In 1918, the British government set out new laws introducing the rationing of certain food; Sugar, meat, flour, butter, margarine and milk, as a way of sharing food equally. However, as this advert shows from World Stores (who had branches at 50 East Street, Bromley and 41 High Street, Orpington), from the Bromley & District Times on 17th May 1918 (page 6), certain foods did not require a ration card to be purchased. NO RATION CARD REQUIRED for any of the the following:- (equal to Meat in food value) Spaghetti (in tomato…
Tag: WW1
Why do the British love to Queue?
I really like this advertisement to encourage people to queue in an orderly fashion for the trains and buses. It is no wonder that the Brits are know for being such great ‘queuers’, it seems our grandparents and great-grandparents have been conditioned to do so after adverts like this appearing in local newspapers. Though, these days, at times, we do like to break the queue, especially in the rush hour and at the supermarket check out (more difficult). [su_row][su_column size=”2/3″]Pass Down the Platform There are four, five, or six cars…
Spring Cleaning the 1918 Way
Want to clean your carpets? From steam carpet beating to the cordless vacuums today. Advert taken from the Bromley & District Times, 22nd March 1918. I assume the Scotsman in his kilt is the tradesman.
The Paper Shortage – Recycling in 1918
There many were shortages by 1918. Paper had been in short supply for several years to such an extent that papers were reduced, not only in the number of pages, but also in reducing the size of the page. Around each Christmas, there were more pages, in order to increase the number of advertisements. Immediately after the Armistice, the papers quickly returned to their pre-war size. Today, supermarkets are beginning to introduce places to return plastic bottles and received some sort of credit. We didn’t have plastic bottles, but small…
The boys did justice to the food provided by the Colonel
26th January 1918, page 2 STILL CHEERY AND BRIGHT Sergeant Gutteridge, of the West Kents, writes home another of his cheerful letters , in which he says they are all merry and bright. “Had a great time yesterday. The company had a dinner and concert. The boys did justice to the food provided by the Colonel of the regiment, and the concert was a great success, the chief item being an original chorus by the sergeants of ‘B’ Company, entitled, ‘ The Nine Point Two,’ which caused some fun. Today…
We Expected the D.C.M. for Our Good Work
28th June 1916, page 10 Another letter from Sergeant Gutteridge of Bromley explaining the fun the ‘boy’ had trying to keep the soldiers awake! Of course we expected the D.C.M. for our good work in keeping the men awake “We had some fun a few nights ago. We had to “stand to” and the boys were allowed to lay down their equipment and helmets on, but not to go to sleep. We found it difficult to keep them awake, so a few gathered round and told them the methods used…
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.…
What was happening in Bromley 100 years ago?
1917 was a bad year. The death toll was going up. If the casualties of the Battle of the Somme had come as a terrible shock, Passchendaele was even worse. Men were dying on the battlefield by their thousand. Food was in short supply and prices were rising. What was happening in Bromley 100 years ago? Here are some of the items occupying the columns of the District Times from the 30th November, 1917 With so many men away at the Front and few to keep an eye on them,…
We found it difficult to keep them awake
23rd June 1916, page 10 More tales from the Front Line provided by Sergeant Gutteridge of Bromley: “We had some fun a few nights ago. We had to “stand to” and the boys were allowed to lay down their equipment and helmets on, but not to go to sleep. We found it difficult to keep them awake, so a few gathered round and told them the methods used by the Huns when they gas us. This is how the tale went. The Germans send forth to our line trained monkeys,…
A Good Tune Would Make All the Difference
5th May 1916, page 5 WHO WILL? Sergeant Gutteridge (long known to our readers as Corporal Gutteridge), of Bromley, and now “somewhere in France,” writes:- “Have any of your Bromley readers a gramophone they could send the boys? One is apt to get dull when all is quiet, and I have an idea a good tune would make all the difference. If someone would be so kind as to send the boys of our Battalion a gramophone I am sure they would more than appreciate their kind gift. You have…