| Rationing of food was not the only way in
which people had to consume less. There was encouragement to make do and
mend, to save energy, and to recycle food waste and metals.
Go through your wardrobe poster, St Andrews University website
Recycling posters from
the Art of Propaganda website
Recycling posters from the National Archives website
Patricia Smith told us she used to go down to Cateswell Road
to pick up little nodules of coal out of the slack left at the factories.
In 1940 there was the ‘Great Saucepan
Offensive’, where the public were urged to hand in recyclable metal.
Aluminium saucepans could be melted down and used to make aeroplane bodies.
People were told 24 keys would make one hand grenade. There were bins on
street corners for wool, paper and bones. Railings were torn down, including
those outside the library. Two pieces were finally returned, thanks to
the efforts of Councillor Matt Redmond.
The library frontage in June 1932
(Birmingham Libraries) Harry Murch's history of
Dolphin Lane school has some information about austerity, for example the
chapter on Christmas.
Austerity posters, St Andrews University website |
