}
Daily life
‘You’d hear a shop had a bag of potatoes… and there was a queue miles long’
Gwynn Newman, remembering the war
The war had an increasing impact on daily life. German submarines prevented supply ships from reaching Britain with wheat, tea, meat and sugar. By 1917, food shortages had become widespread, prices were high, and queuing for food was a feature of daily life. The new Ministry of Food set in place controls to register retailers of sugar and control prices. From January 1918, national rationing of sugar, meat and butter was introduced. Gradually, the queues began to disappear. Nationally, over one million women volunteered for the war effort by raising funds and running canteens and clubs. Women in Bristol, as elsewhere, knitted and sewed garments for the troops using special patterns issued by the Red Cross. Some women struggled to make ends meet. In June 1916, a hostel for women was opened in Portland Square, with 30 beds. The residents had to pay a small fee, and the rest of the money was raised by public subscription.
The war had an increasing impact on daily life. German submarines prevented supply ships from reaching Britain with wheat, tea, meat and sugar. By 1917, food shortages had become widespread, prices were high, and queuing for food was a feature of daily life. The new Ministry of Food set in place controls to register retailers of sugar and control prices. From January 1918, national rationing of sugar, meat and butter was introduced. Gradually, the queues began to disappear. Nationally, over one million women volunteered for the war effort by raising funds and running canteens and clubs. Women in Bristol, as elsewhere, knitted and sewed garments for the troops using special patterns issued by the Red Cross. Some women struggled to make ends meet. In June 1916, a hostel for women was opened in Portland Square, with 30 beds. The residents had to pay a small fee, and the rest of the money was raised by public subscription.