Queen Elizabeth, consort of George VI the King of the United Kingdom (and mother of Queen Elizabeth II), visited the Ministry of Food on the 30th May 1941, where she was met by Lord Woolton who showed her a demonstration of food cooking, food for use in English homes under rationing and the “Planning of Meat Rationing.” During the visit, Her Majesty was given a demonstration of how potato pastry was made, and explained that no fat was used in the recipe. The Hairy Bikers have a recipe for this…
Tag: WW2
Matron Marion Edith Bolton
Mottingham George Medallist Mrs Marion Edith Bolton, matron of the Sir Robert Jeffery’s Homes, Mottingham, received from the King, as a recent investiture at Buckingham Palace, the George Medal which she was awarded for her bravery in rescuing two aged women from a fire at the Homes caused by enemy action. Mrs Bolton was accompanied by her father and sister. Her son is serving in the Middle East with the R.A.F. Source: Bromley & District Times, 8th August, 1941 (pg 6)
Lord Woolton Pie: The Official Recipe
Originally called Lord Woolton pie, and later as simply Woolton Pie, this pastry dish of vegetables was widely served in Britain during World War Two when rationing and shortages made other dishes hard to prepare. It was first created at the Savoy Hotel in London by its then Maitre Chef de Cuisine, Francis Latry. It was one of a number of recipes commended to the British public by the Ministry of Food during the Second World War to enable a nutritious diet to be maintained despite shortages and rationing of…
You Can’t be too Careful: Propaganda Campaign, 1943
“Over 1,000 fires a day are helping Hitler.. so stub it out!” One of the propaganda campaigns which ran nationally during World War 2, was to warn people of the dangers of cigarettes and matches, causing fires and lighting the way for the enemy to find towns and cities. The main campaign, which appeared in posters across London, showed a glowing cigarette end, with a burning factory in the background. The posters were designed by Austin Cooper (1890–1964,) a Canadian–British illustrator and commercial artist. This advert, showing a similar image…
Canadian Visitor talks to local Toc H group
Toc H (an abbreviation of Talbot House) was styled as an “Every Man’s Club”, where all soldiers were welcome, regardless of rank. Founded in 1915, by Neville Talbot, a then senior army chaplain, and the Reverend Philip Thomas Byard (Tubby) Clayton, it became a soldiers’ rest and recreation centre, with an aim to promote Christianity. It was named in memory of Neville’s brother Gilbert Talbot, who had been killed at Hooge in July 1915 Talbot House soon became known by its initials TH, and then by the radio signallers’ phonetic alphabet of the…
Food Facts: Mother & Child
Government advice given to Expectant Mothers, during th Second World War, on the food they should be trying to eat to help with their health, and the health of their growing baby. How has the advice changed today? Mother and Child Of course you are anxious to do everything in your power for your baby’s well-being both before he is born and afterwards. The Government wants to help expectant mothers on the important matters of diet. There’s no need to worry about special food, the expectant mother wants a good…
Gunner Horace Charles Baldwin
One fears for the prisoners taken by the Japanese. Gunner Baldwin was being held in Batavia (Jakarta, Indonesia). Gunner Baldwas was the son of of Henry Charles and Martha Baldwin and grew up in Farnborough, Kent. He was married to Winifred Elizabeth Maria (nee Carter) and had one son, Colin. Sadly Horace did not survive the war. He was a prioner of war onboard the Tamahoko Maru when it sank on the 24th June 1944. He was 31 years old. The ship had been part of a Japanese convoy leaving Koshiki…
Penny-a-Week fund
One of the most successful ways of obtaining money during World War 2 was through the Penny-a-Week fund. The fund was set up through a joint venture between the British Red Cross and St Johns to raise vital funds. The scheme worked by a voluntary contribution by wage earners of one penny per week, to be deducted from their pay. During the Second World War the average weekly wage was about £10. The funds was then supplemented by collecting cards and house-to-house collections. Within six months of the scheme being…
The Durling Sisters
It wasn’t only sons who helped fight the war in WW2. Many families with girls were also proud of their daughters achievements. This feature from the Bromley and District Times promotes the efforts of three sisters from Bromley. Two in A.T.S. and one in Land Army Many parents speak proudly of their sons in the Forces, but Mr and Mrs G. Durling, of 72 Martins Road, Bromley, are proud of their three daughters in the Services. Before the war Joan and Dorothy worked at Morris’s of Bromley, and Margaret was…
Put Some Beef into it
Torox Cubes was a lesser known beef bouillon brand made in England by Hugson & Co. Ltd. Manchester (“Manufacturers of “Atora’ Beef Suet). The story of Hugson & Co began in 1893 when Gabriel Hugon, a French engraver living in Manchester, noticed that his wife was having difficulty cutting-up blocks of suet in the kitchen. He saw an opportunity, and setup the first ever factory to manufacture shredded suet, in Manchester, UK. Although ‘Atora’ was no doubt its most popular and well-known product (still available today), they no doubt attempted…