-., I at'-. '-'-,'J

lAt $0 tTfltlG rnou EA0I Gn0up wny DAy

DO.IT.YOURSELFABOUT THE HOUSE

Histoians of tlornestk archittct'ure in Britain @nn|t' point to d ldrtiuldr styl. d d sdy

'thdt' k a typiul uartine hause'.There were uirtually no ncw houses buih irL

B tai dLtillg tM) dWarTbo.There was a lot oJ'pathing up, which, Lf extensrut,

rcpeated as hest it' coul.d thc styk of the existi g hause, d lot oJ rnakirtg damaged

bttildings habitabLe, antl muth hiLlcting oJ whole Jamilies on otlrcr houselLohls, often.far

jolr tlte-families' origindl home toLutls tlus addbLg to the natian's already great ouer-

oowLling probLen, cspetialll among th.e poorcr classes.

o\.ards the end of the war 'prcfabs'began to appcnr These .ere houses thati{ere pre fabricated in factodes and l\,ere

vcry utilitariar! behg basically plain boxes

tr ith doors and 'indows, that could be quicklycrected to prol,ide reasonably s,arm and

r^rnl, L.rblF I o'n-- or f.nbpd-,Jr trn; (s

until such timc as thcy could be replaced btrsornething better.

Lr March 1944, the Pdme Minister promised,as part ol the recenlly establishe.:l TemporaryHousnlg Programme, half a million prefabs

- originally called 'Portal' homes after theMinister of Works, Lord Porial but only about160,{100 had been completed by the \,var's encl,

mostof lhem set on their ora.n small plot of landon thc cdges of large to 'ns and cities. Cost, plusunavailabil jty of materials, \,vere majol reasons

lor thc prornised hau million prcfabs noibeing built. They wcre surprisingly expenslveto manufacturc and this, pLrs their perceivedshot lifc-spa. (several models ,ere gncn a

life-span of only ten to fifteen ]'ears), decidedh'ro- t,^+Ld u..r.o.,r':.J8Jir-.ir\.. nB ,

thcm. Many,;t tlLrnedout, conunucd toprovideperfectl], adequate housnrg for decades afterthe lvar and irlto the trventy tust century

A major social problem in the 1930s was thcamount of housing in Britain that was eithervery below-standard, grossly over clowded,or officialll, condemned all this despite a

housing policl, that had led to considerableimprovements h thc naiion's stock ofhousinSin tl-Le 1930s. War actded drastically to thcamount of housing fii onllr to be condemned,u/hile also dcstroying thousan.ls of once per-

12

DO ITYOURSELF ABOUT THE HOL]SE

PREFABRICAI'ED HOUSINGPrcfnbricnt l ntL)estos hatses coltid be h ilt in thtee davi utich nade lhen id l futLiuring th( turr. These arc fuitgetectedann bafibed a tsitealElea or Rand, Hdck1le|,

thc housitg shortnge

fectly good ho11ses: by the sprhg of 19,t1,

nearly a milllon ar.l a hau people in London

'l u r-\.rd o..r r aoe I'on-" ". o) bo-birt.By 1942, it r\ras estimatecl that more than a

nlilliorl pcople were liviql in housint that,

before the r.ar, rvould have been condemne.l.

Another trvo and a half million lamilies we,cliving in bomb damagecl houses that hadrcceived or y essential repairs - the sort that

totthc rvatcr nnd po'er backon and ensurcd a

\,veatherproof roof over their occnpants' heads,

glass in the s,indows and a closable front door.The ttro main reasons for such anabsence ol

replacement buildnlg du rrg the $'ar were lackof materials and lack of builders. The buildingmaterials that were available and the mcnqualifled to usc tbem rere diverted to buildcamps for servicemen, hangars foI aeroplancs,

TF]R FTY T PS FROIII fHE WAR YEARS

STYLING THE LOW-COST PREFAB

l)ref.:b. nue L.unsal,,hs rhJt s

I the\ h crc.fc-i.'rr hou\e\ so lherer'vis no need for staircases, ce[.rs orattics. ljirieen ditferent ltesi$s $.erc

produced, some s,ith flat roofs and some

r"ithjust cnough room ufder the rooffor water tanks. [ach desjgn inclucied

t$'o bedroons a.d a cenl.ally placed,

Mn-iistry of \'\rorl.s designecl'servic€

unit' conrprising kitc'herr bathroom ancl

toilet. The kitchen and bathroon wcrccleverlv pla.cd back b bnck so that theirplumbing c(,uld be hidde. betweenth€m. Each desigrl also irlcorporaledmains electricity runningholl\raler,bujlt-in storage and a rcfrigerator.

tr{ith the exception of onc Americanimport, all thc plciab designs were the\!ork oi Britjsh archire.ts anlt ltesigners.The Arcon Mark V r\ras sleel iramed an(lhacl asbestos cement panels, the asbestos

m:iking it unacceptable toda\1 lheBISF (British Iron and Stccl Fcderaiion)

house was built pardv in lhe iactory alldparily on site. Ihc Tarran and Uni Seco

prefab r.as timbcr franred. The prefab

e\pectc.l to have the lorlgest lilcspan atleasl loril: veajs 'as thc .lunrifiumone !:tesigned by thc Aircraft IndustriesReseafth Organisatiorr on Housing(AIROH). Ihis nodel rvas made infactodes that had speni most of the s,arin alrcraft plod u ction.

\'Vhatever their constructiof m.ltedal,prefabs !ve1e gcncrallr liked by thepeople nrho novcd inlo them, despitetheir utilitadan appcarance. For people

whose prevnrus honres hact been

n1 clordcd inner citv tenaces and

ietlements, many without baihroomsand with an outside toilet sharcd b)several familics, lhese little detachedhouses, sitting nr thejr own small gar.lcnand coming complete with hot s'ntcr aith€ tum ol a tap, an lnltoor toilci a..l a

refigeralor, .ere ctcsirable i.deed.

factories for s,ar i.dustries anct evervthjngelse needcd to ncct the cornplex reguir€n€ntsof a cLiunlrv on a total $'ar footing. lt w;rs n.rtLLnlil early 19.t3 that thc \ hr Cabnlei .lgreedto movnrg mcn and malerials to the ('orkof repaidng thc thousands of houses ma.lerninhabitalllc bl bonrbing. In earl) 19.14 that

the govemmcnt knd local authodties th.tthey couLd start usnrg plant a cl machi.crlfr.om airdeld constmctio. sites as lhey became

a\.ailable to prep:rc silesfor nerv housing, siththe necessarv scrvices.

ln the mcantime, much of the u,ork oi mal.-inJt bomb-d:nr aged horLses habitab 1c aqain hid

DO TYOURSELF ABOUT THE HOUSE

fallen on the houses' or.ners and occ piers. InDecember 1910 when the Blitz was reaching a

climax of horror and devastation, the Ministryof Home Security issucd a lc:flct callcd 'Aftcrh' R..io i \hicl- .-etuuLLh.(unp.r'.,ti.r

hoLrseholciers colLld expect to receive, alldgavc ihe numbcr oi ihe form VOW 1 ihato\{ncrs and long-term occupiers of damaged

or desiroved houses rvould have io fill nr lo

tet itr 'The amount of yo1ll compensation ancl

hFI;,'r".rp.)irg *ill,Lprnd,,lhLpJ-.in;of the War Damage Billnorvbefore Parliament.'Tl your house can be made fii to ]i\.e in \,vith afci{ sinrple repairs lhelocal auihority'illputitright if the landlord js not able to do it. But hor\rquickly the local authority can do this ctepends

on local conditions.'Since, it has been estimated, beth'een a

third and a fiith ot all houses in the countrysuffercd somc sort ol danrage duing the rvar,' ..d ., ndirion, ..,1r d ..."r .r

i le prJ'.lr.'r- Alldl\emone.drr\on-pFn.d o'lcouldtakealongtimetoconrcthrough'u ess

l,ou are in finarlcial dificuliies, Jnot untillafterthe war has ceased'tholLght ihe author of War

Tine Househald Repnis, published by ihe DallvEr.press newspaper.

Wr Ti)1e Llousehold Rcprtu also pointedoU lr. I io-l Lo:*' J,n',g"d Jurirg Jl .irraid $,cre'madc uncomaortable rather tluLdangarolls' and could be made habitable bya 'handy pcrson' such as the readers of theDiili:l Eryr5s, most of rrhom had practiced'do-it-yourself' to a greairer or lesser degree

ou.'r,8 .l,e l.'2n J ,d " n,. I', I c"r h:rgabout temporary rcpairc $.as fiat they werebcst dure usirg whaiever \,vas io hand andnot buying Dc{. mnterials, said the carefully.h,, ut rr hurJr t\r. ti . Hr,.."atd t,.i,:.-

BEYOND REPA]R

Mn y !rcus:s r)cre brya1iLl rctnii tr d tlLc

deuolitioll sq adhan tu 6ne in aid cle the

knoh'ing full wcll that new materials 'erealmosi impossible to gct.

What might 'uncomfortable rather thaj]dangerous' mean? It cou)d mean that whenyou cr!x4ed out of yolll Modson shclter or the

understairs cupboard or thc Anderson shelterin the garde& you found ihat many of the tileshad been blolr,n off yorlr rool many of the

.indolvs had no glass in them, a door or t\,vo

II]R FTY I PS FROI!,] THE \'VAR YEARS

INSULATING TIPS

rflo,lar r e mr1 rut need to stret.hI cefloph:ne:oo* wrrclorvs to

protect orrscl!cs ftom glass splinters,but thc concept oI covedng wnrdox'swith various matcrials is;r Lrseful one.

. lfyou do nothive lhe luxury ofcentral heating, yo! canbuy a

kit from a DIY siore to stop thehcat escaping through tlrc

glass. the kit .ontanrs heaishrinkiblc plastic and some

adhcsjve iape. You snnphtape thc pl.stic sI]ugly

insidc vour windolv franeand thcn shn* it using thc

heai from a hair drycr. This wiumake it perfcctlr iight and as clearas thc glass in lhe r indorr'. In tl-Lc

spdngtnrc, i{hen you no loniler necdthe insulitiof, simply peel ofl thctapc and throw it a .ay.

. Heavy curtains at your rvnrdo1a.s andexterior cloors $ ill help the .trauthtsftom chillnrg IoL,r rooms.

. Apply weathcrsiripping arounddoors ancl windows thal are

draught),. Makc sure lhe slrrface is

clean and dry beiorc applvjng ther,'eatherstripping, and il is bestto prt it on in lernperatues abovc20'r (-6'c).

rnighi have been spliniere.l or bloivf oil theirr -" er' * l-r l-p r. -.ilb, up ,

h,.Fili t ,. r'loF.rdworld b. i laver of clust jncllLding soot andaqh blol\. down thc chimne]t that.{,\'ould t.keweeks io get lid of.

For nrany householdcrs, it rvas vcry much:l qucstioll of making do r{ith mal<cshift

'.. i' r., I rpr ,.siored in thc ncarest air rnid wardens' posthad alrc.dvbeen t.1ken, the householder couldpc.haps tie a canvas teni over the holc5 in hisr(,ol where tiles had been blol'n ofl or bombsfallcn through. This would at le'rst kccp thernin oui until thc councll's r\ orktncn Bot !o

,vou wilh replaccmcnt iiles. Win.lorvs could beco\,ered with car.tboard or scraps ofwoodrntilthc cou.cil's glazicrs could g€t to your houselvith sone precious, i.creasingly difficulL toobtanr, $.indow gllznrg.

Schoolbo_v Dercl< Larnbert, returninB toLonclon tuonr a holidavby the sea in Devon (or

as nc.rr thc sea as h€ col,ld gel for the bnrbc.lxirc ard scaffoldnr8 nl\.asion .lefcncc!) \\.asmet by his mothcr sayhg she $'as al.ajd hisroun 1!.1s ln an awflLl mess. '\\c'rc beerr

bombe.l you scc.' fte bomb had lillef closeenough to thcn house to take thc tiles off theroot shakc dor.n ceilirlgs afd blorv ort somc

of thc 'indows.'Ccilings made oi hard,boardreplacect the plrstcr and stayed thcrc rlrtil thecncl ol Lhe rvar,' Dcrcl< rccalled in l-Lis ilarti,renrcmoir ft. S/,c/t.ru1 Dr.ys.

On the positi!c side, electricity \\'as rrsualll'F.r. ., ,.,.sroJ..roJit -ara" rr lr r

days of a bombing raid. Ilouse\,\'ives nrigh!. r 1.,', o i. .P., rP

6lten iirelled b\ w(x)d irom bonbcd houses)

ancl .dlectl\,aternr bucketsftom an arnrv lorlv

;(Y'L,

\

,r(1i )

Irf ..').

DO TYOURSELF ABOUT THE HOI]SE

or a stajldpipe for tr{o or thrcc davs.Ilthe localbaker's o1'en hacl bccn spared, then he woul.lcook all the Sundayjonlts and casseroles of theneighbourhood in it.

In lhe absence of new wallpaper; manypeoDlF .J lrFd . pd n rndo-er 'pFr.o s;\their rralls a ne$/ look - not ihat lhere was agreatrange of paints to choose frolrl since ever.y

colou except the standard borins instiilLtional

creams/ grccns and bro\a.ns disappcared very€arll CcilinB r,.hitenint, still available, couldbe colourcd w;th dyes andused .s a wall paint,oftei over existing old and Iaded $/allpaper.A different coloured paint applied over thebase coat rviih a spongc producect a goodlooking stippled effect an effect which had acomeback the 1980s.

The ai'erage rvartime housc was made

PROTECTING FI{OM SPLINTERS

A usefrl tip thdt tnanv househaLders n d olfi-e ?].'arkers usctl, .llias to ipply rcllot hdne to th( gl.lss in then'oitidorus to prctect thctnsel-res fam glass splinters d tntsdnilrn l.

THR Fry I PS FROlr'l THE V,,'AR YFARS

CAREFULLY CONSERVING WALLPAPER

he produ.tio. of watlpaper virtuail_vcease(l clurir-rg lhe l\rar/ putting a

prcr ium on old siocks in rvarchouses,

or rolls lelt in attics after sonr€j homedo-it'yollrself. Somctjmes after a. airrii.l \\.allpapcr came a\^'av fronr wallsh such a \a'ay that it corlld be putback- provided o.c col d obt.lin wallpaperpaste. ln 1940, manufacturc$ helpedthe householdcr bv introdu.ingspe.ially prepare.l packs oia drv adhesivc thit neededjust the addltion or:cold

sratcr kr become an cll:ectir/e pastc.Amdrg the hints for cleanhg or.rcpairins\\allpapcr that appeared in $ artjmer{l:)menrsmagazines'ere:

. lf the r\,allpapcl is $.ashablc (tesi an areabchnrd a picturc or nirror), dab jt r,'ithjust a snall amorini. of clcan water (no

. Clcaf non 1\,ashdble paper rvthday old brcad (stale enolgh not tocrumble), or with an lndia rubber.

. Rcmove grcase spots and nrarks r\ithbellzhe, painied on s'ith a sofr brcshand ..y ercess Lrloited ofi.

. Usc waterpahl carefullt mixed so thatit rn.tches the $,.llpap€r, to panr! over

. If ihere arc holes in thc plasler bencitha section of wallpapcr carefully pcclit back and fill thc h.rl€ {'ith Krsre'scemcntr $.ait Lurtil the cement is dryL,eforc p.sting back the wallpapcr.

. AhvaYs kcep all wallpaper, inclrdingoff cuts and strips, lcft over fron a clo

it-yourseu job. You may necd ihem forpatchinB damagcd paper

-8

DO T.YOI]RSELF ABOL]T THE HOI]SF

distnrcilr shabby by the lack of pajnis,wall-papers, plaster, scrci{s andnails, pllLnbing, €lectdcal bitsand pieces a.d other DIYmatcrials. So shabb,v werc some

of the houses that Anrericanscrvicemen, at.rlving in thc UK jn

REPLACING A FUSE

any womerL tr erc lefi to bringup their familv alone whjle thejr

' 1\Y..<'

\:",.

folcc .lurjng 1942, lrere \\'arrrcd notto shorv surprise at or to conrincnt on the state

ofBritish homes.

Durinlt the 1930s many ne\{spapcr.sr as parlof their on Soing circulatio. \\'ars, publish€d a

$'idc ra.ge of do it t-oursclf...l mike do andricfd books, and continucd to do so durinil th€i!ar. One rath€r ill-tirncd prnticalion lvas theNnrs Clrnr,;rLt Nladrtt Mal'e Do d11d l,4t L:1,

l\.hich covcrc.l rnost of the mhor rcpajrs a

wartime householder ould h.ve to cleal l,\'ith.lublished in 1939, it would probablv hare beenshelvcd if its editors had realiz.d ho$. scarce

thc mcnLling materials it ad!o.ated .ould

T ,o arcas irr {hich do it yoursclf took ongreatct financial significancc nr the lraritn1ehousc ihan in the hter-trar period r.€re thep,. - , . .Lpl r" .\. ru. -. -e' r1

thc hoLrseholct laun.hy donc. According toCoott Ilousekceplng magaznre, rvhich earlvin the rvar publishccl an articl€ on how thcBritish housoljfe could 'brdget for Vicknv','latlndryuok' and 'fueI - coal, gas an.:t

Plr..i.;r' v, r. i\pr.r,Fitems in thc weekly hoLrsehol.:l budgct.

Of thc three kincis of fucl, clcctricity rvas

c.rnsidered to bc thr fuel ihai could be mostefiectivcl), lscd in the battle on tlrc HomeIront. []ectricity .as sold for decades betorethe $ ar ;,s ihe up to date, clc.n and efficient\^ay to porrer the modcrn home. lvlinor

men fought lo save thcir countrv a-'1d

it helpcd if they kne$ a ljttle DIY tokeep the home rrinnint smoothl\r 'loda)'

mafl, wonren choose to livc on their()1{n, so learning thc Llasics has becomea neccssily rather than a luxurv if theydon'i \.ant to rely cnrirelv on the localhandyman.

. Ifyour clccirical appliancc h.s sloppedr\, orkinit, the chanccs are ihat thefusc has blown. Plirgs $.ill be fitteduith cither a l3amp or 3arnp fuse.lepcnding on the appliance. Checkthc underside ol the appliance forits rvattage, anyihing ol'er 700W 'illrequire a 13amp ftlsc.

. UnplL,C the appliance and unscrew thc

. Rcrnove the old fuse cartridge ftom itsholder.'1d replace ('ith a nerv one oflhe same ampage.

]f,vou applia,'rce still docsn't work/then thc ch;rnces are onc ol the .ires hascome loosc and you u,ill nccd b checkthat thcy are all in their correct terminals.Blue toes to Ncutralr Bro\^n to Liveand Grccn-atld Yello$/ to Earth. Oncethe wires are fi nly sccured, replace thecolcr and screw togcthcr.

THRIFTY T PS FRO\4 IHE WAR YEARS

.:.'

''e+

HIDINC THE LIGHTThe nrect liihts r)cre tu'tttl of it tijght tLlthctchiLItD be th;cl( t tti"ir,IitLcd1ritLt bldclto t notsinlnt tlLc lLti tulau. s. thtlt t ) .ltit* af light uDu ld stnll

electrical repairs ..d rnaintenancc, such as

chanitinS fuses and rc .iring light bulbs,became a basic of the do-it-v ou rsel{ revolution,in rvhich the houseirife l.as as much nrvolvcclas herhusbaild.

lviththe rva4 thccnrphasis aslarasclcctricftv$.as concerned was all on makint thc bcst useof it lr-hile reducing the amount onc used.The Elect cal Association for.htrmen (EWA)

changed Lhe contents of its pamphlets and

booklets from usi.g electricity in thc hone and-1,,.p*l l\ r lr g n ro F". i.d ,t.ir.io s.rving energ."r usjng electrical g.dgets less

thaj1 before a.d cooking fuel-efficiently .ithee ri.ir-.A I, t F,ool i.,lr :t,h,n.rd..-arlc{ hclp went bevond the snnple use of food,both rationed arld non rationed. lf thc), couldget them, many houser.n'es uscd half moonshaped sarLcepans, tiro of rvlich could bc fiitedbgeLner on one hob br gas ring), and heeded

all ihe ac1\'ice about not wasting fuel by over-,..1 i I i oJ. or'd \c le-pir,jt .r'er \,t r

Keepinil up wjth the fan1ily laurdrypresenled many Problems for thc lvartimeholLse\\,'ife. ]t lvas all \-erv rvell lor Go0d t/onsc

lecplrs to rcconrmend that thc house .ife

shoul.l nos. aim to savc cnergvby rectucing herivcekly laundry bill L1y a third lfrom l0 shi]lingslo 7 shillingsl, pcrhaps by sending large items,such as 'sheets, tablc-cloths, larte bath toi{elsand possjbly men's shirts' !o the laundly whilewashing Lhe 'smalls' at home. But thc fact wasthat man\, laundries soon cLosed complet€l)',thcjr stnff having clisappeared into wa/ s,ork,others put up thcir prices an.l othcrs closedtheir lisls to neu,cuskrmers.

Eleciric washins machines, althoush mide

DC TYOL]RSELF ABOI,TT ]E N'L]SF

BLACKOUT CUMAINS

T T.r\ rq i..,,\", \ \L,\ \,,,r.1 1,1li!hr

-F1,",r.". "*r;o',.1 rrl..t.ut.r eirn in.1o1! is belie\,e(l to be one oi thc mainirritati.]tls of the .artnne housc\\'ifc, butthis trick of mal<ing.r rooDr conpleieh.larl< js;,

Eo.,d one, an.l can aid a goo.{

nights sleep. To get thc blnckout.fri\:iyou r!il] need: measurint tapc, .Lrrt.nlr'nbric, m.rtching thread, bla.Lo!rbacking, scissors, pins, scs'jnB nachifc,curtairl roacl, l\ (Jrl( qUrta.c, irorr and

I Insl.ll the curt.rin rLrcl .1bo\ c tll.

2 Nlc;rslr€ the dislan.e bet$ een thc topoI the cLrrlain rocl to s h.rc IoD r nftthc.u'tains hr 6.ish.

3 Bul the.molml offabric rou nl]cd ..daf equ.l nnount of blackout backDg.

4 l-al lhe curlain iabric right sidc do$non yotu work surface. Sprca.l thcblackout ba.king right sidc up (nl thc

clrtain. liosition thc blackout backingso \' o! h.vc 1!r inches oi extra fabdc

s Fold o.c edse oithe cLlrtah fab c

orcr ]1 i.ch, so ilre cul edg€ of the.!rtni. js elef with the edge olthcblackout backing. Thc| fold the

.urt:ir'r fabrjc another -ll nrdr, so it is

o! c. Lher edge of the blackort ba.king.

!l!!",{,1.ft,i;

Sccurc the loldecl rdg. jn plice rlilh pins

R.pcat step 5 and 6 for thc olher €.1ges

of the curtain rnbric

Iolcl thc top edge of thc.urtrir orerI nrchcs towar.ls thc bl..kolrtb.ckjng,ensurc this is even. Pjn and stit.h inpLrcc.

tnstrt the curtain rocl through the Iol.lr r Lr l1.1\t ju. t ,,.rtci].

/t' .-.,91i

'.r"\tr

TF]R FTY T P5 FROI!4 THE VIAR YEARS

LIGHTING THE HOUSE IN THE BLACKOUT

rfhe \^,rrtrm€ blacL)ut h $ f,I mrny, theI gr rrLtsL lnconr enien.e ancl irni-rhon

of lhc r.ar. ,{lihough th€ blackout nreantthat no ljghts inside the housc could be

seen Irom the outsi.1c, this did not meanthat domcstjc lighijng had to be vcry djm,cver'r ih.rugh everyone was askcd io uselorv (-ailage lightbulbs, and to use thencu.ly available black or d:irkblue paintedblackoutbulbs. Also availablc r.ere lightfittings withbayonet fixiurcs able to taketoKh bulbs, that coulcl be pluilije.l intoa nor ral light. The torch bulbs, bcnrgunrc flec ied becaLLse thev ivcrc not ina torch, hclped reduce the dar.kncss ofhalls, passage 'ays ancl landings lvithoutthrorvnlg a bright light.

There i, crc disadvantaget of coursc, notthe lcastLrcifg lhat torch brlbs and batteriesba.ame \.ery scarce witl-iin i{ccks of the1\Jat starting. Then there \^,as thc increasedlikclihood of accidents a,ound ihe dimh-lithomc, if loo many ]o\\-tr:ttigc lightbulbsreplaced stroiger ores or too manl'papershades or cardboard boxes \,rere uscd to

dim barc bulbs. Rather tlran black out allwindo$,s, particuladi' thosc if bedrooms,man)'peoplc preferred to undress in ihe.:lark and go tu bed nr thc dark.Manufacturers like C.F.C. r\rere soon

recommenclnlg the sensible rather thanextuavagani use oi its light bulbsbehhdthe blackcd oL,t and heavily c']ftained\\'indows of the wartimc house to preverltaccidcnts and help prcscr\.e evesitht,too: 'Elcctrjc light is .hcap. Better lightbeLier sight'. C.E.C. and other Iighibulbmanufactmc.s entered lully into rrartimcsalvagc s.hcrnes, even pri.ting thervrappnril pape. round lighibulbs \.vithreminders io pul the usc.l u.rappers in thepaper sirlvaile box.

Il .as not ultjl Septembcr. 1944 that thestrictblackoul regulations if fringementof l!hich h.d led to 92s,000 peopl€ behgprosecutcd nr the colrrts - ivere relax€l:I,$'ith a 'dimrout' beint allowed in its placc.Many househotders lcft thei blackortnraterial in place -just in cas€.

in Britain and used in many honcs, l\erenot seen as valuable a domestic aid is, lorinstnnce, th€ vacllum clearer and anl\,aytheir rnanuiactur'c rvas abrLrptly stoppcd wilhthe rlar Mafl, house .ives djd not senll ol'ltth€ir lvashing lo the local laundry and chose tocontinlc b use a l\.ashing tul1, ivhich might be

just aslrnple tub wiiha \\roodcn \4.aslingboardin it, or it could be a doublc tub, .ith a r\dngersct up belrveen thc h\.o tubs a..1 whicf 1!askept in th€ scullery.

Ior all \qne& soap r.tioning, when it n as

imposed in |(+ruary 19.12, at the amotmt oi 16

omccs (l;09) everv four i\.eeks, came aimost

82

DO ITYOURSELF ABOUT THE HOIJSE

ALL HANDS TO THF MANCI.FTo make washdtry less ofa charc, mafher often bnolred lhe childrcn. Fot those fanihcs roithout the lu:cutV ofauashing machine, udshing by hand and sqkeezi g uater out with a na gle could take up n utnle dav.

THR FTY TIPS FROI.I THE WAR YEARS

THE MANY USES OF WASHING SODA

w*1-.1'*;11iI'11*;,*::'especially in the kitchen and sflrllcry.

. Used once a week in a strong soluii.rr!washnrg soda kept the kitchen sinkclean and its drain pipe frce of€geasc.The modem gas or eiectuic cool<cr also

benefited from aweekly clean i{ith hotsoda water The meat safc could be rnade

hy.gienically clean and grease-free bywashing it every rveek \,'ith hot sodanrLe- rhoror tl \ in.irlg;r JrJ.id'l)placing it ortof-doors to drv thoroughl).

. 1 /ashinC soda was used in nilder. s.rlutions as a water softcn lor laulrdl,\',

unlcss rcally greasy work clothes were

involved, 'hen a prclinrinary soak ina stronger socta solution u,as needed.

Softening ihe water meant ihat iess soaps,as nceded, so that the precious soapraiion was sa\,cd.

. The recommended solution 1.as 1oz(308) of r\rashing soda dissolved in Ipjnt (6001In) ofrvatcr This solulion l\'askepi in a bottle and uscd at the raie of Iiablespoon to every gallon ofhot h'aterfor every 5 degrces ofhardn€ss in tlrewater (lt rvas up to thc holrse$'ife iocheck ihe degree ofhardness of the locali{atcr lvith her $'ater company:) Thesolution .as added to hot s.aie. beforethe soap r.as addcd.

,-

-.i \,J\9 ' i'{tr ;

(!

r.,

as thc last sira .. \4an)' long favoure.l cleanjng

products had bcerl disappearing from shopshelvcs for months, ii not vear'S, but for thebasic laundry cleaner soap - to bc obiarl.blconh with ration coupons seemed hard hdccd,c\ c. il lhe allor.ance lvas caretu]]), apportioncd

Llct\\'ccn laundry soap l]akct laundry soap,

soap porvder and toilet soap.

Fronr nos, on, the rvartimehouscn'ife'shouschrnd cle;ners were much the sarne maierials as

hcr grandmolhers alld ijrcaFgrandmoihershaduscd:soip, washint soc1a, salt, anr m oJia, bleach

DO ITYOURSELF ABOL]T THE HOIJSF

/r'

i1

LAUNDRY

N i:;:1il"JT:'il:;*::i:1;*-the war. Lemorl, salt, vinegar andbicarbonate of soda .an all be lrsed ro

.lean and deodorise as an altcmaiive ioexpensi\.e, artifi cia1, pollutan! proctucts.. Addhg larnor juice in with your

launctry may secm odd, brlt it worksin many natural $.ays bleaching outstains such as nrk and fr.uitjuice, as

well as brightening whites arld leavinga subtle, fresh fraSrarlcc.

. Boiling soiled cottons or linens in a saltaj1d bicarbonaio of soda sohrtion .anrestore iiems to their original \,vhite.

. Odd stockings of different shades willcome out matching ifbolled in salty

. Use h'hite vinegnr in place offabdc

and r/inegat and also rainu,atcr a natlrrallvsoft lvater. Even starching hcr table linen \r,as

: problem for the houscproud \,vomen, bccauseihe best substihrtcs for laun.lry starch rveresuch farinaceous substances as flour, cornflor.rrand rice r.ater, all of rvhich rvere noi{ vital

One of the bigtest elemcnts of the wartimelauf dwrevolution i{as the recommendation togjv€ clothes a prclimjnary soak beforc lvashingand lhus do away i{ith the need to boil thcm,a r.ashing method fiat rrastec{ prccious

DUAL TUB

lor those ha s&t)iL'es htJt! *nugh ta bc nbb tonfJatd one, the nt t tsritish dunl tub illDutd vouta tla balh ltout lauulry tr d lput zaashitlg up bvsinrylt4 ercllnngnry thc dtutll.

luel. lvhite lincns such as bcd linen, r'hichl-o Ip .p ' r ilF ' .r- L. lp, cl o ?'. ir lr.whiteness .hen.otboile.]bvputti.g'blue', ordolly blue, h the final dnsing rvater. The bestqu.rlitt/ bllrc rvas block bluc, rvhich came a

muslin bat i{hich lras ss,ishcd arounc:t in the'ater beforc the clothes s'cr.c adde.l.

MAKING A HOMEIN WARTIME

The austerity tlnt reigned in wartime Britain was nowhere;felt norc seuercly than in. the

home. Obtaining even t'he simplest bdsic,like a uew Jrying pan ot a bed shrct, was made

hugely clifficub, iJ not impossible,Iry a series oJ government control order t'hdt either

prohibited prorluction oJ certdin ati.les dltogethu, ott prciluction jgurc1 or rigotously

onttolled the amount antl qudlity aJ mlter'idls that could be proiluced.

Itcms.fiom tables arul chairs, cups aw1 saucers, sauceptlns and cutlery to

electrical goorls, curtains, urpets and rugs were hard to obtain.

or most families in Briiajr! aheady in theilo$'n tully turnistud and equipped homes

at the outbreak of s,ar and rcmainintwell a .ay tuomwhat the govemment called the'danger arcas', thc u,ar became a time of austcri tyriiher thalr danger. They rvere not bombed outof their houses, thcy did not suffer so much as a

broken rvindou, oi a lost roof tile. What peopleput up rvidl' generally r{,ithout complaint alrds,ith a resigned shrug, i{a s an inabiliq-to r€place$.ith something nclv anv of those householditems that get n,om, danraged or broken in theordinary coujse oftlomesric life.

Unless you wcrc bombed out or were aboutto marry and start your first home, there r,"as

vcrv little chance of your getting nerr furnituredurinil the war - and aor a full eight yeals aftcrit. Secon.l-hand furniiure also became bothhard to get and prohibiii\.ely expensive as thc

war went on. Pieces of turniturc like plain oaktables, which mitht have fetched €4 at arictionbeforc thc \.aryere selling for six or seventinlcs that amount, cven in country auctionsales, by 1943.

11. n arr p obl' r .rbo Ull ;rlr, irrvariime .as, as u,ith so much else, a lack ofthe maierials necded forit allied, ofcourse, to alack ofworl<ers lo make it and factories to makeit ir1. Almosi the first measurebrolLght in by thegovenment aJter i{ar was declared in 1939

was i Control of Timber Order, issued by theMnlistry oI Supply on 5 September. This s,asncccssary to consel\,c stocks of timber a viial\,rar matcrial jnports of which would now be

se\,ercly cui, if not lost altogether in the face ofU-boa t a liacks in thc A tl antic an.:t enemy actionh the Baltic region, ivhere much of Bdtain'simported iimber came from. The Control ol

MAK NG A HOME IN WART MF

Timber Order rvas also a sign - if such a signwcre needed that dudng this war the shtervould have total control ovcr the supply of all

The Control of Tnnber Order limited sup-plies to a list of approved mamfachlrers only,who .ere limited to their cxisting pre .ar

stocl<s. They would be using it to mal<e, notmuch domestic furniture unless bunkbeds forair-raid shelters couldbe classificd ns'do estic'

butmostly cvervthing wooden nee.ted by theJrnr. d.er\ i,,. ftom r I F bul.'. nd n'*urilion...**.oRAl hrl-d rdTilirr r d,-l.,,nd!n i=.In lul)' 1940, just months before thc Blitz began,the supplvof timber fordomestic ftrrniture .as

cut completely, lcaving some pre war timber tomake small quantities of replacement tumiturcfor distribllting arnong the bombed-out. Therewouldbe no more timberfor donestic turnituRuntilApril1941.

As the bombing r.ent orr many localauthorities tathcred ioSether stores of secon.l-lund flLrniturc for meering the inmediatcneeds of bombed-out families. Qrlite a lot ofilis iurnlture w as rescued from bombed hou scs

by council salvage squads if looters had notrisked life and limb to get it first. If sah,agcd

furnitur€ was not claimed by its o\^/neIs, it \",,as

added to the courlcit's slore and was lent frceiobombe.:l-out fanril;es for three months. at ihe

87

THRIFryT PS FRO\4 THE WAR YEARS

WASTE NOT WANT NOTAld dnots arere sed as bed hends, steel tubit\ is the fnncuark ind cin\as fhe mattress t'at bunk beds inthis Landon air nid Ah.lt*.

end of which time they cor d either retur.n it

The government's 6rst move towardsmeetnlg ihe jncreasingly desperate need for

fulniture came in februaiy 1941 with thedevelopment of a range of cheap and rathershoddy Standard Emergency Fumiture. But itwas a step in the right directior! and Starldard

88

I.IAK]NG A HOIV]E N \.\/ARIII.,IF

Emcr:ienc\ Furnitlrre provided rhe starrintl' : l .o l . j J, n.1,.. .,,d .r. . ,.d( 8

Utilih iurnitufc. Thls quick[. Iol]otr,ed thcBoard olTrade's first! cnlLrleintol\,c desig.edsi.mclardisatior! Utj Ii r_y ctotlint, launchcd inthe sprinil ol 1912.

As i\-jth Utilit\ clothhE, so s,jth Utilirvi.r r re tr, .o..r, rr, r. ' ro, sh ,)" B..,r.iot lia.le, controlled for just lhe avaitability oftimber to make it, blrt n(so its design and thcprjce at \\'hich ii could be sotd. ln NIa\. 1942,the golernnrcnt issU€d .1Furniture (MarjnlumPrices) Orclcr rvhich covcrect boih nes, andsecond hand turnjture an.t iolo\.e.:t thjs upin lul)' with i. Aclvisor) Con1mjrtee on Lrriliq.FLrflriture, sct up L1) ihe Ilesiclenr of tllc Boardol Tra.lc, HrLilh Dalton.

Also as with Utilih. clothnlg, rhc bestdesi$crs available wer€ pur on ro thenincrnanAd|isorv Committcc, tnchding the ]eadnlgdesiilncrs Charles Tenn),son and corctonRrr. , ,r " .rr'- L i, ur.,an

John Cloag and tlfo representati!,es of theordinir)' consumer a vicar and . horLscwife.This committee u,as charged $,jth thc iaskoi o\.crseeing the prodllction of furniturc ,of

solltld conshucuon an.:t rnaximum economv oflabour and nrated:ils'.

lF ,'n., ,.. o. ,o a i,, r.t. n oF.;band co.suuctjon, displa),nrg a rinc fitness lorpLr... i \. r.',, n,.' ;r p oJr .- .

J,., r.. I t" I L r", h.. ^bF r.r i._shoclcl\' about its prodlrcttu. for instancc, aujoints r\.ere to b€ moriiced or pcgged, scre .s

ratherthir'r pirls u,eretobe Lrse.t, ancl thercwureto be no plastic fit 1gs, because pl:stic \,\ as .r1''.'rliJ \, I .t. ,lr^i,F. r..r",ancl strict adhcrencc to the u,artil]]c'rfastc not' Jr r I r'. - dl ., r--i r.

TTJ:L'ffiT:*:1:i* ".\.,,Lls nol to be rvastetulof matcrial goods,and that altcing, custornising or fixjngoru possessjons carr be sarisfying on ftecofscience and bank batancc.

Reinvcnt dull-looki.g turniitlle with a

fresh coat of paint.

. Ifpaint supplics are ljmited but yourmagnolia bedroom is dfivnrg ),ou mad,panrtjust onc -a1l a stuiknrg cotour

. Sk'ncil characters or pichrres on ),ourchild's bedroom l\-atts as an alrer.nativeto expensjv€ characrer rhcmed!vallpaper

Sand dor'n old $ ooden lurnihire togive it a new look.

. N4ake nerv cirshion co'ers our ofoldcurtahs or dress f.rbric tojazz up a rof..

. lfyou are borcd with curtnins $,hv notmake sorne or.at€ tie backs and hookthem back during rhe cla1,.

. lfvou want to change thc colour oftourfurniture but rnoncy is tighi, 1\.hy notrse sonre bdghi cotoured ituo$,s.

8t

l,,tA(NG A FO[.1E N \r,./ARill\r']F

"' i orldh ,,. ,,'an una.cept.lbl€ number of sreet sprirlgs, x,erel_ 1^

I I ' ".'t .'. r r I r,r -,.r o.,L.n.o,h,r,.r '.,,,r, ..

bccls an.l kirchrrl tableslltilit\ iLrrnltlrL€ was tnadc b\ 7t Lcos..l

....,_.;,.,,rnitain af.1gi!nrgjobs ro about 5000 rrork|s.lr1 th€ first r 'o months aftcr ttre schcme was

laufchcd, 5one 2:,{)t0 Lrnits ot Urilitv Lrlrntturerl ' \,, JlI r lr: po.r, r, u1

to b. \ er1. tamitiar Lltitft\, marL ,aclt,.ll rr,.., ... x"..-rt,p..r' \ rir .t rr r ..,.r..

tlot match rh. bcst Art Dcco an.t \.iocicl]risrlumiturc design ot the 1930s, x.ith ts rlibular

,| |'.'I J'''\ Ul.i''

I\tPlto\ ts \Th)NI th.se lntr;tics it,ho Ir,t tosl L) tt)t tjJ Jt., ttttLo.e,,Ip,orF,:i/rn rryrJ rtr..rtrl nrinh.

I

f.!

THR FTY T PS FRO\4 THE V/AR YFARS

UTILITY FURNITURE _ A COMPLICMED BUY

-Fhu il r\t ..rtrtu!rLe or Lrtrtriv FurnirureI ..,-.

"r " 1"" le.r \grrLlu,.rll

potcnti:l bridcs afd Broo)ns as jl r\.as

publishcd on \clr Ycar's Da]', 1.113.

Aciualll' obtainht an)' ofthe simple,

even rcstran-Le.tlv clcgant Picccs offtI.iturc in thc catalogue would not b€

a cimplc nratter ol choosing lvhal lou\larltcd a.d the. addi.g lhem tol,oLLr

\\,cd.hrE prescnts lisi.To begin r,'ilb you ha.:t to prove that

you l\rere eli$bl€ ror thr Llnits thatyou ncc.lcd to bc ;rblc to buy Utilillfuhiturc jn the 6rsi placc Bebg aboutto be tnardcd, ncwll nrarriccl, or havingbccn bonrbcd{ut, rvcre the nrain criieriafor eligibilit\', .rl1d it also helpe(t that amallle.:{ couplc vlcr'c .bout b sta.t a

famil),. You got ) our application formfrom thc local Fuel Olfice anct, rvhenconplated, subnrilled it to the local

The Assistanc€ Boad issned you \ritha Buving Permit. \\'hi.h cont:nr.d a

spc.ific n!mbcr of Util;tv furniturc Lnils- sixiy in thc fircL Permit booklet andconsidcr.blv rcduced thereafter. These

,crc noi.rrouEh to nllor. tou io buycvcr\thnrB vou rv.rulcl nee!:t 10 fLLrnish

a new home, so t ou rvould bc naking ;ver)' calcful choice. Jl vou r! ere .lllocatedn h)tal of 25 or 30 Units, l'ou \\.oulci be

unllkell' to bu) both a .lressnrg lable(8 Unils) ind a tallboy (alco 8 L.its)r\,'hen vou reallv needcd a rvardd)e(10 or 12 Units, dependnrg on sj,c).

lhe Buvjng Ircrmlt c.rvere!:t a sp€cifiec1

Ai:a ofValictil!, iimiting it to a shop.ilhh a 15 mile radius ol lhe address to

r.hich lhe furniture s as to bc deli\.ered.The Buylng Permit also colr!ajned the

Priorlt) Dockets )'ou had treen allocaiedfor the prrch.rsc ol such esseniial nelrhomc cxh.s as !urtain materinl, flmrco\.ering, mattresses, blanl<ets and shceis.

You w€re unlikeh b gct a tick besideever_v ofe ofthe Prnrrit! D()cl<cts lisled,and specitic quantitics l5 square yards

of cllrtain nlatclial, 20 square yardsoi lnroleunl, or 12 sheets, for i.st..cc

r\.ould b€ includcd on the Dockets

'ryj"d,ffi,"f.

MAK NG A HON4E N WART ME

.as clearly s'cll built and simpl_v designedobviouslt of bctter qualily than most of thcr"\ r'.rb ,r'ih.L 1., h o bFFr ,-i'Blitnif dudng ihe 1930s. It also sccmed good

io those visiting thc cxhibilion ihat fair pricesha.l bccn sct o. the Uiility funiture.

While Utilit), rurniture l\.as fine bl' nost ofthose who werc oblahin:l it to replace \^d1at

they hac{ lost \\'hcn their homes had been

dcstroyed, a lerv modern yourlli bridcs-tcbewere less enthusiastic. The.e were half a milliulmariagcs in Britaif e\.ertr l'ear (turing thc s,:r;rvhid-L ncarlt that ihere rvere also up to half a

million bddcs a year hopinil to stalt marricdlife with a honrc of th€ir owLr, an.] s'ith ncwfurnitllc in il.

Vlaggie Blunt, a writcr and assistant on an

architectural joumal, condded to the dial), shckept for N4ass Observalion that her rcccrltl)engaged ftiends N{cg and Roger were findingthat furniture, $l1ich had become either lervexpensivc or siDrply unobtainable, $,as thcnajor diificulty in their pla.! for setting up a

newhome. Meg l\'antcd evel"*thing tobe ultr.1-modem no doubt i{iih iubular steel francs,si,vlish Art Deco fabric designs aj1d smoothlyctltvedmolrldcd plyrvoodtothe fore !i,hercashertianc6 favourcd old oak anct copper. Neithc.had nruch hope of getting whit tlrev likednr 1943.

'I think []\lcg] is ini.luenced by hiJlhbrolvcriljcs ln architectural afd art press,' sighe.llvlaggie Blunt in her di.t jn March 1943. 'lsa14. [Uti]if' ft1niturcl in the Building Centreand dlought it miSht have becn nruch rvorse...if Meil had seen some of jt in Bo rmans beforelhe war she uorld have chosen it 'ithouthesitation.' When N1cg,'radiant in powd€r blueaj1d navy accessorics', n.d Roger weremarrie.l

V,,u cin use most krnd\,,r rrbrLc toI mrl e .oLourful raH russ .rs long

as vou call cut it into strips and it $,i11

stan.l tllc r,vear ard tear. Thare are manydiflerent methods blrt this one is the'hooking' version nade on canvas 'ith a

largc crochei hook, or lntchet hook.

. Firsi dra\a'your shape on a piece ofcanvas in feit tip pen.

. /orl< oul your pattenr on a piece oipaper orjust norl< randomly \,vith yourchosen fabric pieccs.

. Cut or tear stlips ftom your chosenlabric and relax in the eveiing bvhooking them throrgh the canvns.

. Braided rugs are madc from long plaitsofrnalerial $'ornd into rounds or ovals.This il'pe of rug is very hard1^.earing.

HOW TO MAKE ARAG RUG

-*rq i'1f

THRIFTY T]PS FROM TI]E WAR YEARS

in June, they \^'ere .el] a\^'arc that making a

r- !\drrin.F ! d. r.r g.i-g

C- V BB:, B u'l Jr. o. I hu.r-i, bshorla:le by no!\r was acute/ fulniture was

scarce and expensive, there \\,as littlc domesticrvare available/ or y ve{r limited supplieso{ crockery and cutlery and bddes needed

coupons for furnishing fabrics and linens.

Althorgh crockery i{as not iationed duringthe \a'ar, its plo.luctjon rias severely hnitedwith .tecoration a.d time-consuming floralpnttclns or poitery actually being banned

in February 1942. ln carly sunrner 19,12l by\\rhich tnre currcnt supplies of crockery rvere

an esumated onehundrcd million piecesbelowminimum needs, thc governmen! banned iheproduction ol all blrt n .arrorr range oI simple

E]\4ERCENCY BEDDINGThe home afthe ForeQn S€crctdry viscotutt Halifaa at E8 Edstoll Sttlldtt, LoltLia)l, be mc the oner!,en[ve trc for clothh g, bed ditl t dnd.tack?nt, nldn ctl L,y tnonbt:ts of thc wvg.

I,IAK NG A I]OME N WART]I\,]E

NEW LIFE FOR OLD SHEETS

/"11 d ttorcrk.+rif \ tq43 rdi rce onLf lo.l<,nH rfter sheeti h.\ ctrrr nLrrt

precisc. Itbeganwitha rccornmendationthat ci'crv housewife shoulcl keep aclose eve on her bcd linen so that shccould dcal l.ith any wear and tcarbeforeit bccame irrepalablei there r,vas littlechancc o f i I benlit replaccd wi th anvthingne{, until the $,ar r{as over.

A sheel .orn in thc middle could easilvbe given sevcral morc _vears of good Ltsel

First step cut your sheet jn halflengthwa)'s do\a'n the ccntre nfd jointhe selvcdges by hand in n Rat s€am.

Machine-stitch the outer cdgcs [no .

the thin parts of the shcctl. Th€se thinparts rvill go under thc mallress \\fterctherc's little stranr on thcrn, so youl Ie-madc sheet is almost as strong as

The Board ofTrade's o\,vn shcct-careleaflet advisect r{'omen not to iron foldsinto the sl-Lccts, as this carscd

TF]R FTY T P5 FROI.,I THE I/VAR YEARS

HONEY CAKE

'112 g bLLttet ol tnrrtatirc250 t1i| run tthonell1cgg, totll bcite250 g sdJ riisntgJtoIt1 tsp bi.itbantlte oJ sadn

% teispaon !,ro nd citnat)1l)tl

125 mL saur ni\k bt 125 111l ttilk i)x.n aiY2 I eds poa n rL,hitt t itkgn r )

75gchoppedn ts

. Preheat thc oven to 35il'F / 180'C/ casmark 4. Creas€ and flour a 13 x 9 inbakifg lin.

. Crcam the butter or nrargarine h a

l:rge bo$'I, then add lhe beaten €gg.ndhoney.

. h1 a second bo\.vl, sift iogeth€r thebicarbonaie of soda, flour, salt al1cl

. Add altematcly $'iih the sour nilk tcr

the crcalrred butter mixturc. Add the

. This should resembte a b:itter. Pourinto the prepared baknlg tnr andbakein preheated oven for 35 minutcs oruntil donc. Testby insdti.g a skerrer orkjifc into lhe centre, this r,ill come outclearl rvhen the cake is cooked.

ilhiie domestic pott€rt, a small nrnount of thc6ne china th.rt England rvas iarnous for rasnllo'ect for thc b ansatlantic h ade.

]_he government was not una\\Jarc of theseJilr.r .-. Ar h L.lir) ,r-,rr-,.l,L,iri^rin London if October 1942, the Board oa

T)ade ha.l also displayed sonre of the netr,,.;.

(,,, .. "

slyle crock€ry being madc by companies likcod. The potter! shourr on the Udlitvtable r\,as plain hite and simptlr

dcsigned. Somc of the pieces wcrc design€.1foLdolLble use. Many cups wcre desisn€c] trithourhandles (arnatcrials savmgploy) andone couldbe tufllecl inb a jam pot by snnphr putting thelic:t of the tc.pol on it - ahvavs assunnrg thnrthe teapot u as not itsclfbeing usecl.

Thc t|uih rl,as, that it l{ as thc governnentiiself that had done most b make clomcstic

,.r."rl bl. \ . o .r.,j Iclio.t to divert raw matcrials and ,orkrrs

''hr.r d,' Ll ,eor.rr., or.r i

a LimitatioN of Supply Order in lrnc 1940

which was anrc.l largelv at the domesticcorsum€r goo.ls market. Anlong the sevcn-Leen classes oi goods rrhose productiorl i{asdrasticallv cut back to ttro thirds of the 1939

level \verc domestic cutlery, potter)- andglass\rare, cx.ept for vcrv sinple jugs, rnLrgs

and tunrblers. A sidc effect of this order wasto send prices for th€ goods no!\. limitedspiralling upwards. Another side efect \\,nsrl-, Lr'p o Jr, ,,r . | ,. .ir .eer n-.rg, l

sonre pubs and nran_y homcs.Ne\a. kitchcn rvare l'as also so scarce that

nany brides started rnarried llf€ wirlr jusi or1€

saucepan in their kitchen, whilc rheir mothersseriouslr regrctiecl the entlrusiasm r\ith whichihey had gn,c. thelr alumnrtLm sauceparrsto Lord Beavc.brook's Spitfire Fund in 19:10.

I,4AK NG A I-]OMF N WART MF

Hcrc, again, thc government n.ns la.gelyrcspursible for the lack of kiti'hen rvare. l-romthc iritunrn of 1941, the Board of Tlade had

been licensing all 'hollo .rfare' production,including pots and p..s, kcitlcs, buckcts (kcpt

6l)ed rrilh \a.a!er in mant'homes in readinesslor putftrg o!t lircs horn incendiary bombs)and cvc. galva.is&i baths (essential jn lhenrany working-class and poor bonres \a.hich

coulci not boast a baihroom).Liccnccs for producing hollos-rvarc wcrc

only givor to those rnanuiariurers who agreedkr cut stvlcs a.d desig.s lo the minimallysimplc. Productior targeis were also cut so

.lrastically thai, is a Board of Trade sur\.ey

.liscovered in 1943, onl,v one in four $'omen.ho ha.t trieci to bu), a frving pan in thc

prcvjous month had m;nagcd to do so. Thcpublic was indccd, as the Board ol Trade

adrLittcd, bcing subicctcd t.,'con!i.lcrablcnrcorlvc,licncc al1d diificulf' a.d \\'as also

s,asti.g tjmc, gctting tired and wearin:l outshoe leather itoinil from shop to shop, none ofrfhich was good lor molalc.

Anoth.r arca ol hlgc djiiicully io. thehousei{ifc was n', l<ccping hcr honrc prcperlvpro!'idcd with floor coverings, solt lunrishnrgs,L r, i d ., ir ., rc l-..r lr . r rr ,.1|g

texllles and carpets and rugs ('ere all lnclLrded

in som€ sort of govemment pmduction - ornon-production - or.lcr. Ru8inakinE, olienusinij sclaps of fabric, unravcllcd u.o(nlcn

knit!\.ear ancl e\,en old stocknlgs i{ovcn on toa piece of sackhg or hcssja., bcc.nrc a popularpastime duling the w.1! while many Lrnlikelv

fabrics were use(t for curtains, cushions and

A popular curtain fabric rvas thc iabrjc ba8sthat flour and sugaL camc nr. Thcy corlld bc

FLOUl{ BACS

8..a1!se fdbri( i]ns sn hd to cot e btt Ll rittsLh( n\]t veirs, the bry. thatJl.D.ane in Mrh\.nd1Ld, d1ttd, uttst'it.htLl antl nntle i|ta tr id!ffi nge af ho us e ho I tl t...n t i nl s.

unstitchc.l, bleache.:t anll clved a.d thcn nradenrkr a \a.ide ranile of houschold essentials,nrcludjng curtains, cushiorl co!crs and leanJ]lcls - lhc laller haYnlg bee ratidrcd, .longi{itlr towels, in October 1942. Bcd sh(ts, rnade

onlt in cotton, not linen, during the r,var; \\,ercalso rirhr.lly unobtaxlabl€ r\dthout a I}iolitvD. . Ho, -e'\ i' P, , . Bi\. .1 '

advi.c, bolh in theiL nagaznlcs and by theB.d, .l lr ,dF o, .o. ,. 1 .. ! J l .[

91

THR FTY TIPS FROI.I TF]E WAR YEARS

bcd lincn to cisurc that it rvoulct lasl 'for th€

Pcrhaps to prcYen! householders' moral€

sirldng to rockbottomdudrgthewar the Boir.lof Tracle an.l othcr org:inisations .egularly puiorr exhibitiorrs that looked towards'the honieof thc iuturc'. I. In.Lrary 194.1, the British(,.., 4.,.'.:l i| trf or

nftcl thc $'nr whcn setting up home ma)'

be a brighter process than is possible undclpresent rcstdctions', as Tlrr Ti,n.r put jt, 6lled

thc gallerjcs of the Royal Academv in Londonwith an cxhibitior on'Colour in the Home'.lhc e , di-p. . ,, .lo r Ul ,i;r ir .sitijn:j, nursery and bedroom settings and

sone rvonderfully coloured potter)r kitchen

\\'are and decorating latcrj.ls such ns p;rintI .r '. r,,\.r.'.h.u.oe-liorr or )e o

dccoration in civil aircraft.It h ould bc sonre years before any of thi!

madc a mat.rj.l difference to the a\.erage hom€

in Britain. l-umillLre rationing did not end

until th€ summer of 1948, and I-rtilitv furnitur€jtsclf lvas phascd out only in 1953, ih€ _vear olElizabcth TT's Coronation.

NOTHINL] COES TO \'\'A5T[w- 0 tn a t bfl1m. attq t a t ts i :: e.E ry s d rp of fibr i c

thelt hni ta nkc seful itett:s s11tlt ns nlno 5, shat

a.'. 8 1 dal tt ..1.

98

l/lAK NG A NOME N WARTIVIE

HOME CARE AND MAINTENANCE

e'\.e already noticed some

insenious r\ravs of fillins saps inhousehold essentials, sue'h as jam jars rordrinking vessels. Hele are a leR.more.

Thc 6ist Uijlity flrrniturc ra.gcincllLded a smal set ofbook shelves(open backed, so it \'ras not a book cas€)

which cosi 11 12 shillinss aj1d requn€ct

seveftl Utility Fumiture units. Anearequi\.alent could be made out of a couple

of applc boxcs, stackcd onc on bp ofthe oiher. Slacks ofbricks, picked up onbomb sites, needed a couple of planks ofwood io becone book shelves.

FL,lniil,re and wooclen floors could be

polished (and their surfaces protecte.:t)

with a polish nladc from a nrixturc oluelted candles and beesrvax.

Black leading for stoves and

6replaces was replaced by more thanonehousewife by a blacking made ftomcrusheci used batteries, aj1d brass an.:t

copper 1\are could be cleaned u'ithvinegar jn whjch snlt had been dissolvcd.

Whiie tnbleclolhs .ere often madeirlto shccis, a.d, con\.erselv,lace bedcovcrs .olrld rnake srnnri curtains.

Ablanket worn ihirr in the middlecoul.t be 8i\.en a new lease ol life bthavjng a scluarc ol flanrlcletie nachinestilched io the mictdle in a'quilting'

The pieces offabric h tailors'samplcbooks rvere used not bv thc houscwifcon her orvn so much as by groups ofhouservives in thcir WVS nreeting room

- to rnal<ebedcovers. As Nella Last noicdin her Mass Obsen'ahon diar\,r the ofesshe made averaged about /scvcnty-sevef

yards of machinhg tojonr caclr piece

rvith a double rorv of stjichirrg ard a

double stitchec{ hcm'.

v!!W,'G.it

Antrone \a.ith hens in thc back garden

\^ras caretul to keep ihe fabric bags inwhich chicken rneal n'as sold. Unpickcd,\^.ashed and perhaps dyed, they madegood cushion covers.

WARDROBEMAKE DO AND MENDThc Luartime 'Make Do dnd Meul' slogan as Jarnous as 'Dig Jor Victory'

utds jrst heard in Britain in the 1930s.The aJtetmath of the Gteat Recession

saw d gredt ise in tfu numbet of househol.ders rloirg all kinds oJ houselnld

maintcn.ance and rcpair work themsclvcs

100

I./ARDROBF I'"1AKF )' ANLl I"4FND

MAKING DO

repalrs, fron dealins r,ilh lalrltv ball' \'. thntugltcocl<s a.d rcp.irjng cracl<s in thc plaster qour uunlrtilrclo repairjng r!.llprpo'

Thc $'nr put n. (Ird Lo largc-s.alc 'c1o-it

),ourseu' r'ork sinc€ the necessar,v m.lcrialss'crc cnnplv not availabl€. lnste.1d, 'Xlake Doand \4end'bec.mc thc Ercnt rvartjmc nlantraio. thc holrscuilc a.d moth.r stmggling, notjust \,ith pluinbins ind plastcrinS, .ur tains ancl

shcets, but rrith thc oft.r. .ljspir itinB busirlcss olcl.,fihg her.self and hel i;rrli11: Shc knor' ,.'ar11

on h the $ar e\'en beiore publication of the bigLinrit.ti(n of SupPljcs Ordcr with its ominousrcldu1.c to donrcsti.'tcxtilcs', h lunc 19.1{1,

thar clothing was go lg to Lre a problern.

Shc \as right Clothhg wai officiall_v

rnliorred, \\ ith inrmcdiat(, di(:ct, o. lJun. 1911.

\ '' r' ld^ l. I r'-l:v jn thc fn.t that in pft -$ nr Llrit.rni nost oithen.ti(rr's clothcs Ntrc na.lc at honlc, b\ a Luge

numbcr ol sn;ll 6rm., crnplovnig s.me hali a

million n.orl<crs in ma.r s.r.ll i..toi.s Nonthal thc cor.rntrv was ai \\ nr. thosc i..torirs arlc1

the peopie \\.i1o 1\,orked in them r.ould hare tobe m(J\ ed into tlle munitions indLrstries.

E\crlso, rnan) rncmbcrs of thc to\'€mment,p'1rticr1l.u1) the I' ne llinster, \\instof

o1'r osrlr: RECYCLED SC-{R\iEs8..d,r\c qlrrti,rrl]lg. ft!r'Lcr rr"r': Lxen io !,ct tlritln,ds o, d'rr/ ii.rrs tlrrt..rltl h,:lt) tnpntc thdtloDk.. Thcst ltot|clt 11( 1) uvtrg r.rr?cs rtrr./r ,r?l"ntu rrt,if t,!.11.1|l1 cstrttc tmts.

T Tpdi ns \ our e ' rst]ns \\ rrd roLre

LJ t.. .u.to,rr',,,: '

o,rL .1.tfcs r.nr

cxpress rour lndn iduality and creativitl:For the more aclept, altefilt the size orshape of a ga(ment can brcathc nctr litci.to a tircd oritfit. Ilasier touches such as

addins zips, badses or losos can siv€scloihes i more interestirlil look.

Tf vou are r1d coriderlt withyourso!'jng skills, \a.hv not organise a clothes

sr,appnrg part,v r,'ith some friends.\a"}rv riot !isit vour lo.a1 charitl shops,

it js ;rnrazing \a.hal bargains you c.1n find.Take tim€ to rep.lir vour clothes rather

lhnn ius! !h rowins them out.

1it1

THRIFTYTIPS FRO[4 THE WAR YEARS

Churchill, werc reluctant to bdng in clothesrationin& ihe Prime Minister iejecting the

scheme rngre than once. In this, he misreact

thc public mood, as he was genero s cnoughto admit laier to Oliver Lyttelton, thc Presidentof the Board of Tra.te. By now 1lscd to loodralioning, people .ere ready, cven bapp)', toi.L, ot clo.he. rd o ri.8 e\. r 'il n-. rl goinb'in rags and tattcrs ou ihebureaucratic or.lers ofa mnlister', as Churchilt had j+or'le.L becausc

it mcant fair shares for all.h1 his riireless broadcast folto\ dng thc

rationing announcement, former businessman

Oiiver Lyttelion said optimistically that hc

kne$'all thc wonren of Bdiain would looksmarL despite clothes rationing,'but 'e menmay look shabby. If .e do ne m st rrot bea'h n rd I r l\or lhe a r 'bd F-.tr'n, /- i,an honourable one.'AncL he r{ent on, everyone

shou ld remember, r'hen thcy bcgan to feel tn€dof theil old c]othes, 'that by making them doyou arc contributing somepartofan acroplane,a gun or a tank'.

Whak\.er else r/as ftL,c in his broadcastabout clothes rationin& Mr Lyttelton .as rightabou i the different approa ch to cl othes raiioningtaken by men and womcn. ftroughoui the $,.ar,

'lookint her besi' rvas promoted as the Britishs,oman's patriotic duty, lvhile thosc men noiir u, iiJ r .n .lre rvl-o e n..de lillle or Lneirnlcreasingl)' shabby wardrobe.

Tllc clothes rationing annour,ccnent s.as

rnade on a Sunday- the next day, shops werecrc .ded as pcople rushed to get in stocks oleverything they thought t\ey lvould reedand which rvould soon be unavailable. or else

night soon need more coupons than had beendll.l:alcd V.u ) ppoplF -anag.o ou..uptheir

102

WARDROBF MAKF DO AND MFNT)

NO EXCEPTIONS

Eoen n rces anri paliceuomen had to gipe up some

of thei prcciolts clathing caupons to obtain parts afthe nifofn. Here a palic.erooma is Suidiry some

eDacuees lo lhe trui to takz them b the safery af

allocation oI coupons in one go, forgetting t\atthere was a whole year to go befole they wouldget any more. Women in uniJomed jobs, such as

nulses and policewomeq also had to remember

that they would be obliged to give up some

o'rhpir ore(ious.oupor5 lor l,\irg- li . Ire'nurse's dress or official-issue stockings.

One saving grace of the new ration scheme,

as far as women were concerned. was that haiswere not included in it. Hats became the onearea in wafiime where women could reallyuse their ingenuity to smarten up a pianloutfit. Although turbans and haimets becamethe headwear of choice for many womerl,.,pccially tho-e11'loworled ;n ua ;ctor;c..wherl it came to social occasiolls, women likedto wear a smart little hat.

On the whole, the clothes rationing system

was better than that of food rationing, becausethe coupons could be used anywhere, ratherthan in one particular shop wherc you had

_ to be a registered customer Even so, thewhoie business, with its coLrpons, pointsand categories, became so complicated thatthe Board of Trade was forced to order thepublication of a small booklet (price 2d) calledThe Clothing Caupan Q iz to help people 6ndtheii way through the maze of rationing as iiaflected clothing, footwear and knitting yarn.

Another major problem with clothingra, o ring dr it tool Lold wa' a .uoclcn -odrillgin prices. Even if one had the rjght numberof coupons, high prices - €42 for a suit thaiwould have cost 14 guineas (f,14.7]) in 1939,

or I12 for a 2s-shilling (f1.25) nightdress putmany clothes beyond reach of the average manand womal. Eventually, the ever-r.atchful

Soveinrnent stepped in.A year after clothes rationing was imposed,

the Board of Trade annornced something new,l^'hichturnedouttobesomethingverywelcomeindeed. This was the Utility Clothing scheme,

announced in a Civilian Clothing Order in lune1942. Utility clothing, like the Utiliiy Iurniturethat came after it, was a governrnent-conholledway of ensuring that what clothjng Iabdc there

103

ilR FTI: FS FROI'rj TFE r,'iAR YEARS

THE VICTORY ROLL

Tn tlrr lite 1910\ th, \ .n!\ I{!llIn. ''n, ,'. '., rhu rrHe.lt \, r' h.rhpracllc.l .nd .cit, .nc] all(^!€c1 $ om€n

to rc1nif lheir icnrinifity. This hairstlLeis nraking a coneback ard, altholrgh itis casl to rcpli.nie, vor s ill need ampl!:

sllppll€s oahai.spri! ar.l plcntl ofbobb,v pinsl Als{,, yoLr hav. to remenberth.1t lh€se lverc th! d.rs bcfore hair.trl ers so womcn LFcd to pin rh€ir\\et halr into crLrls .ud slccp il1 th'\no\.r.ight ((J th.rt tllelr llair 1\ ns e.sicr r)r.nl in thr nrnIi.g.Thc actresses 8€LL1

Grable nnLl Rit. Ha\ tr 'rrth

both Llsed to

r!e.r thcjr hajr n the !i.torl roll styl...

D€c]d€ lrhere l.)u 1\.Lrlt yo r parting.cnhc, lidc or €xtreme side lhcn |art,1our hair ..rl sc.tiLrn it otf behin!:t er.ch

Cboosc rvhcrc y tn r artt to stn( l orriirsl roll. Tlold this qc.tion ol hair bv

the end n|d slosl,v roll it up, t.lkhg.nrc t{J catch anY stri,v h.jr! ;r.d adrlingthrm n) th..ir.l. ofhail asvoLr go. Roll

Lo1!ards thc rcntrc ot Your heac1.

. l'Vh.f thc circlc 'rf

h.1ir has reached rours.alf, sceurc it next to rouI p.rrtjn!t

usingbobLrv pins. Spraj .ithplenlvolhrirspra) to keep it in plicc.

. Itcp!at for. thc scconcl cLrrl.lnd posillollso it is c\1I $ith thc iirst.

BFl'IY CRABLE

Tirf r.lr.r: n.il-y GEll, ifr:!_iliir.rs.tiy rl1'llrirrE

rrr irrir irl r rl.tut rlti

s,as rorlld be used to olike it'€ll dcsi8nc.l,$cLLrnacle, price contLolled clolhes lhnr \u,l.llnsL lnst.ad ol bcing r.stcd on oler prlced,

shoddill, mnde.l0thing.lop Lonclor c.ruturje s, ln.lu.ljng Hard]

Amles, DigLrt \T.rrton ..Ll thc (.ltle€n s

dressmnk€rr Nonnnn Harhr.ll, rcrc asked to

'1.-'urt.r'lop.oatj and srjts aor L.oth men and w.rrncn

aLld two klfds of drcss f.n $'.nn.n. Ihefirst3ld€slgns werc sho1r. i. T olrdo. i. scpicnber1912 and Ulililr rlothing (1It o. s.rle to the

]

g€neral publjc ii Spring l9ll, c.dl itcm ha\ing

WARDROBE IVIAKF DO AND [4END

GOING TO THE Id\CESWlcn it cnl1le to sacial occnsiatls ualnen lowd to 1t1ett i nice suit md a snlart li te hat, espccia ! il thF!uere Sartg tu the races.

a label with the Utili!y'CC41' logo prominentlydisplayed on it.

Tn the spidt of the iimes, Utility clothinghad a pared-dowr1 practical and almostmilitary look about it. The Board of Tradei{as slernly practjcal in its instuLrctions iodesigners and nranu{acturers, issuing a set ofregulations rathar grimly called'Ausierity'.Under Austerity regt aiions, men's suirs were

allowed narrow lapels only, arcl no turn upsto the trousers, and women's clothes shouldbe knee- not ankle length and would be cur onsevere hles.Therelvou)dbeaminimum numberof buitons and definitely no unnecessarytrimmings. Most peoplc liked Uiility clothing.As vdSre said,'Now leveryonel will ha\.ean equal chance to buy beautifully dcsignedclothes, suitableto theirlives and incomes.It is

E

105

THR FTY TIPS FROI/ THE V/AR YEARS

HOW CLOTHES RATIONING WORKED

lothes rationing meant the

dislribuiion to e\.eqrone oi ratiollcoupons. Unlike food ralioning at lhis

time, the clothes rationlng scheme

involvcd from thc bcgirlnnrg a ponlGsystem iD which every iiern oI ralionedclothirg, includnrg both olrier gannclltsand underwear, was given a pointsvalue. The greater the amolrni of materjal

alld laboul that went inio a garment, so

its pohts value tr,as higher.

ln the first iifleen nronths of clothesr.iionjng, evervone was give. 66

.oupons, u,jth thc 6rst 26 ol thenr comingin thc form ol thc Unused nrargarjnccoupons in the current food rationbook.This was becausc thc Board ofTradc u':sso crmcernc'd to keep clothes rati.rningsecrel io pre\-enl hoarcling and ihedevelopment of a black market, thai itdid noi dare begh prlnthg any clothing

The first clothing ration books,

contair]ing arO coupons, appeared a _v''ear

after clothing ralirDi.g was announced.Thcrc t'crc thrcc dificrcnt colouredbool<s, nldicating that they corrtajned

coupons for difierent calegories oIpeople. These \\ere nltended to last

until lhc crd olJull' 19,13, bul everyonchad to make do \a.jth the 60 coupons

u.til Septembcr 1943, with the nerv

books contanling onlv.10 coupons,

so insuffi .ic.l had clothrng textil€production i. Britain become. The 1944

b.roks coniained 48 co pons, blt those

lssued in Septcnbcr I9;15, when thes.ar in Europe lvas over had onl),36coupons. This, agajn, \a.as becaL6e of thescrious lack of rvorkers in Brltain's textile

The Board of Trade, havi.g do.e sornc

s€cret research inlo ihc inroufts andtypcs ol clothes thai most people bouilhtcvcrY )'car, thoughi that 66 couponslvolr ld bc sufficie.t for the purchase ofonc conlplcte oulfit every y€ar. With an

overcoat for a man requirinti 16 couponsarL.l one lor a u,oman takhg 14 coupons,

1\llilc i shirt needed 8 and a dr€ss 11,

this seenrecl optimistic. l\hen the dress

rcquircnrcfts oi lhe chanilnlg seasons.ere laken inio accornt, 6ar coupons

each for every man ancl \{omnn not inunilorrn in the counhv began io sound

Therc rvere more genelous .lllocationsfor i\rrkcrs in henvy ifdrLstr\', for.xpcctant nrothers, for babies anci fordder childre,r' rvhose clothes rectuired

fen'er coupons ir1 acknol\'ledgement old1c fact that grol\ing children quicklyou t-grew lheir cloihes.

WARDROBE MAKE DO AND MEND

UTILITY CLOTHINGFow models shau off the netu utility fashio s.Thefirct and thitd. Jron rhe I4t are weaing otiginalWestEnd fashians uhile the athet tua are uearing ass-produced a tfts.

a revolutionary s&eme al1d... an outstandingexanple of applied democracy'.

With new clothing now so severely rationed,taking care of the clothes that one owned becameall the more important. In 1943 the Ministry oIInJomatior! acting on behalf of the Board ofTrade, produced a smart litde boo19 illushatedwith nea! clear line drawings, called MakcDo and Mend. In his Forcword, Hugh Dalto&Plesident of the Board of Trade since earlv

1942, quickly thanked everyone for acceptingclothes rationirg so readily and repeatedlhp b\ now s. -horn plx-d,c. abou ..,\ in6'much needed shipping space, manpower andmatedals, and so assisting the war efforf. Hisrnain point was that the conients of the bookhad not been dreamed up in the dusty officesof the Board of Trade. Rather, they had beentesied and approved by the Board's Make Doand Mend Advisory Palrel,'a body ofpractical

107

TF]R FTY I PS FROI,I THE !\AR YEARS

peopl.', mostly s(nncl1'. |olr. of l,ldir D0 rlrdMe,rd's fi!'c chaplers .ere concerned rrilh theesscntial rnittcr of clolhes care. l-irsl/ and moslimportanl, cane a chapter on making clothes

last moch longe! b! storing thcm propclh,,rrr'.:rB .tJ. lt r".,n) ,.. . ) , .i-

and d€aling r\ith rnoths beforc tl-Lcir grubs atc

clothes matedal. Then cnrnc a lcngthY ch.ptcrdetailing the conect r(a) to mcnd tcars, d.nlholcs, patch cloth€s, rcpair bhdings, andcarrl' out the manv oth€r kinds of repairs thatclothing might nced. This $,.s f(tlos,cd bt/chapterc on \,\'ashing and .leaning .loihes and

on renovaftrt them.

Last of all h Mnke Do L1 d Ml,d canrc d

chapt€r dc.ling lvith l<njitecl woollen gamlenls.l\ il,i. I..., d .. o,e,r-i., !fabdcs, Llnul the government forb:d thcir usc

in clothing \\,ere nnch h dcmand ibr thcr .l ,! o r,"" .loh". n ro.t d pr-.i.,. n

the eves of rvomen \\'as knitting wool, whichr\,as rauoned. Wher1, likc cvcrything else, ner!'u'ool became an increasingltr rare sight h theshops and on narket stalls, womc. tur'.c.1

l.'- -it pd -r.pa-, f,.rr.Jl-,.ri rl-L

chests of clrarvers and ottomans io m;,,ry

If a j npe! caLdigan or pajr oi hand knjtteclsocks or gloves coLr)d notberepaired,smaftenedup, lengthene!:t or shortened to srdt anothcrchi ldin the family, then the], could almost alwavs bc

carefully unplckec:t, unravelled an.l krlittcd upagain, perhaps together \\'ith other wooh orthe same rveight bLrt different colours: strjpes

becanre a major design ac.t1lrc in \a.nrlnne

knitwear. One of thc rnost jmporiant sections

i\ ^4,k:

Do n t Mai. l<fitu,cnr chapier 'r'as

the one tellnlg thc reader in detail ho{,\' best hr

prcp:,c:.d rrash unravellecl \\'o(rl to n:ikc it.eidv io. k tthg up agai..

Thc busincss ot clothnlil oneself and onc'slanlily in rvartime l€d ve4, quicklv to a nci{t:kc on the 'rnake do and rncnd' ..d 'do it..r=. Irdl,ir rl., .0. I r',nr.to, -odress-maknlg rab.ics, indeect f abdcs of all kinds,i{hcthcr nr shops, markets or storc.l arvay athomc, bccame rnuch soughrafter \\'ifi cbcksa!ailablc to lhe public clisappearing quickh.

\' 1.,.. \r'r 'rr L.r ..- r il

Bauorv nr Furness h \]lay 19,10 rvas delighledto tlnd the'job loi' sialls plle.:t high with.1rcsscs, coats and shoes, man)' of thcm bcaringthc tags ol n large Southport storc. Shc boughi. r I o ...l '.1.r ' I. cl.-.1.-. i, ,

lor 1s 11d, becnlrse lt $,as b'lclh soilc.l frdndropping on a dustv floo1' n'hich she plamrect

p .r'lLcss than a trear later, nr N,larch l9rll, thnrgsi!'cr. \'crv difler€nt in the markct, which hadlost its joyous spirit. No\\r \ella notc.l jn hcrNlass Observation c1 r\r 'grim-r'a.cd rvonrenqueue and push ancl hunv oli to n.other.tr.,"\lFr - cl. lr,. lF.,rl ,r ...lcisurclincss.... Round the remnant stalls thereis a dilfcrort crol\.d. lhere's no hu]1ting tuonl

stall b stall lor a bargain, to make a silk slip orblouse or "somcthi.g Lo make oul Willie a Littlc

OP?OSITI: GE'I' KNI'ITINGT) []akc ertru dothca for th':h' ch;ldtctt, nnthtls nntl lrnrldnnthtts btitttt jLt ryers LltLi ctnit( stlits l;kt thc

o e th js tadtlt: t is r)edtiil g, b1t ,nltc knq .hi totpti s atlt oth(t toollr n ilu)ls.

108

Yr'ARDROBE [4AKE DO AND []]END

THRIFTY T PS FRO\4 THE WAR YEARS

CLEVER WAYSWITH KNITWEAR

T Tcre ar€ some $ rLtirnc susse\r'io,rs

ntor e'ui,r; moLe *ear time to oldor badll, woln knit\a,ear:

. Give a newlookto a jumper r.hoseslcc\.cs havc lrecornc wonl, particularl,v

atihe elbows, by cutting ihe slee\.es

olfabove the ctamased seciion andbindnrg lhe edges oI the norv short

sleeves $'ith a contrasting braicl ribbonor strip offabric cut onthe cross. Put

the same binding rouncl thejunpcr'sncckline lo cornpleie the ne\.look.

. Remove the sleev€s from a plain-colouredjumpel by mpicking themat the should€r line. Knii nelv sleeles.l,r'ith a mixiure of different colouredrvools knitted in strip€s (r1 largerpanels. Knit a pockct h the sanrc

patten to ser! on thcjunper's front.

. A knitted gajment that has shrunkor become matted canbe carefullyunpicl<cd, fiict tacking o!'cr any

1)nmatled sections so thai the siitches

do no run. Once unpicked, ihe variouspjeces of the garmeni can be usedjust like pjeces of clolh and cul inloshapes from a paper pattern. Nlatted

wool cloth works i{ell as boleros,

waistcoats, dnldren's coals, caps .j1deven rndoor slippers.

| |].;)

By the tjme the seconct clothingrntior book 1\as issuecl in 19'13, a

corintrv $.ide sub culture of self

help and helphg,vour ncighbours had

.lcvcloped. 'Scrv anci Save'became as

iam;ljar a heacting on all those ilovemmentpostcrs as'Makc Do and Mend'. Eveninginstjiutcs, tc(hnjcal .olleges and Nom€n'sgroupslikc thc WVS anci WI set up se\,ving an(l

kniiting classes to h€]p those, u,omc. an.i me.alike, \'ho had ncvcr sct n siitch or lried to knitanythnrg, cven a ltanket s.luare, in their lives.

Chil.lcn's clothjng anll shoe erchanges, manl'i l" -' .n'd(',p\\\- "po- .o ;r

,..', Lr '.l.. .,rtlo F .,'er-d "d\i.Fcentres \\'here people could take their !\'ofl1-

orlt clothing and gct advicc on mending anci

rcnovating it.At thc ncjghbourhood l€vel, !\,omen rvith

sci{hg and krliftnrg skills set up mendinggroups to hclp their neighbours and, rangingwidcr, to take illand rcpair the ll,orking clothes

and overalls of local rvar u'orkers. As the ajwcnt or1 and such basics as pins anlt n€€dles

and scNin:i lhreads became scarce/ manyrvonlcn $ith sewnlg machines .oul.t holdse$ing partjes to .hich other women rvoulcj

bring tbeir precious rag bags and pi€ce bags,F ., cr".. l" d, . ,,i, p.,J ,,; h,

c r.r u ..r .he l.tne, - r

thci| ranljl,v's clothjng cupboards an.t dra$'ers.With kniti{car, especiall}r home knitting

skills werc uscd morc rvidelv than jL,sL torhomc an.l famil], use. \4any a WVS or IVIgathering 1\,as conceflred with shirring ouiprecious supplics of knittifg rrool so Lhat thicks1{catcN, scarles nnd socks coul.:t be knitteltf. n '.'" r - r ' n. -Po..,. \J n. ojr ir

thc cold North Atlanlic or €ven further aJiel.:t.

110

\./VARDROBE IIAKE DO AND [4END

PATTERN FOR 2-NEEDLE MITTENS

Approxlmate sizc lor childrcn notincludnrg the ribbcd cuffl

Srnall 5 inches lons (13/in thumb)Medium - 6 jnches long (1% in thumb)Large - 7rl inches long (2y{ in thunlb)

Necdles: Sizes 1.25 mrn (18) and I mn (19)

. Cast on 34 sts.

. Rib in K2, I'2, across. Co.tinue ribbingior 20 ro$'s. Last ltow increasing to 38 sts,.l sts evenly spaccd.

. Change to laiger needle and work instocking siitch (st s0 f.rr 6 rorls.

. Placc markerbettreen middle ti{ostitches. (18 lrrd 19th) add hvo siiiches,then place another marker, brk in st stincrcasjng 2 sts evcrr other rorv betr.€€nmaikers LLntil you have 14 sutchcs- Putthesc 1 4 stitches on a hol.]er for u orkingthc thumb later.

. Contjnue workn'rg in st st addi.g 2stiiches unde. the thumb once. Work inst st until total l€ngth of the mittcn is 8.5

inches. (Or up to thc top of pi.t<y fi.Ser).. Start decreasing as followsl

Ro ' 1: *K 2 tog, l<nit 8*, rep . across.

Row 2 and all-evcn ro .s. Purl across

Rol^ 3: *K 2 tog, knjt 7'l rep i across.

Row 5: *K2 tog, krlit 6*, rep * across.

Row 7: 'K2 tog, knit 5', rep - across.Rorv 9: *K2 tog, knit 4", rcp r across_

Row 11: . K2 tog, knit 3., rep - across.

Ro$. 13: Krlit 2 iotethcr across.

lvealc yajn through stitchca leavinil a tailfor se\a.ing side seam latcr

Thumb:. Pjck Lrp thc l4 stitcb plus cast on an

addltional2.. \'Vork lhe 1rr stitches for l0 ror\.s in st sr.. Ne\t Rorv: l<fit 2 tog across the roi\'.

Wcave yam through stitchcs and leavc rajt

for ser,ving thumb seam.

HOW TO INCREASEIOftcn seen as'Tnc'in pattcrns, the easiesr

r av to make a stitch is by knjtting in thcfront and the bnck of a stitch. First knitin the front of the stit..h that needs to bcifcreasecl but instead of sliding thc righrlland necdle to thc froni and tal<ing thestitch offthe left-hand necdk, tilt the ri8hthand.eedle so vou can rvork a stftch in theback ol the loop ol the sane stirch. Nowvou can slide thc tlvo r1e\^ stitches off thcleft'hand nccdle and proceed as nornral.

111

TNR FTY - P5 FROI'.I TFE'"IAR YEARS

1',2

II

WARDROBE MAKE DO AND MFND

I

l

i

I

KNITTING FOR SOLDIERS\MctL the ga?erntnent asked peaple to star! kttittins t'ot aw atmed lorces outsens, people of alt nges tunkrjthe b ha d ta maknq sacks, balacla.,lds and athet mudl eedai itelns.

As a government-issued poster rcmindedeveryone/ 'OuI Jungle Fighters Want Socks

Please Knit No{.', and therc r,as space on theposter for a local .ouncil to add an address forobhnling information, patterns and wool-

The wartime enrphasis on making do andmendin8, knttinS and sewnlg, reached into allpdn.. SLhool , h dre r ner. S \ Frr ir-. uctionin kniiting and sewing, and everl ttlmingshects, at school. women and a fcw menlritted on buses and trains. Manufacturers

turned their atiention to providint srch tlingsas tnrser-bottom protectors, replacementtrouscr pockets and patches for repaidngdamaged clothes. Professional laundercrs anddry cleaners offered dyeing seNices, nrcludingdyeing garments to a lighter shade: 'ArLtumnfrocks plus-dyed a liShtei shade for Spring',advertiscd Clajk's D)'ers, offering to dye t-\4'o

ftocks ror 13/5 (approx 66p).Like rood and fumiture rationing, clothing

rationnlg did not cnd until well alter rhe ,a1.tI

t/''']ll

THRIFT/ TIPS FROM THE WAR YEARS

As far back as January 1944, Hugh Dalton,

President o{ the Board of Trade' warned

that although he promised to do his best for

civilians, he had to say that 'a continuance of

clothes rationing, with modifications', would

be necessary 'during the transition ftom war to

peace'. Clothes rationing was not phased out in

Britain until 1949.

The President of the Board of Trade might

say more than once that to be shabby was

actually to be Patriotic, but the British people

also made heroic efforts to be well-clothed and

not too shabby during World War Wo. It was

quite an achievement. Although the colours

could be described as drab and the styles rather

utilitarian, women still managed to look elegant

and made accessories to enhance their outfits.

CLOTHES FOR CHILDREN

These war tod.dlers qre being kitted out wlth warm winter clothes that hnae bun kindly donated by the

Americans at a depot in South West London.

114

WARDROBE N/]AKE DO AND MEND

RAIDING HUSBANDS' WARDROBES

he u'ardrobes olmen away in the

armed forccs or too concerned withtheirwartimc jobs to lvony about theircloihes, ploved a valuable asset in the

business of replenishing womcn?s 1\rartirnc

r.ardrobes. Even the Board of Trade Bot nlon thjs particulir actb)' includnrg a sectioica11ed 'Men's Cloihing if to Women's' in iis1943 p]ub)lcation Makc Da tr d Ma1d.

Particularly valuable targets were men's

overcoats and jackets, withtheir splendidarnoults of warm tweeds and r.oollenfabrics.'A t{.ccdjacket could be cut do!\.nto !,our o ,n measuremenis and you couldthen wear it wiih a flannel skirt and a galpullovel' recommended Mrke Da nnd Me d,

blandl)' ignoring t\e fact that allelnlg a

heavy tailored tarmcntrc+rired more

than a iittle skill. Despite this, adaptingmen's coats and jackcts to fit wonlen was a

comnon practicc during the rvarThe good qrality black malerial jn a

man's dress suii was too good a \^'ar.trobe-

replenisling opportuniq' to be missed,

and many women madc thcmsclvcsexpensiv€ lookin& neat-fitting skirts frolntuess tuousers andjackets ftom thcjacl<ct

of a dress suit. The $'hite shirts worn wiihclress sUits coulLt also, whcn unpicked and$'itl tlre sta]ch anct dLcssing u'ashed outoi them, be re-made inio smart \,vomen's

shirts or children's clothes.

Rather easier'!vas another renovating job

tackled by many rvomcn: himi.g lrousercil] to skirts. Even plusjorirs coulclbeunpicked aJld convcrted into skirts withouttoo much holrblc. Th€re was usualllrenough fabric in a pail of plus-folrrs to

Dake t\,'o pai$ ofboy's shorts.As for worn silk tics no rvoman \,vith

a plain dress to tdm could ignorr: the finefabric jn ihese. Stips of sill< tje couid irjmcoliars, cuifs and plackets of drcsses and, iflong enough, be turned into belts. And, ofcourse, there was oft€n a young sol to bethought of. A R.orn tic, cut nrore narrolvlyand shorier would be idcal for a bov towear on formal occasions.

Another male gamref t \a.eu slLited toconversion was a heavy winter .tressing-go\^,n. Its shoulders taken in and sornwith a leather belt to prll h iis vduminousfo1ds, a dressing gowr-r trade a verv Boodlight-weight .omaI1's casual coat.

.\

tl

6'i.(t

115

WINNING THE WARBY SAVING AND

SALVAGINGWhdt toddy's gefiudtion k learning to call rccyding, and which tue arc doing

to lrclp 'sau: the plantt' , th. Lt) time lefierafion krew as 'saluaging' , anti tlid

i.t ta \arc lhe \ation.

hroughout the war, the Minisiry of

lnfonnatior! working onbehalf of other

minisl cs, notably those of Supply alld

Works but also the Board of Trade, oPerated a

huge propaganda machjnc the main Puryose of

rihichwasto persua.:te every mnll,'omarl and

child in the country that it was their patrioii.duty to save, economise on and salvage cl'ery

scrap of material that could be 1lsed tohelP the

From thc outsetof ihc sah'age camPaiSLr, the

larger local authodties .erc letally rcquircd to

or8anise the collection of sal ! age intheir areas,

u,ith some of &e responsibilitv for this soon

being passed downthe chain to smaller towns

Selling as much as possible of the rnateri,l

salvaged hclped keep downlocal ratcs

Iust as the Ministry ol Food's 'Poiato Pete'

arld'Doctor Canot' charactcrs helped promote

its food self-sufficienc], propaS,rnda and the

Boaldof Trade's'MrsSe1 -and-Sew' promoted

nake Llo-and-mcnd in the honlc. so the save

an.t sah.agc propaganda carnpaign nrcludcd

two cbaractcrs called 'Privatc Scrap' and thc

'Scluander Bug'. The former pro oted toodsalvage, lvhile the lattcr, an unPleasantly

hairl', bug-shaped, swastika-wcaring creaiure,

featu€d as a sort of devil's advocate for

Hill-r p , n rirt " d.l' ..nd .h" 'qu"no-rirgof resources, aspccially money. ln facL the

importance of thc Squander Bug camPaign lay

in jts message that snnply not spending was

the important thing.While benlg as economical as Possible with

fueland food n'ere the ma planks inthe'saveand salvagc' exercises of the wat there were

also mant' other aspects of it that reached innr

aimost every area of thc average person's lileFrom pjgswill bins in the streets al1d pileq .lsaucepans from the nation's kitchens destnle.l

for Lord Bcaverbrook's'Spitfire furld' to $'aqre

paper gathcrcd up by Boy Scouts, dassware,

116

V'INN NG TI]E WAR BY SAV NG AND SALVAG NG

tins, lcath0, rubber (a M:ic West[lqackct cou]lt be madc tion a pairof W'clljngt.rn boots), elc.h.ic bulbs

the ho sel\'jfc u.as told, for fcrtiliscr),th€re \\'ac little that corlld not be used in thefi9h1, first for suNj\-al and then for !i.tor\r

As eveLvthinB had value ln thc busnress oistr€tching scarcc resolrrces to thcir limits, ltbecanrcse.ond nat rc n1 cvcry h.r usehold in thecounirv to re-use or recycle almost cvcr,vthi.:a,separating jt nrto differentboxcs orb.gs, rea(lylortaking b. colleclion point. Salvage rvas notjusl left to evcryone io get on with nr their ownrvair.lfter onc or tlr'o raclio broadc.sls homgovernmcnt mjnist€rs plus a iew \finistrvol Inlormauon aclvcrts if newspapcrs andmagazirl€s. Thc ollicinl National Salvag€scheme workcd lnrg€lr tluough such roluntarl

. !, .r., ir. \.(IVVS), r\,'hich organjsed sah age shops, .lumpsand collections poinls, not iust nr large townsbut in remot€ \.illagcs.

The WVS and,\RP warclens bccame themain org.rniscrs of salvage collection, with helpIrom ol.:ter childrcn's organisatbns lilic the Bo,v

Scouts ancl thc Cirl Gul!:tes, and also i|on1 th€

f oulh se i.c orgarisauons. Youn8er children.1lso bc.ame an important cog in the snlvagc.l'',, lrl-.d r", .h.r r -r" rr.,ll .: r

.orps of junior salvage collectors callcd'Cogs',lvith their orrn Co:t Brtll. So,/.g, srng to thc tuneof Th{t/ll Akaivs lte rn L gland

t h.1t lL rl,L)rtts hr o tltst11it1

Ta t 1'( lit itict.t!So tteit it right rui kt it fightFor ho tc rnt liblttu\/Ve'll irj thjs rat kr:lttlrr

SQUANDER BUG

ere;rre sone suggcstjons to help

. l!.ake shortj(rnleys by foot o. bike,leave the.ar athome.

. Tnvest in a su permarket 'b;r I for life'to caq, vour shopphg in.

. Usc local recycling banks and serviccs.

. Choose a sholver over a bath to save

. Build a conpost to recvcle ),our

. Use a \.\'ashnr8 line llste.rd ol theturnblc clrier Nhcn the !\.eather is finc.

. Don'l lea!e clcctrictll applianccs onstandb\,, hrm then off at thc nranrs

.qtI

1i1

J|rl b ltteres .llrl .r fim r l bo[es ig"oJ \

THR Fl-Y IIPS FROM THEWAR YEARS

SALVAGE DEPOT

The wv S (Wome 's Volmlary Seft)icd "ntoad

sdbnse n! a depat uhere eurvthitLg hds ta be

]f duslbi s tnenn as tnuch to rtoLt

As dustbins nean to me

Dan't se itfor lour PaPet

at fill it fup roith tins

FDt o11ly tt st, nat b its of . t ust

lNerc meant to go in bins

we'll l)i this ianr to:aethct

If dustbins tLca as m ,:l1to yol|

As dLtstbiils t enti to tne

'lhe old est bils aJ cnrdbaattl

Am dll be used dgnin

h's quite iaell k ouni cutlet L)onc

Will nake an aeroplanc

We'll win tlis t\tr lagtther

\!JNNING TI]E WAR BY SAV NG AND SALVAG NG

If tlustbl e te tns fitch ta lalA. dunhius nPn, ti nl.

The s Bllest ttirce of hrWill tv i la i *ut5a!nt il t n Ll shaio ,s horo

Thr bnLLI( a bc it)on

\\t('11 ir 111 this ront togeth.l

A. eisv t$ ca htIJ dustbins tLct:t rs iuudi tD !a11

As ,lusLbils tt|rtL to e

Mctal rvas a particularlv importarlt \\,arnraterial, and a sclap metal dri!c \\'as laundl€das early as January 1940, du ng ihe Phon€ytr\ar, with most reclaimed metal being takc.b),thc Minjstry oI lvorks. There h'erc tu,oparticulaLly famous metal salvage campaignsdurht thc war: ihe Minister of AircraftProduclio& Lord Beaverbrook's call for lhecollection ol sauccpars Ior Spitil€s, and thecorlpulsory disrranilinjl .l1d taking awa), ofthe iron raili.gs round parks, gardcns a.dhouscs, both of .hich lrere launched n1 1940.

Lord Bea\.erbrook lras a nervspapcr ma8natc who kne\\. all there $,as to knoi{ abou!hor\r to use ne\{spa}rrs to run a campaign.His manitlsto, published in n€\,vspapers

in Jul), 19a0 and gi\.en enormous impctusb_v a lunchtnnc broadcasi app€al on 10 Julvirom Laclv ltcadnlg, heacl oi the WVS, askedhouse\\'ivcs to 'tu.n yolu pots and pans landkeliles, vacuLlm cleancrs, ha tpegs, coaihangers,cigaretteboxca and muchelsel into Spitfires andHurdcancs, Blcnhenrs anct l\iellinijtons'. Thcrcrvas an immcdiaic afd exiraordinary rcsponseironl thc public, rvho raided their kitchens to a

dcgrcc tllal as the $ar scnt on nfd nrelalwarebecame increasintly djiiicut! to brLy, began toseem ai best re$ettablc.

If the'sauccpnfsforSpitfires' campaitirl $,ns

ultimatcly a waste of sauccpans 'l slpposea fter the !\.ar the\'il mclt thcm dorvnand makesauccpans an cl lhings,' said th vomn. in a I9,11

Ihnch ca.toon \.vatchint Spitfircs ove)headthc campaign la.as a grcat slcccss as . raiserof money ior rrar planes. II a cit\', or group olpeople or cvcn an individual, in Britanl and jn

thc countries ofthe Comnronwealth, raised the!5000 snid to be the pdcc for a Sp;tfire, theycould ha\.e one nan€cl aftcr thcm.

.^s for the park railings carnpailiJr, mostpeople likecl it at thc outset {or it ma.le parksand publi. gardens easily accessiblc, diy and

'or r\Fn IoJSh !.r{ .L., r.,l o e.

continued lo close plain lvooden gates ai night/just to nrake lhe point that this \\'as a save anct

salvagc scheme for the duation urt].lnrealit\tit. no1 tL.nIJL;i' . ro.hp. ,d. .rthat socjal equaliil' was bcing brought nearerb), the rvar and that thc rvcalthv and privilegedcoulLl no longer expcct to cut themselves offfrom orctinary peoplc behi.d high rvrought

fi'aste paper tr'.s also a ma]or theme of thcsave and 5.lvage campaign. lt $ as.otjust lhatpapcr was going to bc sGrcc aryl\rav becauseits nranuiacture used csscntial resources an.l., Jp(ll..or. f .c. ,,.., ,, p.-.d o-tookup yaluable space in ships. But paper was

,. r. r;J r \'.r ir h. I "l ir't .tr\.ide nngc of Lhings, from thc rvi.g tips ofglidcrs to the heating pipcs jn a bomber BovsScouts became the nntidr's leading collectorsof $.ste paper. Vilginja \'\bolf thought itlvorth mentioning in her diary in NIay 19.1{l

119

TFR FTY TIPS FROM THE WAR YEARS

PITECIOUS RUBBISH

P pib af tsurghleq Rodd Schaal, near St Pn rrr's Statian, LanLla ,britlg lheir strldtge cantribtttians af ald

tlet)spayen, ca lbanrd boxes eh', to a \afty ta ringthtbarc 8h.

that she had been inte upte.t in her rvriting by

the jangljng of the door bell and by thc nowfamiliar cry of'Any u,aste paper'ftom a small

b"t . ' rh ..*.nt"- .on-F . -upo^.ed.'orthe ScoL(s.

WhenGood HorstfteeplrsranaPaperSalvagccompetition, offcring pdzes fol lhe bcst

suggestions for both collecting paper a..1 f.r

findnrguscful substitutes for it, they had a largc

responsc. The many suilgestions ranged from

the lairly obvious: kcep a designatedbail orboxin the house into which every scrap of paper

(don't forget those bus tickets) and cardboard

should be put, and 1lse fir cones, t$'igs, driedbrackcn, lcaves and garden rubbish instca.l ofpaper to light ihc fire, to the ingenious: sava

1?O

W NN NG THE WAR BY SAV NG AND SALVAGING

THE VALUE OF BONES

D ) lq44 rndnv people. viewing the

Llsalvage dump> piled high with oldtyres and rubber boots, rusted iroryleather boots and shoes, rags and bones

that littered many an open space in townand country, were beginning to feel thatperhaps they had done enough on thesave and salvage front. And as for thatbin or basket of bones kept just inside the

front gate, so that it would not be trippedover in the blackout it was a target fore\.ery dog in the neighbourhood and

smelled badly in sr-rmmertime.

A timely newspaper advert fromImperial Chemical Industries (ICI) aimedat lccping everyone up Lo lhe.avingmark by lroming in on bones as a goodexample of the magic that the chemistcould pellorm to make'neh [orm:. ari.efrom the scrap-heap like the Phoenix fromits own ashes'.

First, [bonesi are treated with solventsto remove the fats from which is madeglycerine. Glycerine treated with acidsbecomes an explosive, nitro-glycerinefrom which is made cordite.The degreased bones are then steamedto yield glue and gelatine which, withglycerine, go to produce a wide rangeof articles from printing rollers toadhesives.

sAwtGt ililps ilililG A RtSfltE uAXilt

O l?f*rj'l.G;1l]"'

What then remains of the bones may beground into a fertiliser or feeding stuff, orheated in steel retorts to extract bone oilfrom which many drugs are made.

All that is now left is a charcoal calledbone black... even this is used insugar refining and when spent, rnay beburned into bone ash and [used] in themanufacture of china, or as an assay forgold and silver!

All this from the chickery beef and lambbones taken from the kitchen and tossedinto the bones bin or basket in the street.

1?1

THRIFTY TIPS FROIV THE WAR YEARS

REUSING FAT

Tl ven todav used cookins oils and

-Efut, .ur-, b" ,".vclecl inrl bioluels.These biofuels burr-r *rr.h .leur-,e,

than other forms of petrol or diesel

and are therefore much kinder to the

environment. New biofuel technologyhas been developed by engineers thatturns any fat source vegetable, animalfat and even oils from algae - into a

high-powered fuel for iet engines.

A POUND oF FAT ?'{i{\. ri cNorrcl.

lLljl ffiP'*"IEZ t ar,nrr.lr,wrsn

, llllt'atRcR Fr/

'r1E'rr9,'s4'da/ Dd.Nr a rzr

aN rlrvAsroN oBJ5crrvc/

envelopes by {olding letters neatly and sealing

the edges with the sticky paper from the edges

of stamps, and use a coat of paint, Americancloth or Cellophane rather than paper to linedrawers, or just leave them bare.

The non-availability of writing paperbecame a major annoyalce in an age whenthe only way to communicate with a father,

son or daughler or husband serving overseas

was to write to them. Even W. H. Smidr, one

of the nation's leading stationers, was forced to

confess in its adveftising in 1942 that it couldslill ofler a fair' choice of writinB paper5 in

other words, a small, limited amount - so the

company advised its customers in distinctlynarurying terms to use it carefully, fill bothsides of each sheet of paper, and to write smallin close-spaced lines. As Messrs Smith said,it wasn't just a matter of making a little go along way. 'Paper makes MUNITIONS so please

don't forget to out for salvage every scrap ofold paper and cardboard in the house.'

Saving money for the natiorL, such as bybuying Defence Bonds instead of a new hator some other treat, was a major thread inBritain's save and salvage approach to winningthe war. The National Savings campaign spent

huge sums of money during the war exhortingeveryone to contdbute to the war effort byputting their money, not into consumer goods,

but into some form of National Savings.

lhere lrere large advertising campaigns,

many of them aimed at readers of women'smagazines, propaganda films intended forshowing in cinemas ald even a Weekly Saoings

Nezus programme broadcast on the BBC everySunday evening, carefully timed to follo$' the

6 o'clock news broadcas! when most people

were sitting round their wireless sets getting

122

WINNING THE WAR BY SAVING AND SALVAG NG

WAYS OF USING OLD PAPER

!SAYTWASTEPAPER

/a

3,,,,,.

[ : lhis old American poster lold us

f\during Lhe b dr 'Paper packs a punch,

save waste paper!' There are many uses forold newspapers, so before you throw them

in the dustbin why not consider some ofthese alternatives.

. Use old newspapers to make an unusualwrapping paper, you can always addthings like a bright bow or a piece ofribbon.

. Crumple up balls of old newspaper andstuff them into the toes of your trainersto remove nastv niffs!

. Use crumpled up newspaper to givea final buff when you next clean yourwindows. See how your glass sparkles.

. Use several sheets of newspaper to

protect the carpets in your car from mudand dirt.

. Wrap green tomatoes in sheets ofnewspaper and layer them in abox. Close the lid and check everyfew days until the tomatoes hgve

ripened to a rosy red.

. Place a sheet of newspaper in the

base of your vegetable drawer in the

fridge. Not only will it absorb odoursbut it will also stop it getting messy

from rotted produce.

. Roll up newspapers and tie them tightlywith stririg. Use them in your fireplace as

an alternative to logs.

. Use newspapers as mulch in yourfruit, vegetable and flower garden.

Alternatively cut a hole in the middle ofeach sheet and slide it over the plant tohelp keep weeds at bay and moisture in.

. When sending fragile items by poslshred up some newspaper as protection.

123

THRIFTYT PS FROI,]]THE WAR YEARS

ANY OLD IRONA11d'railablc sch)p met,tlTrss eed(.tl tt) nntulru itions nnd lhese 1" nrc '?t1tol'iry thc it\) nilitrysfroj

Sp .cr Pardd! i,Na hdlttpl.m ds llttt aJ trdl'odge schtl e'

the latest news on the progress of the i^'ar' The

National Saving Movement's Wir Savings

Campai$ eventually had nearlv twclve

thousand loca l comnittees prom oting the 'orkoi the hundreds oi thotsands of individual

savings Sroups that werc soon set up inoffices,

factories, schools, Altl posts and nrany other

places. the groups nr schools cnablccl pupils

to bu), Nalional Savings Stamps, rvhich thev

put into a specjal savjngs book Thc nain task

ol all thcse grouPs \,vas to encouragc L\e ihdfq'

use oi monel', ideally by eithd saving it in one

of h, \4n. en-. '.,\,r8- *hFrt ' r pL I rr-

it into special savings drives promoted by lo'al

salings groups from as early inthe u'ar as 19'11,

by s'lich time the tlueat of jnvasion had almosi

These'savings drivcs', wlich usualll' ran

. \\\f ! \v DBwsrv\a \D5 v/,4 \a

dramatically rcfcrrc.l to as'a pedlousjourne\' on the high seas to fetch... papcr'nil'olve.l holding on to rather thanputting in the salvagc box old bills, letters,

ncsspapcrs and matazines that had been

rcad, {.rapping papcL and car.lboardboxcs, cvcn bus tickcts at1.1shop receipts.

Destroyirrg thcnr at honlc \{as cvcrl s,orse?

said the E|r,trrond, edilori ihis'asdestroying the means of making BLitish

{,eapons as surel}, as if the householderha.l h€lped blo . up a nunitions dump.

fhis high flo{'n rhetodc illustrated a

l,iew ol sa!e and sah'age that took on whatcould ha\.ebecome a distinctly arlti-culi!rc

DER BUG

tone if ithad been let ilet out oihand. Ol.:t

books, nr corl.asi lo books prifled on

lvar trconomy Stanciard pape! began lolook like valuable stocks olhjgh qualilvmaterial, rather thanbooks in their o$,n

riglrt, u'hilc thcir oiurers r.crcbcins hrrncd

into Squ.nder Bugs by keeping them on

h 1943 the \4nisiry of Suppl]'promoledbook drives that had brought in 56 millionbooks by October O11l)' six mlllion ofthesewere sparcd by scmtin) comnlittccs \\'hich,havi.g set aside very valuable books, used

the renrainder lo repl€nish librarv stocks

and to providc thc annecl services $'jihrcadnlg nratcrial. The other filty milliofbooks r\,ere pulped io make paper ior ner.

HO\V TO BE A PAPER BAG SQUAN

D econrinB a s.tlra.dcr bug, and thtsLl forcjng a ship to nake rlhat the

stcrn cdik)' oi E1]rryzoo,,rdr magazine

for a week in each localiqt but r{'hich could b€

organisecl up and downthe countq/ for monthson efd, lvere:iiven patriotjc tlrcmcs. Thcr'c

r,'ere l[1r tieapons $'eeks ir] 19]1, WhrslripfiIeeks ]n 19.12, Wings ior \iictory \\'eeks

lhroughout the spring and summer ot 19,13,

afd Salute lhe Solclier lveeks in l9'{4. II thc

['eek r\.as being held in a ]arg€ lorrn.n cil]t ii$ as usua llv icconrp;rni.d by p.rridcs, speeches

fronr local leadcrs and sen ice officcrs on lc;rc,an.t exhibitions higNighthg the uses lor Llre

monet.raise.t. Allhough lhere r.ere peopl:,mostl_y financiers and econon sts, bui also

tone if irh.d bPen let.books, nr corl.asi lo b

lvar trconomy Stanciar

ol dinnr) citiTens who ieli, like \rirCinja Wboli'sl.iend l-ady OxIorcl, 1h.1t there was no virluein sa\.i11g, bLrt much more in spcnding because

spending - that is, consunljng - hclpcd thcccorlonry b k(\]p nrovifg; econonic hist(niansscc thnlgs rathcr .liffcrcntll. On thc u'holc,thev agrec that thcrc i{as a r.a1 ccononi. valucto thc wartimc s.vings s.hcmcs, br:causc thcdi1'ersion of prn'ate spending into sa\.ings hada valuable anti-nlfl ationnr! clfcct.

!Vhilc thcrc was n. jmportant moralc-boosiing thrcad in th. go\crnmcnt's 'savc

and sallagc'Propaganda Nhich s.i.l th.t b)

IHR FTY I PS FRO lvl TllE !!AR YEARS

HOW TO S,{VE

oncy was scarce during the

\,var nnd therc were rcstdcilons

on evcrything. Toda-v p€ople tcrLd to

spendbcyond their means The frugal

\^'ariimc houseivife 1\'ou1d probably be

horrificd at ihc hute sums ol money i{cspend on eating out, clothes and luxury

gadgets. She rvould suSllest vou save

money blr SrouJint your or{'r vegetables

and replacing clothes or fumitutc bl'becomnrg skilled at sewinil or DIY

Bui for those lcss likely to

takc this approacb silnPly

being careful withyour moneY

could help I'ou from going ink)

. A{ake a list ol:your monthly outgoings

rent/morlgage, housc'hold bj11s, ioan

patrmcnts €tc. work out hon' much is

left aftcr )rou have paid all your biLLs

ancl decidc on a rcasonable amount you

coul.:t plrt into, say, an lSAeach month

. Unlcss you can afford io pay lrour credit

card off each month, don't be tcmpied to

get one.

. P];in youl rneals in advance and ahvavs

take a shopping list 'ith you so tl'ut yolr

are not temptcd to blr-v anything extra.

. Nevcr Bo food shopping when you are

hungry as you rvill be tempted lo let

vour siomach rule vo headl

. Walk more and drive lcss You $'ill be

amazed hoit much monel' you \^'ill sare

on petrol ar1c1 you will be geiting fit at

the same limc so no reed for cxpensivc

gym memberchips.

Tlre Nttlit rrd,s,atinlJ * :lr.t.Jlt nr., nl

s{\-rtc$.ERllrlcrrrs

ir;.-u*rt, ,uc!:a.L+. " -rol:Ft\cf, AaxDs

;-,'}!i,.Fr\-.'rl''!..\'...'

$l}sT .trFlcn srvl Ncs BA\x

iibrl j hndF

SA\E !Y I'\DINC AXD LSNI)

126

Vli NN NG THE \.VAR BY SAV NG AND SALVAGING

FEEDING THE PICS

Tn)o 'nne p11t thtr lnn(tsorl'^innLri , ridins n ;chtm .tt rpdisttibLtttd L1to11ntl th( tt)i]n far peaple ta Set ritl aJ thtit. bftortts

tu CllehPnhn t. uh.ht bru nr.l:Tltis pto|,itlt:d hlntv ktts t)f pjg frol

'sivjng and sah.aghg', c!cr'\'body c.ruld takep .''r",J r;trt h. ne. oo:- 1,"

bjt..d making a.lire.t coftribution to fightingthc h'ar and that thet wcrc bcjng ictivefighterson ihe Home Front, thcrc lvas also a rathersternh puritanical note to this appcal of publjcpatiotism.'Let \bur Cor]sciclr ceBeYour Guide'snicl ihe noti.e ovcr the line of r\,aste bins,separat€lr lab€lled tor pig food, bones, tins andpaper set Lrp in a strcct i. Chettefiam.

This stcn underione coulcl bc sccn i. aciiuLin the hlndreds of thousands (,i people r,'hor'€re prosccuted in the courts and fincd durhgthe war tbr xhat sound today to bc rclatilelvmhor hfrjngements of manv of the economva nd savirlg reguln tiof s ancl orders promu lgatcdin !\'artimc. \]lanyrvomenwerefi ncd forrrishingofl to rvork leaving lights orl in the house, thusnot onlv nrfringing the blackout rules tru! also

asting luel. A r,roman i{as ri.cd lol. allo!\.ir1g

THR FTYT PS FRO[4 THE WAR YEARS

NMIONAL SAVINGSCERTiFICATES

NT 'rio.,Jl<d r..(r,rif r''.ul,!h r,\,',I \co:|, h:i- \,r 'cioroniri .,t\pr!.,.National Savings propaganda 6lnr, small boysfindi.g a ferv coins in a foryotten pigrybank

r.ere launched inNovember 1939. Thc firstNational Savings Ccrtificnte 1\-as worth 15 shillings(7s pence) altd would havc a value o( l7 shillingsalrd 5 pence after five vcars, afd fl and 6 pence

ilhe certificatcs \ rre exempt from income tax,

and the go\.euxnent thercfore clecided that pcoplecoullt onl,v hol.l a maxirnuln of fir'c hrnrdred

Nalional Savings Certificatcs. This i{as iine forpeople on snall nrcomes or fixed wagcs (and f(,r

children with piggy banks toppcd up bv relatjvcs),

bLLt people 'ith a littlc nrole disposable incomernight be lookjng ior more. Fo1 then! thc NationalSa\-ings schene offerecl at thc samc tinre ns ihe

Savings Cerlificates a new Thrcc Pcr Ccnt DeicnccBond, cosiing at an.l purchasablc nr nrultiples off5, rviih a maximum holding of !1000.

And \^.hat \a'ere the bcnclits oiholdjng these

savings ccrtificates andbonds? Well, for a start,said a tvpical National Sa\.ings advelt in I91{1,lill,bul'nrg her savings certificates h thc Post Officc,tr'as supporturglack away in the \lav)l'lill's thcgirll She'11 never let it be sai.l that the bols lvhoarc risking Lheir lives for us ffe1e let dolvn bccause

people at homa could not make sacrifices.... Some

day [Jill's] savnrgs mav help to start a home -mcrnrvhile lhev'r€ helping to lvh the \ /ari'

her mai.1 to put stale bread, rrhichcould h:!c been used in cooking, outon the bild table. Then there was thei\oman who carefullv banl<ed up herfire before shc wcnt olrt, or _vioarrnehornc latcr than inten.led so that thcfire r\,as burnnrg ai{ay merrilv againan(l an AIIP r{arden sarv it throuijhher $'indou'.She \a.as tinedbecaL6e ofthc blackout regulations, but \!as also

told tlut her bchaviour, nr albrvingher Erc to i{.rnr anempt}' house, wasselfish in thc erheme.

Ihis rathcr dark side asi.:te, there isno doubt that crr the whole the greatwartjme save and sah'ag€ campaignnrade a \a'orthNhilc contribution tothe 'ar cffort, enabling e\.ery maryrvoman al1d child in ihe countrl to do]ns an.:t her bit on a gsrerous scale.

THR FTY T PS FROM THEWAR YEARS

As far back as January 1944, Hugh Dalior!President of the Board of Trade, warned

that althouSh he promised to do his besi for

civiliaff, he had to say that 'a continuance of

clothes laiioninS, with modifications', wouldbe necessary 'during the iransition lrom war to

peace'. Clothes lationing wasnotphased outinBitain rntil 1949.

The Prcsident of the Boald of Trade miSht

say more than once ihar to be shabby was

actuall), to be patriotic, bul Lhe British peotle

also made heroic efforts to be well-clothed and

not too shabby dudng World War Wo It was

quite an achievement. Althouth the colours

couldbe described as drab and the stylcs rather

utilitarian, womenstillmanagedio lookelegant

and made accessodes to enhance their outfits.

CLOTHES FOR CHILDREN

These t\ir taddlers nrc being kitted out uith uaft| uitlter clothes that hau been ki dly donated by the

Anericans at a depat in Sauth West Londa

114

'riIilJ

!V;\it

F'r'r'rIP$ffiATI.J€

Y*\fiS

SBN: 978-0-7088-6528-6

The British people leamed to be th fty in the two decades before the

outbreak of World War Two in 1939. They had been introduced to foodrationing towards Lhe end of World War One. Then the 1920s, starting out

in a mood of quiet post-war optimism, quickly became a time of increasing

unemployment and financial instability. In 1929 the Wall Sbeet Crashbrought about the Great Depression and a slump in manufacturhg

which led to more unemployment.

How they did it, and the stratagems of careful plarming and'Make Do ar-rd Mend' that everyone experienced, is the theme

ol ThtiJl.:l Tips ftom the War years.

86ltilxililru llflil652