Scotland and the Great War

Total WarRationing

Todays Lesson

• How does total war effect the lives of the people in Scotland?

Total war

• Total War - is war that effects every part of peoples lives from the western front to the home front

• The most affected area during the war was the food industry due to particular food shortages

Rationing

• In March 1917, the Board of Trade Labour Gazette published an article on the steady rise of the retail price of food across Britain.

• In comparing the price of food from March 1916 to March 1917, the journal reported that there was an average increase of 32%. – Potatoes had more than doubled in price; – cheese and eggs were 45% dearer; – meat, bacon and butter rose by 30%-35%, – flour, milk and sugar by 20%-25%; bread, – margarine and fish by 13%-18% and – tea by 7%.

• Those with money could afford the higher prices but ordinary working people suffered the most.

• By December 1917: Rationing introduced by the Ministry of food.

Price Rises

Total War in Scotland1. Local agricultural committees set up in each county

1. They monitor crop production and advise on how to increase each year's harvest.

2. April 1917, the Scottish Departmental Committee on Food Production publishes its third report on progress outlining how to maintain and increase food production in Scotland.

1. The committee reports that most farmers were doing their best and 49,116 additional acres had been brought under the plough.

3. Army released 1500 experienced ploughmen for a period of work in spring 1917 to cultivate as much land as possible.

4. Money was set aside to provide some training for women volunteers to work on the land.

5. School Boards arranged Easter holidays to coincide with the needs of local farmers

1. About 340 boys from Edinburgh and Glasgow secondary schools volunteered to help out

6. Local people were encouraged to set up allotments and grow their own food.

Rationing Order, 1918

• Sugar, butter and margarine, meat and lard• Households are allowed a certain amount of food• A ration book or leaf or other ration document must

always be used• A person may obtain Rationed Food for household

consumption… only from the retailer with whom he is registered for the purpose. …he must produce his ration book and relative leaf… available for lawful use. The appropriate coupon or coupons representing the amount of food obtained must be detached and retained by the retailer.

PENALTIES FOR MISUSE.-£100 or Six months' imprisonment, or both.

Task

• Write a week menu for your family – remember that meat, sugar, butter and bacon/ham are already rationed.

• Anything that can not be harvested in October or that comes from abroad is off limits too– E.g. Bananas, strawberries, oranges

• You have 15 minutes

Homework

1. The Razor and the Noose1. Read over the handout and complete the

questions for the Monday we return2. Monday the 20th!!