On 3 August 1914 Germany invaded neutral Belgium,
The following day Britain, pledging to defend
Belgium declared war on Germany. No one thought
it would be much more than a skirmish and that
it would be over by Christmas. The first reaction
of people in Brentford, like people everywhere,
was to go on a panic-buying spree. Many foodstuffs
increased in price; petrol, which was selling at
10d (4.5p) per gallon two weeks before was declared,
rose to an average price of 3s (15p) per gallon
immediately after.
Reservists received mobilisation papers and crowds
gathered at Drill Hall 112 Ealing rd to watch the
men of the 9th Battalion Middlesex regiment depart
for the war on 5 August (in 1921 the drill hall
became Brentford United Services Club) An appeal
was made to the women of Brentford in the local
paper: 'a sad war is raging and Womanly help is
needed to provide articles of clothing for our
brave defenders'. Notices were carried in the
Middlesex Independent: Lord Kitcheners Army:
100,000 men required'. Volunteers from Brentford
were invited to enlist in the 8th Battalion
Middlesex Regiment with headquarters at the
drill hall. Conscription was not introduced until
1916. In November the Brentford War Distress Relief
Committee was formed to help the influx of refugees
from Belgium. Concerts were given to raise funds
and Brent side House 78, Brentford High Street
was lent for the accommodation of 12 refugees.
In December there was warning of a German invasion.
People were exhorted not to engage in combat with
the enemy but to 'stay quiescent in their houses'.
As the German U-Boats blockade tightened its grip
on the country, food became expensive and then
scarce. Voluntary rationing was introduced in
1917 and compulsory rationing of meat butter and
margarine in March 1918. The council made more
land available for allotments and Brentford
residents were urged to breed rabbits to eke
out the meat supply.
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