During World War 1 a Women Committee was set up as there was concern about girls canoodling with the soldiers, and soldiers corrupting local girls. Consequently women were encouraged to join the street patrols in particular areas where girls and men might ‘enjoy’ a little ***. The War Office gave permission for these patrols to take place outside military camps and were also very active in public parks and cinemas. It was the Women’s Patrol Committee who recommended that lights were not dimmed between films! This, at a time when…
Tag: Adverts
New Suit or a Chocolate Egg for Easter?
How times have changed. I doubt very much that you would see an advert like this in the local newspaper today suggesting giving your son a new suit for Easter, but this is exactly what Issac Walton and Co. promoted for Easter in 1918. At least the models looked very pleased with their new suits!
Top Easter Fashions in 1918 from Sainsbury’s
So if you walking around the shops in 1918, these would have been the fashion statements that were on offer to you from top retailers such as Sainsbury’s – so elegant! Taken from the Bromley & District Times, 22nd March 1918
A little bit of butter; nice if you could get it
MARGARINE STOCKS REQUISITIONED DISTRIBUTION TO-MORROW MORNING The Bromley Food Control Committee have requisitioned a quantity of margarine in Bromley, which is being distributed among the retailers in various parts of the borough , and instructions have been given that the whole of it is to be placed on sale simultaneously at nine o’clock to-morrow (Saturday) morning. You can be sure that queues would have been forming from early morning by housewives and children in order to get their share of the margarine. Butter and margarine were in very short supply…
Must-have Christmas Gifts for the Family c.1917
Life may have been tough in 1917, but Christmas would soon arrive and there were presents to buy. Below is a selection of advertisements for Christmas presents printed in the Bromley & District Times newspaper. Here are some Christmas ideas for the family from Herbert Collins Ltd, of Market Square, Bromley. Who advertised selling “a most varied and pleasing selection of up-to-date Novelties for Christmas Gifts.” Hundreds of suitable articles for Christmas Gifts are on show. FOR OUR TROOPS: Warm knitted scarfs, woollen gloves and other ‘comforts’ for present needs.…
Lady Grocers keeping store in business
International Stores was noted as “The Biggest Grocers in the World”. During the war they were able to stay in business by employing ‘lady grocers’ – they used local newspapers to advertise this, like this one that appeared in the Bromley & District Times in February 1917: “Nearly 2000 of our men are in the Army, but we have an able and willing staff of lady grocers to attend to you” Women were essential workers during the war, but after the war they were expected to give up…
Food Economy during wartime
During war time local stores would help customers visualise what they could spend their money on in adverts. Here ‘Worlds Store’, located in East Street Bromley and High Street Orpington promoted their Dried Fruit Salad to readers. “One pound of World’s Dried Fruit Salad costs sixpence… makes 12 large portions”
Word of warning from the London General Omnibus Company
The London General Omnibus Company often created adverts like this in local newspapers to help inform readers about the dangers of the road, titling them as “Nursery Rhymes for the Present Times” This one for instances warns of the dangers of sitting on the kerb: “Little Miss Muffet, instead of a tuffet, Sat on the kerb one day; Along came a lorry, and now she is sorry, Her feet having got in the way” Taken from the Bromley & District Times, February 1917
Advert for LSD? Surely not in the Bromley Times!
Like the large letters L.S.D? No, drugs had not been legalised. This refers to pounds (L) shillings (S) and pence (D). This advert was posted in the Bromley & District Times, 1st January 1917 [page 2] to promote the Mutual Loan Society. Might make people look twice when reading today!
Who Said War Prices?
Taken from the Bromley & District Times on 5th January 1917 [page 2], this advert is promoting World’s Stores on East Street, Bromley and High Street, Orpington, who say they “Have enough for everybody”. It certainly would not be pre-packed. A customer would ask for what they wanted to buy. The butcher would get some, weigh it and wrap it up in paper (no plastic bags in those days) and work out the cost – usually in his head. The mental maths of shop-keepers, particularly greengrocers, was phenomenal. …