An occasional series on the stories behind the new book on Manchester and the Great War*
Now I know there is a story here I just don’t really know what it is.
My old friend Ida came across this entry in the Parish Magazine for February 1916.
It is a list of everyday groceries ranging from flour and rice to biscuits, soap, a selection of fruit and even tapioca.
The cost of the list exceeds a pound and altogether the produce weighs a hundredweight, so no pounds worth there then.
But given that we are in 1916 the list must be connected to the war effort but just what bit of the war effort eludes me.
I had thought that there might be a link to the war saving bonds which were worth a £1 and were sold at the knock down price of 15s 6d but the scheme began later in the year.
All of which leaves me with a shedful of local and national fund raising activities from fag day to Belgian refugee relief along with a host of others.
The one glimmer of hope is that the collection is based around the school and children were involved in fund raising for the war. It was built into the school week and included Egg Day which according to one source** was designed to encourage children to donate their breakfast which were passed on to wounded soldiers.
So maybe that is the answer but if not I am fairly confident someone will come forward and point me in the right direction.
Location; The Great War
Picture; extract from the St Clement’s Parish Magazine, February, 1916 transcribed by Ida Bradshaw,
*A new book on Manchester and the Great War, http://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/A%20new%20book%20on%20Manchester%20and%20the%20Great%20War
**1914-1918: How charities helped to win WW1, http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/1914-1918-charities-helped-win-ww1/volunteering/article/1299786
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My old friend Ida came across this entry in the Parish Magazine for February 1916.
It is a list of everyday groceries ranging from flour and rice to biscuits, soap, a selection of fruit and even tapioca.
The cost of the list exceeds a pound and altogether the produce weighs a hundredweight, so no pounds worth there then.
But given that we are in 1916 the list must be connected to the war effort but just what bit of the war effort eludes me.
I had thought that there might be a link to the war saving bonds which were worth a £1 and were sold at the knock down price of 15s 6d but the scheme began later in the year.
The one glimmer of hope is that the collection is based around the school and children were involved in fund raising for the war. It was built into the school week and included Egg Day which according to one source** was designed to encourage children to donate their breakfast which were passed on to wounded soldiers.
So maybe that is the answer but if not I am fairly confident someone will come forward and point me in the right direction.
Location; The Great War
Picture; extract from the St Clement’s Parish Magazine, February, 1916 transcribed by Ida Bradshaw,
*A new book on Manchester and the Great War, http://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/A%20new%20book%20on%20Manchester%20and%20the%20Great%20War
**1914-1918: How charities helped to win WW1, http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/1914-1918-charities-helped-win-ww1/volunteering/article/1299786
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