1326 1060 FACTS ABOUT THE UNITED KINGDOM’S WARLondon is scarred, bin St. Paul': Cathedral stands symbolic of London's endurance.INTRODUCTION this book sets out in abridged form some of the great array of facts contained in the British Government White Paper entitled Statistics Relating to the War Effort of the United Kingdom. The following pages give a glimpse of the way in which the people of Britain mobilised for war all their available manpower and all their resources, and the price they have paid in terms of casualties both in human life and property, lowered standards of living, record taxes, and inconvenience—the “ blood, toil, tears and sweat ” of Churchill’s memorable phrase. To see in its correct perspective the picture presented in this book it must be borne in mind that the accomplishments described were achieved under aerial attack and in the face of varying degrees of blockade. A total blackout has further added to the difficulties. Apart from their daily war jobs, in factory, field, mine or office, the men, women and young people engaged on this war production have been, in their meagre leisure hours, called upon to perform duties in one or other of the services such as Civil Defence, Home Guard, and fire watching. One fact that can never fully be expressed in figures is the immense contribution that British inventiveness has made to the total war effort—with radiolocation, Penicillin, the prefabricated invasion port scheme, and innumerable. other technological advances that have helped to outarm and outfight the enemy. The family circle, sacrosanct in times of peace, has been completely broken up in Britain’s mobilisation ; 22,000,000 good-byes have been said as men and women have departed into the Armed Forces or have been directed away from their homes into war plants dispersed all over the country to deny the enemy concentrated targets. It is under these conditions, sustained for over five years—for some part of which Britain, with the rest of the Commonwealth and Empire, fought alone—that the total war effort of the United Kingdom has reached a peak which can fairly be said to represent the greatest contribution per head of the population exacted from the people of any country in this war. G.P.D. 39/610 3Men oj the 1892 age group register for war work. Women oj 21 register for call-up into industry and the frorces.31A \ 1*0 W E It 1 Of over thirty million people who come within the Govern- ment war-time registration schemes, about one-third are in the Armed Forces, full-time Civil Defence or munitions industries, and one-third in basic industries or vital ■ Services. Most of the remainder are housewives who arc already looking after war-workers and children and have no lime left to work outside their homes. 2 This labour was distributed in June 1944 as follows : 47 per cent. Forces, Civil Defence, munitions. 26 per cent. Agriculture, mining, national and local Government, heat, light and water, transport, food, etc. 27 per cent. Building (including airfields, barracks, etc.), civil engineering, clothing, trikution of goods and all other essential civilian needs. 2 Over three-quarters of the labour in manufacturing indus- tries, other than mining, is engaged on Government work. Only one-fifth is used on work for civilian needs. All that is left of this labour for making goods for the export trade is four per cent., i.e., one-twentv-fifth. 5Women munition workers stand for long hours at the bench. Training zvomen to take the place of skilled men called up for military service.MOBILISATION OF MEN / Less than half a million men of the United Kingdom were serving in the Armed Forces at the beginning of the war, but by the middle of 1944 the figure was more than nine times as large and stood at four and a half million. The total number of men who have served or are serving (taking account of casualties and releases on medical and other grounds) is over five and a half million. 5 Of all men between 18 and 40, $7 per cent, have served or are serving in the Armed Forces ; most of the remainder are making munitions. 6 Resides those men serving with the Forces many others are serving full time in the National Fire Service, A.R.P. Services, Casualty Services, regular and auxiliary Police. At the height of enemy air attacks in 1941 the number of men so engaged was 324,000. 7 In June 1944 the number of men serving full time in Civil Defence (225,000) was still nearly three rimes what it had been in June 1939. S Between 1939 and 1944 the number of men aged 14 to 64 in the munitions industries alone rose by 600,000. During the same period over three million men were withdrawn from industries catering for civilian needs. 7Girls on a mixed anti-aircraft battery identify enemy planes. Women have been trained as skilled operators to work in Britain's shipyards.9 In June 1944 three million men were doing part-time service in the Home Guard or in Civil Defence in addition to their other work. MOBILISATION OF WOMEN mi ft 4-f^_______________________ If) The number of women in the Auxiliary Services of the Navy, Army and Air Force had increased from just over 100,000 in June 1941 to nearly 500,000 by June 1944. / 2 By the middle of 1944, 350,000 women were doing part- time work in Civil Defence and 900,000 were doing part- time work in industry. 12 The number of women making munitions in 1944 was nearly four times as great as in 1939. 13 Of all women between 18 and 40—whether single, married or widowed—55 per cent, were in the Services or industry during 1943. 9A battery of rocket guns beats off a Luftwaffe attack. Fires caused by air attack sometimes slowed, but never stopped, zvar production.MUNITIONS(GENERAL) 14 The number of persons working in the munitions industries on orders for the Admiralty, Ministry of Supply and Ministry of Aircraft Production, in January 1944, was more than half as much again as in January 1941. BASIC INDUSTRIES 15 600,000 men have been withdrawn from the basic industries (agriculture, mining, Government service, transport, etc.) and partly replaced by 800,000 women. 16 Local Government service has been restricted. National Government service has had to be extended. Over alj, men are fewer by 94,000. But the number of women in these services has risen from half a million to a million. OTHER INDUSTRIES / 7 Id the industries catering for essential civilian needs the total labour force of men and women has been reduced by more than one-third—from over nine millions to six millions 11/{ flying bomb hits a busy thoroughfare and rescue squads remove the casualties.IS Nearly three million men have been withdrawn from the building, clothing, and other industries catering for civilians. More than half the number of men recruited to the Armed Forces have come from these industries. 19 Women who must remain near their homes have been given work in local industries catering for civilian needs, to replace those men and women who have been called away to more vital war work. Munitions Munitions Civilian needs Civilian needs 20 One-half of the greatly reduced labour force still available to civilian industries is working on Government orders, and one-half on goods for civilian consumption. 21 The number of men employed in building and civil engineer- ing has been reduced by $2 per cent, from 1,294,000 to 600,000. 22 Although at less than half their pre-war strength those remaining in the building and civil engineering industries have included in their work airfield construction, the building of barracks for British and American soldiers, A.R.P. defences and new war factories. 13Some of the 10,018 heavy bombers Britain built betiveen Sept ember 19J9 and June 1944. Safe from Luftwaffe attacks, this is one of Britain's underground war factories.COMPARISON BETWEEN I 9 I 8 AND 1944 23 The mobilisation of men 14 to 64 and women 14 to $9 in two wars :— 1918 June 1944 Forces, full-time Civil Defence 4,700,000 $,250,000 Munitions 3,030,000 $,060,000 STRENGTH OF THE ARMED FORCES 24 The total strength of the British Commonwealth and Empire Forces in June 1944 was 8,713,000, of which just over a half were from the 'United Kingdom. 25 Of the men enlisted in British Armies who have served or are still serving all over the world, the United Kingdom alone supplied more than 5,500,000, out of the British Commonwealth and Empire total of about 10,000,000 men. CASUALTIES 26 The casualties of the United Kingdom Armed Forces in the first five years of war totalled 563,000. The casualties for the rest of the Commonwealth and Empire over the same period totalled 363,000. 27 Of the merchant seamen serving in ships registered in the United Kingdom, 29,629 were killed at sea by enemy action up to August 31st, 1944. 15Testing for accuracy after boring the barrel of a 16-inch naval gun. Tanks roll off the production lines in ever-increasing numbers.28 More than 57,000 civilians were killed by aerial bombard- ment in the United Kingdom up to the end of August 1944. Of these : 26,291 were men ; 23,757 were women ; 7,250 were children. 29 The total killed, injured and detained in hospital was 136,116. 30 For more than five years the men and women of the United Kingdom have lived and worked under complete blackout. During long periods they have carried on under constant and severe air attack. 31 The monthly output of munitions (including naval and merchant vessels, aircraft and warlike stores) in the first half of 1944 was about six times as great as at the outbreak of war. HOME HHOHUVT IO\ 1939 17Steel from Britain’s foundries, the razv material for armaments. Women prepare ammunition for final examination before it is issued to the troops.32 Of the total munitions for the British Commonwealth of Nations, about 70 per cent, was produced in the United Kingdom, 10 per cent, came from other Empire countries, and 20 per cent, from the United States of America. 33 One-fifth of the munitions supplied by the United States was paid for in cash by Britain. 34 For every large warship that was completed in the early months of the war. three and a half warships were completed in a similar period in 1944. 35 Of the smaller naval craft, for every one that was completed in the early months of the war 62 were completed in a similar period in 1944. 36 For every naval gun made in the early months of the war 16 were made in a similar period in 1944, and for every torpedo made in 1939 six and a half were made in 1944. 37 For every tank or armoured vehicle made in the early months of the war n i were made in a similar period in 1944. 38 The ratio for rifles was iU to 1. 19The greatest battleship ever launched from a British yard takes the water.39 Telephones were supplied for the Army at the rate of 3,300 a month at the beginning of the war, but in 1944 supplies were at the rate of 11,000 a month. 40 In 1942, 88,400 panels for Bailey bridges were made; three times as many were made in 1943. 41 In 1942, 7,200,000 square yards of aircraft landing track was made ; nearly four times this quantity was made in 1943. 42 For every single heavy bomber built in Britain in 1940 (41 in all) over 112 were built in 1943, and during the first six months of 1944 the ratio was increased to over 140. 43 For every single naval aircraft Britain built in 1940 (476 in all) she built three and half in 1943. During the first six months of 1944 the ratio was increased to six and a half. 44 From the beginning of the war up to the middle of 1944, 38,025 fighters had been built in the United Kingdom. 13 Aircraft receiving-major repairs in the United Kingdom in 1941 totalled 12,131 The number repaired in 1943 was . 17,932 In the first half of 1944 aircraft were being repaired at the rate of 1,534 a month, or more than 18,000 a yearHuge underground dumps of munitions are dotted all over Britain. Britain became a vast supply base. Parked lorries azcait the “ D-Day ” order. Saving shipping space by cutting the timber that grozus in Britain's countryside.46 The average monthly output of aero-engines at the end of 1939 was 1,130. The monthly average at the beginning of 1944 was 5,270. 47 During the first five years of war, not only were many more aero-engines made but the power of engines was doubled. |(i939 pwMIllSIIIIII! 1919119991 48 At the beginning of the war little over 1,100 tons * of bombs were made per month. In 1943 monthly production was 23 times as great, and in 194.4 it was 34 times as great. RAW MATERIALS 49 The home production of timber in 1943 was more than four times that of 1939. 1939 880,000 tons 1943 3,821,000 tons (Hardwood, softzvood and pitwood) 50 Imports of timber were down by five million tons : 1939 6,698,000 tons 1943 1,708,000 tons (Hard-wood, softwood and pitwood) * Throughout this booklet (except in item 63) “ ton ” means the English ton of 2,240 lb. 23Britain's total mobilisation o K TOTAL The Armed Forces, full-lime All essential indi Civil Defence, and most of the agriculture, mininc munitions industries transport, foodall employable manpower OPULATION 46,750,000 00 £30 ries including public utilities, extiles, etc. 9,914,000 Mainly housewives 4J I not conscripted. They take care of young children and keep house for men and women war workers ★ Persons outside the compulsory registration scheme MEN OVER 64 . WOMEN OVER 59 • CHILDREN UNDER 14 25The farms worked by night in the drive to increase Britain's food production. . m m 1 M fit Increased milk production ; children} mothers, moth rs-to-be, invalids: take priority. London parks’ new allotments} zuhcre zvar workers spend their leisure producing food.51 Home production of iron ore increased by four million tons —from 14I million to i8f million—between 1939 and 1943. Imports of iron ore were reduced by nearly three and a half million tons—from five and a quarter million to less than two million—in the same period. 52 So that as much as possible of the limited shipping-space available could be used for the import of vital munitions, etc., some home industries requiring imported materials had to be cut down. For example, newsprint manufacture was cut down by 85 per cent., cotton yarn manufacture by 40 per cent. 53 Aluminium production—for aircraft—was more than three times as much in 1943 as it was before the war. 54 Magnesium production—for incendiary bombs and for aircraft—was more than eleven limes as much in 1943 as it was before the war. 55 To increase the output of food at home and so save shipping space, six and a half million more acres are being cultivated. This is an increase of 50 per cent, over the total of the land in Britain which was under the plough before the war. F o o 1 27Home Guardi on sentry duty see cargoes for Nczu York loaded at a British port.56 The quantity of wheat and potatoes harvested in 1943 was more than double the pre-war average. The output of sugar beet and vegetables was increased by more than one-third. 57 Home production of food has increased by 70 per cent. Imports of food have been cut by half, so that half thevships previously used for importing food can be put to war service. 5H 100,000 men have had to leave the farms, but 80,000 women have partly replaced them. Thousands of school children and adults have spent their holidays working on the land. 59 Public land being used to grow vegetables for private use : Before the war : 800,000 plots 1943 : 1,500,000 plots. -v t939 m3 60 To save shipping, imports of animal food-stuffs have been reduced from 8,750,000 tons to 1,250,000 tons. Larger quantities of fodder crops grown at home have helped to maintain milk production, but meat, poultry and eggs have had to be curtailed. 29Completed in only 5^ months, this ioyooo-ton merchant ship gets its last coat of paint. Often wider attack from the Luftwaffe, London’s docks still managed to carry on.62 Britain has fewer sheep, pigs and poultry, because of de- creased imports of animal feeding-stuffs. The number of pigs is less than half what it was before the war. These figures show the extent of the decrease : Sheep and lambs 1939 26,900,000 1944 20,300,000 Pigs 1939 4,400,000 1944 1,900,000 Poultry 1939 74,400,000 1944 55,200,000 62 Landings of fish are less than one-third of what they were before the war—and this is the reason : Of the deep-sea trawler fleet, 66 per cent, is on war service, and of the steam drifter fleet 75 per cent, is on war service. Many of the motor vessels normally engaged in fishing are also on war service. SUMA EOKEIGN T11A10E British Allied Neutrpl 63 Losses to British shipping have been greater than the losses of all Allied and Neutral shipping put together. From September 1939 to December 1943 British losses were nearly 3,000 ships, totalling over ni million gross tons. 3iBritain's shipyards have broken their records for neiu ships and repair of damaged ones.I 64 In the United Kingdom half of all the manpower in merchant shipyards (from 1940 to 1943) was engaged on repair work, yet new merchant tonnage was completed at a greater rate than during the first world war. 65 Only those foods, raw materials and finished goods have been brought into the United Kingdom which are absolutely necessary for the war effort and minimum civilian needs. In 1942 and 1943 these imports were less than half what they were before the war. 66 The import of finished dry goods, which before the war totalled seven million tons a year, was only two million tons in 1943—and nearly all of it munitions. 67 The imports of fruit and vegetables in 1943 were oniy one- eighth of their pre-war level. 33Meat and bacon ration for otic per- son for a zueek. Batter ration for one person con- trasted zuith i lb. packet. Margarine and cooking fat rations for a zueek con- trasted zuith i lb. packet. One person's tea ration for a zueek and jam ration for a month.68 Britain used to import over three-quarters of a million tons of scrap a year. Now this kind of import has practically ceased. The collection at home of scrap for steel-making has increased by two million tons a year. 69 Britain has sacrificed most of her export trade. As little manpower can be spared for anything other than war work, the quantity of exports has been reduced by more than two-thirds. 70 1,915,000 tons of iron and steel manufactures were exported in 1938, and only 134,000 tons in 1943. 71 Coal is normally one of Britain’s principal exports. In 1943 coal export (other than coal for use in ships) was less than one-tenth of what it was before the war. 72 Machinery exported in 1943 amounted to less than one- third of the 1938 figure. 1939 gig 1944 73 The export of motor-cars has stopped. (The number of motor-cars exported in 1938 was 44,123.) 35Rations are obtained only on presentation of the customer's ration book. Many British fishermen are fighting ; The Clothing Ration Book has cut the fish supplies are small and irregular. British people's clothing purchases by half.CIVMi.IA X 0 00 X SIM m 00 X 74 The average consumption of butter, fresh meat, sugar and fresh fruit, taken together, per head of the population has been almost halved. 75 The average consumption of margarine, canned meat, potatoes and flour, taken together, per head of the population is about one-third higher than before the war. 76 The average number of shell eggs eaten before the war was three and a quarter per head per week. In 1943 the amount available to adult civilians was just over half of one egg per week—less than one-sixth of what it was in 1939. 77 For every 10 pieces of clothing bought in 1938 only $.5 were bought in 1943. 78 For every 10 pairs of boots and shoes bought in 1938 only 7.3 were bought in 1943'. 79 For every 10 pieces of furniture and furnishings bought in 1938 only 2.3 were bought in 1943. 80 For every 10 items of hardware bought in 1938 oniy 3.3 were bought in 1943. 37Empty roads, no petrol being used except for official purposes and essential services. m W i HP" j Ijgfe ' * $ J s ! © * i 1 This zuas a street of happy homes until the Luftwaffe came.81 For every io cars or bicycles bought in 1938 only 1.1 were bought in 1943. 82 These are among the many articles no longer made at all : Motor-cars, refrigerators, pianos, vacuum cleaners and lawn mowers. 83 For every 27 armchairs and settees made before the war only one is made to-day. 84 The manufacture of trunks, suit cases, etc., is less than one-eighth of what it was before the war. RAILWAYS 85 Apart from the transport of minerals and coal, the weight of goods carried on the railways has almost doubled since 1938 39The Income Tax payer provides a large pan of Britain's war expenditure. Collection night in a village inn, the centre of the village War Savings group.86 Journeys made by workmen on the main-line railways averaged 222 million a year before the war, and they had increased to 318 million in 1943. ROADS 87 For every 10 motor-cars licensed before the war only three and a half were licensed at the beginning of 1944, and these could get only about one-third of the petrol they used previously. 88 By the summer of 1941 the total mileage of all bus routes was reduced by 40 per cent. Over the whole country the number of passengers carried has increased by nearly 20 per cent. The number of passengers carried by some bus routes undertakings increased by 50 per cent. HOMES 89 One in every three houses in the United Kingdom has been damaged by enemy action (four and a half million out of 13 million houses). By the end of September 1944 one'house in every 28 had been destroyed or made totally uninhabit- able. 4iLondon’s Trafalgar Square during a “ Wings for Victory ” War Savings drive. During a Savings Week, bombs for Germany zvere covered zvith War Savings stamps.FINANCE 90 Over £1,000 million of overseas assets have been sold and £2,300 million of overseas liabilities incurred. 91 The Government spent over four times m:>re in 1943 than in 1938 and nearly all this increase was to meet the cost of the war. TAXATION 1 92 In 1943 the British people paid two and a half times as much Income Tax as in the year before the war. The totals were : 1938 £472 million 1943 £1,169 million 93 How the Government obtained its money in 1943. Taxation and Government income from property, etc., provided 50 per cent. Personal, business and public savings provided . . . . -34 per cent. Realisation of assets provided 14 per cent. Borrowings of sums allowed as com- pensation for war damage (th‘e money cannot yet be used for rebuilding) . .2 per cent. 43In schools5 children make weekly contributions to their War Savings Groups. TRUST it SAVtHCS a AN*** NATlONAl SAVINGS CMTIf»CAT« mm* /lONAL &VINGX TIF1CATEX KVKRYBOOY’jr CUT -IDCSD X1CURITY '«* KOtOtHI CAUD tt, »*<:* 77ze securities the “ small ” sai>er //o/ds /or //ze thousands of millions of pounds he has lent his Government.1939 1944 IT 94 Before the war about one million manual wage earners paid £3,000,000 Income Tax. In 1943-4 seven million manual wage earners paid £200,000,000 Income Tax. 9o Other taxpayers numbered three million before the war and paid £333,000,000. To-day they number six million and pay £983,000,000 in Income Tax. EXAMPLES OF INCREASED TAXATION 96 Married, couple with two children : Earning £500 pre-war paid £8 now pay £76 in Income Tax Earning £1,000 pre-war paid £112 now pay £301 in Income Tax Earning £10,000 pre-war paid £4,079 now pay £6,782 in Income Tax 97 Business profits have been taxed since the war as well as private incomes. Increased profits were taxed at 60 per cent, in 1939, and this tax rose to 100 per cent, in 1940. EXAMPLES OF.INCREASED INDIRECT TAXATION 98 The tax on beer and tobacco in 1943 produced £600 million, which was about two-thirds of the total Government revenue in a single year before the war. 99 Total receipts from indirect taxation were nearly three times as great in 1943 as before the war. They rose from £371 million to £1,026 million. 45A long fareiocll to his little daughter before entraining for overseas. Tax on Beer JOO The duty on beer which was 2|d. per pint before the war has been increased to 7k!. per pint. The duty on 20 cigar- ettes which was 5|d. before the war has been increased to is. gd.—nearly four times what it was—and now accounts for three-quarters of the retail price of cigarettes. IssueJ by the British Ministry of Information and printed by His Majesty'* Stationery Office, London. January 1945. 47Britain's total mobilisation of all employable manpower 10,311,000 The Armed Forces, full-time Civil Defence, and most of the munitions industries All essential industries including agriculture, mining, public utilities, transport, food, textiles, etc. 9,914,000 Mainly housewives SjJ I not conscripted. They take care of young children and keep house for men and women war workers Persons outside the compulsory registration scheme MEN OVER 64 . WOMEN OVER 59 • CHILDREN UNDER 14