Following the huge success of the Wartime Farm series - watched by over three
million viewers a week during its eight week run - historian Ruth Goodman and
archaeologist Peter Ginn are returning to Manor Farm in Hampshire to recreate
the conditions of Christmas 1944. 1944 saw the sixth Christmas at war, and
shortages were biting deeper than ever. Added to this, Britain’s cities were
in the grip of the worst German attacks since the Blitz of 1940. Unmanned
flying bombs - the dreaded V1 ‘Doodlebugs’ and V2 rockets - rained down,
stretching morale and services to breaking point. Having been set the target
of doubling home-grown food production by the government, Britain’s farmers
had already ploughed up six and a half million additional acres in the drive
for additional crops (an area equivalent in size to the whole of Wales). Now,
in addition to maintaining food production, it fell to Britain’s farmers to
come to the aid of the nation’s urban dispossessed in their hour of need. Many
rural women joined the one million-strong Women’s Voluntary Service to provide
food, drink and gifts to lift the spirits - especially at Christmas. Ruth
finds out how the WVS operated the government’s National Pie Scheme. Beer was
seen as so essential to the nation’s morale that it was never rationed - but a
vital ingredient, barley, was in short supply, so substitutes were needed.
Peter calls upon rural crafts expert, Colin Richards, to brew some improvised
potato beer for Christmas. Meanwhile, Ruth comes up with innovative presents
for children, and ingenious festive decorations made from scraps. Following
recipes and guidelines issued by the government and the WVS, Ruth cooks an
improvised Christmas meal, relying chiefly on rabbit and a glut of carrots
from the farm. And the Salvation Army bring musical cheer to the occasion as
the team reflect on the impact of what was to be the last Christmas of the
Second World War.
