Monday August 26th, 1918
Third sick. Raining hard. Nice concert afternoon at YMCA. Enjoyed it fine. Letter from home. Wrote home.
Rationing on the Home Front
Frank, still on light duties, is enjoying a concert party at YMCA today. Meanwhile the War Diary reports that four of its troops while on home leave have been admitted to hospital. It would be interesting to hear what those on home leave feel about conditions in Blighty.
In The Guardian today there is a variety of articles about price control and rationing.
The Blackberries Order, 1918
One article that would be close to Frank’s heart is about jam making.
Apparently the shortage of fruit to make the jams so craved by both the Army and Navy is exercising the authorities. Consequently, yesterday ‘The Blackberries Order, 1918’ was passed and will come into force in two days time.
‘The order prohibits the use of blackberries except for the purpose of food or the manufacture of articles of food.’ The maximum price is 4½d per lb for jam manufacture and 4d for retail. The difference in price is calculated to encourage the flow to manufacture, while not banning ordinary consumption when transportation to manufacturing locations is impossible. Similarly, the total crop of both plums and damsons will go to jam manufacture. ¹
Clearly not a new problem, the image is of a Ministry of Labour poster encouraging women to register for fruit picking in Scotland over the summer.^
Price of Pepper
Despite the Food Controller’s promise that no-one is profiteering from food shortages, the paper goes on to note that pepper is now selling at 3s 7d per lb. This is more than six times the pre-war price.²
Ridiculous Rice
And finally:
‘For having wasted rice by throwing it over the bride and bridegroom at a gypsies’ wedding at Wallis Down (Dorset) two women named Matilda Keats and Louisa Cooper, of Bourne Hill gypsy encampment, have been fined by Wimborne magistrates.’³
Truly a case of ‘waste not, want not’.
9th Battalion / Manchester Regiment War Diary – 26th August 1918 – Haudricourt
Work and Training on same principles as for last week. 44 OR are taken on the effective strength from 13-8-18. 4 OR having been admitted to hospital in UK whilst on short leave are struck off the effective strength from 14-8-18. Programme of Training and Work for 27th inst issued (Appendix No 9).
References & Further Reading
¹ & ² The Guardian, August 26th, 1918, page 3
³ ibid, page 8
^ Q 68243 copyright Imperial War Museums