24th November 1917 - A serious shortage of meat is expected after Christmas

Rolling casualty count: 8210

War Front:

2nd Batt in 100th Brigade marched through Ypres, through the Menin Gate to camp near 1st Batt at Potijze

1/7th Batt followed 1/8th and leading company from 1/7th to Tincques

Home Front:

The Butter Shortage: As one of the market women arrived in the Worcester Market today a number of housewives gathered round her stall in their quest for butter. One of them took a pat of butter from the basket and put down the money by the side and others endeavoured to obtain a supply, but the saleswoman told them that the butter was for her regular customers who had dealt with her for years. In a few moments a crowd of 40 or 50 women pressed their demands and the police were sent for. Chief Inspector Bradley advised the saleswoman to go into the Market Office, while outside constables formed the customers in a queue and admitted them one at a time until the quantity was gone. Each person received only a quarter of a pound.

Corpl. Harry Wood, of the Worcestershire Regiment has been awarded the Military Medal for courage and devotion to duty during operations on October 9 and 10. Corpl. Wood resided in Evesham about ten years and was employed at the Brickyard. He went to France with the local Territorials in March 1915. His wife resides in Littleworth Street.

Wounded by Splinter: Mrs. Hope, of 3, Woodland Cottages, Little Chestnut Street, Worcester, has received information from a Chaplain that her husband, Lce. –Corpl. W.H. Hope was wounded by a shell splinter on the 13 inst. He enlisted on June 19th, 1916 and went to France four months later. Before enlisting, he was employed by Messrs. Stokes Bros., Tybridge Street.

Death of a Mace Bearer: The death occurred, quite suddenly this morning, at 7am, of Mr. George Alan Gardiner (66), formerly a boot repairer, of 6, Friar Street. He had been in poor health for a year since he had a seizure. He was very well-known in the city, both as a macebearer (succeeding Mr. J. Poultney in March, 1909) and as the officer who administered the oath at the City Police Court. By birth he was a Somerset man. And came to Worcester when he was 18, to work at Messrs. Willis’ boot and shoe factory. In 1870 he married a Miss Ellen Elt, of Worcester, whom he now leaves a widow.

The Y.M.C.A. Hut campaign movement was started with the definite aim of obtaining at least £10,000 within the City and County for the Association’s beneficent work among the soldiers at home and abroad. Up to the present some £4,000 has been obtained, Malvern yielding about £1,800 and Worcester City £800; but the campaign is not ended. Of the wealthy residents of Malvern one donor gave as much as £200 and the Y.M.C.A. hopes that other generous residents will augment the town’s £1,800 to at least £2,000. Of the £800 obtained in Worcester £279 10s. resulted from the house-to-house collection, to which two collectors have yet to make returns.

Coming Meat Shortage: A serious shortage of meat is expected after Christmas (says the “Daily Mail”). Formerly 40 per cent of our supplies were imported; the imports are now reduced to about 5 per cent. Moreover, while we are killing more animals we are getting less meat from them because they are being killed before they carry the full weight of flesh. In view of the threatened shortage steps are now being taken by the Ministry of Food to ensure fair and equal distribution. If after all efforts to secure this the public in any district is going short, rationing will doubtless be established, for, as an official stated yesterday, “it would be necessary then to stop the power of money to get supplies. We could not have it possible for a man to give a butcher a tip to supply him with meat.” A scarcity of meat will not mean higher prices, it was definitely stated. The present maximum prices will remain.

The sugar cards which have been issued are to be scrapped. Removals have proved a very big problem and the original sugar scheme being found inadequate to ensure a fair and equal distribution to everybody, the new scheme, of individual registration was prepared. Under this scheme every person in the household will have a sugar card, on a declaration being made that he or she is still a member of the household. This individual registration will begin on Monday and the new sugar ticket will be used as a removal ticket when necessary. At the Ministry of Food it was stated that the new sugar-rationing scheme would be the working basis for distributing any other food which it might become necessary to ration.

Henwick Stationmaster’s Retirement: Mr. George Dunsby, of East Bank, Henwick Road, whose resignation of the post of Stationmaster at Henwick Station, has just been accepted, is now 67 years of age, having been in the railway service for more than 47 years. He came to Henwick Station in 1876, and became Stationmaster in 1889.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team