Home Front topics
Over 100 digital sources including newspaper articles, photos,
posters revealing more on life in West Sussex 1914-18 and how those
on the Home Front helped the war effort.
Please contact us for
permission if you wish to publish any of our content in print
or online.
Further sources can be found in the Local Studies sections of
public libraries, particularly the countywide collections at
Worthing Library.
Agriculture, food and
rationing
- Includes problems with food production, changes in
farming to improve this, rationing and use of children as
agricultural labourers.
Churches and moral
issues
- Includes how different churches reacted, how clergy
helped minister to the local population and their opinions on the
war; also view Durrington Parish Magazine.
Economy, employment and
morale
- Includes the war’s effects on existing businesses, new
munitions production, shop opening hours, plus challenging civilian
behaviour which sometimes affected morale.
Enemy aliens and
refugees
- Includes Belgian Refugees and the fundraising carried out
to help them; also anti-German hysteria, the internment of enemy
aliens, and POWs in West Sussex.
Fundraising
- Includes raising cash for the war effort ,comforts for
the troops like tobacco, chocolate, clothing, plus recycling
projects and such like.
Hospitals and convalescent
homes
- Includes Graylingwell Military Hospital, Chichester, plus
many examples across the County, the work of the Red Cross and
treatment of wounded Belgians and Indians.
Invasion threats and counter
measures
- Includes blackouts or lighting restrictions, the first
‘Dad’s Army’ or volunteer defence forces, special constables, the
role of the new boy scouts and more.
Recruitment and
mobilisation
- Includes mobilisation of men and horses, conscientious
objectors and accounts of appeals against call-up at military
tribunals.
Social life and
sports
- Includes how local societies, cricket, football and other
sports were affected by the war, descriptions of concerts, shows,
public houses and the importance of the cinema.
Those left behind and those
who returned
- Includes problems faced by servicemen who survived the
war only to face unemployment, mental and physical disabilities and
civilian criticisms; plus the flu epidemic.
War memorials and
remembrance
- Includes how news of the Armistice in 1918 was received
locally, Peace Day celebrations July 1919 and detailed case studies
of local war memorials.
Women at war
- Includes unemployment, but also new employment
opportunities, Women’s Land Army, Women’s Institute and women at
the centre of the war effort on the Home Front.
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