Thursday 26 October 2017

Sphagnum Moss

From the Llangollen Advertiser, 26th October 1917.

SPHAGNUM MOSS.-- The local efforts organised by Miss Isolda Rooper of Bronydd for the supply of moss for the treatment of the wounded in hospital have been very successful. From June 2nd to September 22nd, 252 large sacks of moss were gathered from the Nantyr Moors. It was brought down to Glyn, where it was dried and picked over. The moss was sent to Liverpool and Sussex.

Thursday 12 October 2017

Strict Economy, Or Rations


From the Whitby Gazette, 12th October 1917.

STRICT ECONOMY, OR RATIONS.
Eat Less Bread.
Coffee Instead of Tea.

The present position of the problem of national food supply is that compulsory rationing is the only alternative to further rigorous economy of food by all classes of the people.

Inquiries at the Ministry of Food showed that if compulsory rationing were decided on, the system of sugar rationing which is to come into force at the end of the year will probably be the basis of the compulsory scheme.  "The nucleus of the organisation for carrying it through already exists in the load Food Control Committees," it was stated.

“'It was calculated originally that it would take three mouths to set up a completed scheme of rationing.  That is about the time the sugar scheme will have taken.

“Present food supplies may seem sufficient excepting in two or three instances, but it is not so much the present as the future which demands attention and compels a greater economy forthwith. In the case of bread, notwithstanding the cheapening of the loaf, we must all remember how long our stocks of breadstuffs have to last.  Everybody must eat less bread.

"Bacon is short now, and may remain so for two or three months yet, when larger supplies will probably arrive from America.  There is a shortage of tea, relief from which will come as the heavier importations which are expected begin to arrive.  In the mean-time people can economise with existing stocks drinking a greater proportion of coffee, which just now is plentiful.

“Meat is ample for present wants, but here again economy should be practised for the sake of the future.  Indeed, there is no foodstuff in which the nation ought not to economise, seeing that so large a bulk of its food must be brought over-seas and that tonnage is so scarce.  Only by economy in eating and by saving all the food possible will compulsory rationing be avoided."

Wednesday 4 October 2017

Please Knit Socks

From the Brecon County Times, 4th October 1917

WAR CLOTHING DEPOT-
SOCKS!  PLEASE!  SOCKS!

Miss deWinton hopes all Breconshire knitters will at once get out their pins and begin to knit socks.  There is plenty of wool at the depot.  Please make socks 13 inches in leg when finished and 11 inches foot. 

Miss deWinton hears on all sides that socks and again socks, hand-knitted, are the real need of our Battalions of South Wales Borderers in France.

3,000 men all want socks. 

So please! Knit Socks! And please don't waste the wool -- it is very expensive!