Wartime Farm Part 5 of 8

Wartime Farm
Ruth finds out how Britain coped with shortages of the wood vital for the war effort in the building of aircraft, ships and rifles, as well as pit props for crucial coal mining. With her daughter Eve, she travels to the New Forest and discovers how women known as 'Lumber Jills' were drafted in to fell trees in the Women's Timber Corps. Meanwhile, Peter and Alex face up to the wartime petrol crisis. Peter embarks on an ambitious plan to convert a 1930s ambulance to run on coal gas. Alex experiences the conditions faced by the Bevin Boys - conscripts who were sent to coal mines instead of the armed forces because the need for coal was so great. Having converted the ambulance and collected the coal to run it, Peter faces the question: will it work?
Also in this episode, the boys revert to a Victorian solution to the shortage of animal feed - using traditional horsepower to operate a root slicer - whilst Ruth sets up an Emergency Feeding Centre. Subsidized by the government to provide cheap food off ration for air raid victims, these 'British Restaurants', as Churchill dubbed them, quickly caught on. Eating out had traditionally been the preserve of the upper class and most ordinary people had never eaten in public before - many even felt embarrassed at the prospect. The 'British Restaurants', envisaged as a short-term response to food shortages, made a lasting change to the nation - introducing the concept of high street dining for the masses.
Wartime Farm was produced by the BBC in partnership with The Open University.

[@Canuckmom128]

I agree - what the Brits endured during both wars, but especially WWII is nothing short of astounding. As the granddaughter of Brits it makes me very proud (in fact, my grandfather fought at the Somme and Vimy, where he was wounded. Was shipped back to England to hospital where his Nurse introduced him to her sister - whom he married).
The rationing and privations and bombing and the loss of loved ones, but they kept calm and carried on, made do and mended and supported one another as best they could. Thank God Winston was at the helm - the right man at the right time - he knew what Britain's were capable of achieving and surviving.

[@universallyinsync]

I am always impressed by what people did to keep freedom and and to keep body and soul together. I admire the English especially since there was so much hardship. There was rationing and Victory gardening and making do in the U.S. for many years but we had no bombing and few attempts at invasion. In actuality the food was fresher. We need to keep these skills!

[@Sourskittlz129]

ruth absolutely losing it when she cut the tree down? favorite part

[@theinkbrain]

Peter does all the hard work.

[@Eszra]

One of my family's favorite holiday foods is onions in white sauce! Well really for us it's Pearl Onions, boiled first, then make the white sauce with milk, flour, butter, little salt and pepper, and Parmesan cheese, taste, then make sure the onions are drained well then add them to the sauce and mix. Some people like to put it in the oven to brown a little on top, but you don't have to if you don't want.

[@unoriented_x4957]

MMM mmm. That Peter! Strong, handsome, smart, and funny! Please BBC, use his lovely presenting skills on more projects!

[@Nguroa]

Noooooo, mig welder at 33:30
Lol, these are just great shows, I love how it give an understanding of just how hard it was. But how smart humans can be.

[@joesnow7216]

The pig club idea could also be applied to other animals apart from pigs. Cows, goats, sheep, rabbits, even pigeons could be raised communally as a shared protein source.

[@DebbiesSanctuary49]

Love these video's ! You really go in depth into daily life, we need American documentary makers do replicate this about our own history! One question why does it seem that the skinny young man doesn't seem to be doing his share of the heavy work? And why on earth are they going to plow that small plot with clothes that are not work appropriate...ties and coats?! Hats off to Peter and Ruth for the hardest workers! Ruth you really do it all! Great job!

[@towgod7985]

Love these Farm series of programs

[@judithhuling-cadieux1700]

To those who work in the coal mines...my hat goes off to you...I could never do it...too dark...to cramped ...made me claustrophobic watching that part!!

[@Pandamokneeums]

thank you for posting this series.
it's been really interesting!

[@cathwalker1851]

thanks you for up loading the farm vids :)

[@santana160]

Well, many had to turn their grand homes into convalescent homes for the wounded armed forces, others had to lend their land to the army to train soldiers and they also had farms on their lands and had to conform to all the rules and regulations for maximum production.

[@scarygirlBme]

I loved using the rototiller when I was a youngin.

[@VallenChaosValiant]

Interesting that North Korea is using wood gas even today to power vehicles. People make do with what they can get.

[@yellowbarch]

Thank you so much

[@adirondackErin]

I love Peter's hair short?

[@01Mary02]

These series should be shown in classrooms in schools. I'm guessing that there are virtually no students today who have the vaguest idea of what these people sacrificed, rationed, gave up or made do with in order to win the war. Too busy trying to keep up with the Kardashians and taking selfies.

[@unclerojelio6320]

Where was the UK's famous HHS when this was made? No safety glasses, no working at height gear, no gloves, no hearing protection. How the hell did they get away with the making of this?

[@anarchyandempires5452]

From america, America, America why the hell does Britain get such a preferential treatment from the USA?