GDES2014 – Children’s Book Design
Main Brief Research
Eggs & WW1
The National Egg Collection for the wounded was started in August 1915. Its patron was H.M. Queen Alexandra.It aimed at first to collect one million eggs for the wounded. The scheme proved to be very successful actually achieving an average of one million eggs a month. In February 1917 during a special “Children’s Week” 300,000 eggs were collected when the weather was very bad and eggs scarce.
By January 1918 the scheme had sent over seven million eggs to hospitals at home and over twenty five million to hospitals abroad.
Source – http://longstowe.ccan.co.uk/content/catalogue_item/ww1-national-egg-collection
Egg Grenades
WW1 German egg grenade
The ‘egg’ grenade (‘Eierhandgranate’) appeared in the beginning of 1917, as a complement to the other reglementary grenades that were either too heavy (Kugelhandgranate) or too cumersome (Stielhandgranate) for the assault sections. The small size steel cast body (6 cm long, 4.6 cm diameter), took the shape of an egg, therefore giving this grenade its nickname.
Initially entirely smooth, the body was modified in 1917 to receive a fragmented belt (‘Eierhandgranate Neuer Art’ – n/A) to improve its handling. Its size and weight allowed a long range hand launching (up to 50 meters) and as easy transportation in big quantities, even in the battledresses pockets.
Source – http://www.passioncompassion1418.com/decouvertes/english_grenades_all.html
As WWI progressed, there was a need for a smaller grenade, something more portable than the heavy Kugel and less cumbersome than stick types.
Development started in late 1916 which lead to the introduction of the cast iron “Egg” grenade, Mle.1917. It was loaded with black powder, or other explosive fillers. The average soldier could be expected to reach distances of over 40 meters, which meant the Eierhandgranate could be used in an offensive role as well as defensive.
Source – http://inert-ord.net/gerimp/eggs/index.html
How did children help the War Effort?
Between 1914 and 1918, everyone was expected to ‘do their bit’ to help with war work. Many British children were very keen to lend a hand. They wanted to support their fathers and older brothers who were away fighting at the Front.
Young people did many jobs. Around the home they would look after younger brothers and sisters. They helped with housework, carrying water and chopping firewood. They also joined long queues for food in the shops. Food was scarce because German U-Boats (submarines) were sinking the ships bringing supplies to Britain. ‘Growing your own’ became very important. Children helped dig and weed vegetable patches and worked in the fields at harvest time.
Flag Days
‘Flag days’ were held to make money for all kinds of wartime projects. Children would sell little flags or badges that people could pin to their coats. This raised money for funding the war effort, for example to build warships, or to help wounded soldiers. There was even a Blue Cross fund to help horses hurt in battle.
Children collected other things that would be useful for the war effort, such as blankets, books and magazines. These were sent to the soldiers at the front.
Animals at war
Even animals were given war work to do. Horses were sent into battle to carry soldiers, or drag wagons and big guns to the front. Homing pigeons carried paper messages, put into little tubes and strapped to their legs. Dogs guarded important places, carried messages and took first aid supplies out to wounded soldiers on the battlefield.
On the Home Front, elephants were taken out of zoos and sent to pull heavy loads on farms.
Source – http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/0/ww1/25307613
Evacuation
It seems from my research that evacuation did not take place in large numbers during WW1. I suspect this due mainly to the fact that although the zeppelins caused a threat and later, the biplane bombers, the numbers were too few to cause the concern that was so apparent during WW2. The main threat was also focused in the capital.
It would appear that many families took children away from London to places that were safe from bombing threat, but often this was off their own back as opposed to due to government led evacuation.
Evacuation Plans
In preparation for the war, evacuation plans were put into consideration to avoid possible danger on children. Primary children, toddlers under five and moms were evacuated from predicted danger zones to safer areas. 4 million evacuees were expected to leave, however only 1.5 million left, yet it was still considered a mass migration of many immigrants. Kids held their labeled luggage, waved good-byes to their families and plodded into the unknown.
Source – https://sites.google.com/site/worldwar1class1/life-on-the-home-front/children-during-ww1
Rationing and World War One
Rationing was introduced into Britain at the tail end of World War One – in February 1918. Rationing was introduced in response to an effective U-boat campaign and during World War One, the Defence of the Realm Act (DORA) was used to ensure that food shortages never occurred.
One of the primary aims of DORA, when it was first introduced, was to prevent food shortages. At the start of the war, food shortages were self-imposed as the German U-boat campaign had yet to start. However, at the start of the war people went around panic buying food and hoarding it at home. Some shops sold out of food in days in August 1914. However, after the initial panic buying, people settled down into a routine and food was not a problem until the end of 1916.
Britain continued to import food during the war. The main exporters to Britain were America and Canada. This meant that merchant ships had to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Up to 1916, these merchant ships could travel in relative safety. However, in 1917, the Germans introduced unrestricted submarine warfare and merchant ships were sunk with great frequency. This had a drastic impact on Britain’s food supply and with great losses in the Atlantic, food had to be rationed so that no-one starved in Britain. In April 1916, Britain only had six weeks of wheat left and bread was a staple part of most diets. 1916 was a bleak year for families – with the news from the Battle of the Somme and with food in short supply, suddenly the war was brought home to most families. Food prices rose and by October 1916, coal was in such short supply that it was rationed by the number of rooms a family had in its house.
The restrictions introduced by DORA failed and the government then tried to introduce a voluntary code of rationing whereby people limited themselves to what they should eat. The standard was set by the Royal Family. However, this did not work. Those who worked in the munitions factories did not have enough food while anyone with money could get more than enough food on the black market. Any area that could grow food was converted to do so – gardens were turned into allotments and chickens etc. were kept in back gardens.
The powers introduced by DORA empowered the government to take over land when it felt that it was necessary to do so. In 1917, the government took over 2.5 million acres of land for farming. By the end of the war, Britain had an extra three million acres of farming land. Those who would have usually worked the land – young men – had been called up, so the work was done by the Women’s Land Army. Conscientious objectors also worked on the land.
Despite the importance of the work done by the Women’s Land Army, the government still felt that it was appropriate to warn them about the standards expected of them and their approach must have seemed very old fashioned to some:
“You are doing a man’s work and so you are dressed rather like a man; but remember that because you wear a smock and trousers you should take care to behave like an English girl who expects chivalry and respect from everyone she meets
Despite the work by the WLA, the impact of the German U-boat campaign made food shortages a serious problem by 1918. Malnutrition was seen in poor communities and as a result the government introduced rationing in 1918. Food products were added to the list as the year progressed. In January 1918, sugar was rationed and by the end of April meat, butter, cheese and margarine were added to the list of rationed food. Ration cards were issued and everyone had to register with a butcher and grocer. Rationing was a clear indication to the British public that all was not well, but it did work. The malnutrition that had been identified in the poorer communities disappeared and as in World War Two, no one actually starved in Britain during the war.
Source – http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/rationing_and_world_war_one.htm
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