WW1 and life in Jersey – 9 Fund raising
Life in Jersey
during the Great War:
Fund raising
Requests to hold flag days in aid of wartime charities were being made so frequently that the Bailiff decided to call a halt
This is one of a series of articles on various aspects of life in Jersey during the 1914-1918 war which is based on newspaper reports and archived documents. We acknowledge the valuable resource of a weekly series of articles by historian Ian Ronayne which was published on the Jersey Heritage website from 2014 to 2018 to mark the centenary of the conflict
Although there was a feeling in official circles throughout the war that the costs being imposed on the island as a contribution to its defence were bringing it close to bankruptcy, the continuing generosity of the population at large was evidenced by appeal after appeal on behalf of members of the Armed Services.
Cigarettes for the troops
A popular scheme in 1915 was raising funds to provide 'smokes for the troops'. A small donation meant that sufficient cigarettes or tobacco could be sent to supply one man for a week. And Customs and Excise agreed to help by waiving the duty on smoking supplies sent to UK charities which distributed them to wounded servicemen in UK hospitals.
At the same time came the surprising news that a campaign by the YMCA to raise funds to supply hats, scarves and mittens for members if the Jersey Contingent had met with a poor response. Why were some islanders prejudiced against 'Ours', as the newspapers were calling the volunteers?
Later in the year there was a better response to an initiative by the newly formed Jersey bureau of Parcels for Our Prisoners of War to send food parcelsto Jerseymen held captive in Germany. Families grouped together to make a small weekly donation so that a relative of one family would receive a parcel each week.
Another successful initiative in June 1916 led to farmers donating part or full loads of potatoes at the end of the season towards over 250 tons to be sent as a gift to the Royal Navy.
Flag day request denied
Later in the war the Bailiff, Sir William Vernon, whose sanction was required for any fundraising day, decided that enough was enough and turned down a 'flag day' request from the Young Woman's Christian Association in support of Britain's wartime women workers.
He announced that Jersey had already had enough flag days and the public was becoming weary of more and more fund-raising activities. He pointed out that by mid-1918 there had already been four flag days with permission given for another six, in addition to all the feates, fairs, auctions and raffles. He said that there was little appetite for any more.
Other ways in which the public were invited to contribute to the war effort included the suggestion that islanders should eat less.
Voluntary rationing
In March 1917 notices were placed in newspapers by the Defence Committee proposing a form of voluntary rationing. Weekly proposed quantities per person were for no more than four pounds of bread, two and half pounds of meat – including bacon, ham, sausages, rabbits, game and fish - and six ounces of sugar.
It was pointed out that King George V was giving the voluntary rationing scheme in the UK his full support.
Nine months later the committee took further steps to limit food consumption by introducing a 'meatless day' every Thursday. While people were not legally required not to eat meat on these days, butchers were prevented from selling all forms of meat, poultry and processed items on Thursdays.
While islanders were generous in fundraising and 'did their bit' in voluntary rationing schemes, other than facing inflated prices for essential foods and other commodities their daily requirements were largely met throughout the four years of the conflict.
