Cigarettes and Alcohol in the Great War

[per ardua per mare per terram]

Steve

It might be interesting to investigate the Royal Naval Division, was there a change in rations when they went to army control? As naval reservists they had been used to a daily rum ration for years, which might have caused a mutiny if they were deprived. The rum was watered down, to varying strengths for ratings and called grog.

Will your research include the Princess Mary gift tin – officially sanctioned and included cigarettes in the soldier’s comforts.

Fred

[Guest plim]

my grandad diddn't smoke untill he joined the army

[Guest plim]

2nd pic

[Muerrisch]

See also the strangely moving tale of Pte "Sunny Jim" Edge, 2RWF, page 253 of Dunn's 'The War the infantry Knew', 21 August 1916, where Edge walked seven miles under fire to deliver cigarettes to the companies because "I fort the boys would want some cigawettes, so I've bwought some up".

[tintin1689]

Albert Jacka the famous VC from the Australian 14th Bn was a member of the Rechabites too

In Carlisle, Cumberland because of the many nearby munitions factories and important Railway facilities all licensed premises were nationalised and run by the State Licensing Board. Different sections of the community had representatives on this Board which was appointed by the Home Secretary. part of the Board's brief was to reduce consumption - but it was also a business - fine line to walk there. It was still going in the 1960s. PRO may have some records?

[Canadawwi]

A June 5, 1915 articles.

[carninyj]

As has been said of other places, towns collected money to sent hundreds of cigs to 'their boys'. Here's Ballymena, Co Antrim's appeal.

Regards

Carninyj

[Joe Sweeney]

FYI on cigarettes

Daily Ration allowance:

"Tabocco or Cigarettes" (only to Smokers) 2 ozs.per week -Field Ration and also L.o.C. Ration.

Matches Field Ration: 1 Box three times a Fotrnight; LoC Ration 1 Box a week.

Joe Sweeney

[Simon Furnell]

Hello Steve.

Interesting topic to do your degree on,and i wish i had thought of it 20 years ago.

Some people reckon that artillery was the king of the battlefield,but to the guys in the front line,Rum and "Fags",were the king.

Many first hand accounts i have read,always include references to food,Beer and "Fags.

I remember reading one veteran saying,that"without our Rum,we would have lost the war".

As for affecting performance in the frontline,i have not come across any references as concerns this in the British and Commonwealth forces,apart from the odd man having to much and wanting to take on the whole German Army by himself,or having to much and going sick.

Seems there might have been a few problems behind the line,the odd riot etc,but no masses of troops,one over the eight,refusing to fight.

Cigarettes were priceless,and the difference one could make was unbelievable,but there doesn't seem to have been men smoking 60 a day.

They were a comfort,and used as such,sparingly,and could prove dangerous,especially if there was a Sniper about,even if you rolled your own.

Goes a lot further than 10 Woodbines,does half an ounce of Tobacco and some papers,but it has always amazed me they were able to smoke at all,given the damp conditions.

Must have been hard keeping any Tobacco product dry enough to smoke in a trench,but they did,and that probably shows how important it was.

The German offensives of 1918 are the only time i have come across references of troops failing to fight because of food and beer,and they were all references to German units in March of that year.

They couldn't believe what they found in captured dumps,and it slowed them down after the first few days,and made them a little less certain about success in the war.

There are loads of paperbacks,with first hand accounts(the list is endless)and maybe they might be of some help.

Good luck Steve.

All the best.

Simon.

[robbie]

Hi,

As a History finalist at the University of Warwick i've just started researching for my dissertation which will look at the role of Cigarettes and Alcohol in the First World War, both on the Western Front and on the Home Front.

I intend to look at issues such as how the use of tobacco and alcohol on the Western Front affected troop performance (e.g. through improving morale) and how this compares with the use of cigarettes and alcohol on the Home Front (restricted opening hours of public houses, increased price of alcohol etc.)

If anyone could offer insight into these or related issues, or provide suggestions for further reading/source availability, i would be most grateful.

Kind Regards

Steve Adcock

Hi there

Sounds an interesting topic, and one which may span both history and psychology. Re the latter, this could be attacked via socail psychology of groups, of warfare, of "mateship[" (Aussies), and via Personality in terms of individaul differences such as motivation, introverted and extroverted personalities and so on..

Robbie

[shaymen]

1914

Glyn

[robbie]

Glyn

[Moonraker]

Prewar, brewers' tents were a feature of most tented summer camps (rivalled by those of the YMCA, which offered non-alcoholic drinks). Soldiers were banned from public houses during manoeuvres, and there was an unpleasant incident at Winterbourne Stoke, Wiltshire, in 1910 when John Benett-Stanford, who was both a Justice of the Peace and a Territorial lieutenant serving as a transport officer, tried to close the Bell Inn lest his civilian drivers succumb to temptation. The landlord declined to do so, suggesting instead that Benett-Stanford put an escort on the door to keep his men out. The officer appears to have over-reacted and "by way of joke", or so he later claimed, put a whip around the man's neck, dragged him outside and locked the pub. A scuffle resulted, which led to Benett-Stanford taking summons out against three men, making a total of five charges. Four of these were dismissed and the fifth adjourned sine die. (Benett-Stanford was very eccentric and known as "Mad Jack".)

He lived at Pyt House, Tisbury and perhaps was annoyed at the relaxed attitude seen in his local inn the previous year. E J Springett of the 5th London Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, had captured a very fed up and tired trooper of the 18th Hussars, a member of the opposing force. They made their way to Tisbury where, spotting an inn, Springett thought it "a good opportunity to water and feed my horse and my prisoner and I agreed it would be nice to have a pint ourselves although of course it was forbidden to enter a pub on duty. Inside was a party of military policemen, but as they too were breaking the law we carried on and nothing was said."

Early in the war there was much controversy about opening hours for public houses. With thousands of recruits with little to do in their leisure hours, and with many welfare amenities in camp being "dry" (ie non-alcoholic), village inns became swamped with thirsty soldiers, some of whom over-indulged and became disorderly. At Codford in September 1914, one public house was open for four hours a day to serve thousands of men. Within weeks of mobilisation, the authorities (concerned about drunkeness) were asking that pubs in the Salisbury Plain military areas close at 9pm, a move not welcomed by the brewers. Canadian regulations forbade the sale of alcohol in their camps, but following disturbances in local villages their commanding officer, General Alderson, allowed camp canteens to sell alcohol for one hour at noon and three hours in the evening. The General and his staff had based themselves at the Bustard Inn, on the edge of Salisbury Plain, which might have caused some cynical comments from the rank and file, as well as deterring them from frequenting the premises themselves. Bruin, the bear mascot of the headquarters staff, was luckier and is said to have enjoyed beer at the inn. Seven civilian workers who sold whiskey to troops at Bustard Camp were each fined £3, with costs.

Though local people showed particular warmth to convalescent soldiers, they were not meant to serve or buy them liquor, as this might have hindered their recovery. On August 20, 1915, the Home Office wrote to chief constables reminding them of this, and pointing out that most, but not all, patients wore hospital uniform (of blue or grey). In July 1918 two barmaids at the Bustard Inn were each fined £2 with 5s costs for serving beer to patients (probably from Fargo Military Hospital two miles away).

No doubt the Army was pleased to see the counter-influences provided by the various welfare organisations offering non-alcoholic drinks and alternative amusements. Pre-war, the Royal Army Temperance Association had facilities at Jellalabad Barracks, Tidworth, comprising a refreshments room and billiards and reading room. The Conrad Dillon Plate was awarded to the unit at Tidworth with the highest proportion of RATA members. In 1910 it was the 2nd Duke of Wellington's Regiment with 688 members, or a remarkable 90 per cent of its strength.

Before the Great War Colonel Ronald Campbell investigated the effects of smoking on soldiers and found that non-smokers had better health and fitness records. The commanding officer of the 1st Seaforth Highlanders campaigned against it and Field Marshal Lord Grenfelll prohibited it on fatigues or under arms, including during field operations and on manoeuvres. On February 2, 1917 the National Health Insurance Medical Research Council published a report on soldiers with heart disorders which referred to the effects of smoking cigarettes. (See John G Gray, “Prophet in Plimsoles“, Edina Press, Edinburgh).

On the outbreak of war, the "Weekly Dispath" launched a Tobacco Fund, which by late October 1914 had raised £10,000 towards "smokes" for the troops. In October 1916 (sorry, don't have the exact date) an RAMC lieutenant-colonel wrote to "The Times" stating that "a large part of the functional disturbances of the heart for which men have been invalided home is due to excessive use of tobacco".

[Moonraker]

Prewar, brewers' tents were a feature of most tented summer camps (rivalled by those of the YMCA, which offered non-alcoholic drinks). Soldiers were banned from public houses during manoeuvres, and there was an unpleasant incident at Winterbourne Stoke, Wiltshire, in 1910 when John Benett-Stanford, who was both a Justice of the Peace and a Territorial lieutenant serving as a transport officer, tried to close the Bell Inn lest his civilian drivers succumb to temptation. The landlord declined to do so, suggesting instead that Benett-Stanford put an escort on the door to keep his men out. The officer appears to have over-reacted and "by way of joke", or so he later claimed, put a whip around the man's neck, dragged him outside and locked the pub. A scuffle resulted, which led to Benett-Stanford taking summons out against three men, making a total of five charges. Four of these were dismissed and the fifth adjourned sine die. (Benett-Stanford was very eccentric and known as "Mad Jack".)

He lived at Pyt House, Tisbury and perhaps was annoyed at the relaxed attitude seen in his local inn the previous year. E J Springett of the 5th London Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, had captured a very fed up and tired trooper of the 18th Hussars, a member of the opposing force. They made their way to Tisbury where, spotting an inn, Springett thought it "a good opportunity to water and feed my horse and my prisoner and I agreed it would be nice to have a pint ourselves although of course it was forbidden to enter a pub on duty. Inside was a party of military policemen, but as they too were breaking the law we carried on and nothing was said."

Early in the war there was much controversy about opening hours for public houses. With thousands of recruits with little to do in their leisure hours, and with many welfare amenities in camp being "dry" (ie non-alcoholic), village inns became swamped with thirsty soldiers, some of whom over-indulged and became disorderly. At Codford in September 1914, one public house was open for four hours a day to serve thousands of men. Within weeks of mobilisation, the authorities (concerned about drunkeness) were asking that pubs in the Salisbury Plain military areas close at 9pm, a move not welcomed by the brewers. Canadian regulations forbade the sale of alcohol in their camps, but following disturbances in local villages their commanding officer, General Alderson, allowed camp canteens to sell alcohol for one hour at noon and three hours in the evening. The General and his staff had based themselves at the Bustard Inn, on the edge of Salisbury Plain, which might have caused some cynical comments from the rank and file, as well as deterring them from frequenting the premises themselves. Bruin, the bear mascot of the headquarters staff, was luckier and is said to have enjoyed beer at the inn. Seven civilian workers who sold whiskey to troops at Bustard Camp were each fined £3, with costs.

Though local people showed particular warmth to convalescent soldiers, they were not meant to serve or buy them liquor, as this might have hindered their recovery. On August 20, 1915, the Home Office wrote to chief constables reminding them of this, and pointing out that most, but not all, patients wore hospital uniform (of blue or grey). In July 1918 two barmaids at the Bustard Inn were each fined £2 with 5s costs for serving beer to patients (probably from Fargo Military Hospital two miles away).

No doubt the Army was pleased to see the counter-influences provided by the various welfare organisations offering non-alcoholic drinks and alternative amusements. Pre-war, the Royal Army Temperance Association had facilities at Jellalabad Barracks, Tidworth, comprising a refreshments room and billiards and reading room. The Conrad Dillon Plate was awarded to the unit at Tidworth with the highest proportion of RATA members. In 1910 it was the 2nd Duke of Wellington's Regiment with 688 members, or a remarkable 90 per cent of its strength.

Before the Great War Colonel Ronald Campbell investigated the effects of smoking on soldiers and found that non-smokers had better health and fitness records. The commanding officer of the 1st Seaforth Highlanders campaigned against it and Field Marshal Lord Grenfelll prohibited it on fatigues or under arms, including during field operations and on manoeuvres. On February 2, 1917 the National Health Insurance Medical Research Council published a report on soldiers with heart disorders which referred to the effects of smoking cigarettes. (See John G Gray, “Prophet in Plimsoles“, Edina Press, Edinburgh).

On the outbreak of war, the "Weekly Dispath" launched a Tobacco Fund, which by late October 1914 had raised £10,000 towards "smokes" for the troops. In October 1916 (sorry, don't have the exact date) an RAMC lieutenant-colonel wrote to "The Times" stating that "a large part of the functional disturbances of the heart for which men have been invalided home is due to excessive use of tobacco".

[Guest]

In Carlisle, Cumberland because of the many nearby munitions factories and important Railway facilities all licensed premises were nationalised and run by the State Licensing Board. Different sections of the community had representatives on this Board which was appointed by the Home Secretary. part of the Board's brief was to reduce consumption - but it was also a business - fine line to walk there. It was still going in the 1960s. PRO may have some records?

The Carlisle and District State Management Scheme was introduced in 1916 and survived into the 1970s. It led to the building of some pubs of unique design in the Carlisle area.

I lived in Carlisle in the early 1970s, very shortly before the scheme ended. In the main, with exceptions,, Carlisle pubs were dour, cheerless, miserable places because of the way they were run by the scheme, but the beer from the State brewery was good. This applied less to pubs outside the city where the scheme operated though, mainly because they were packed with locals who had a good time in spite of the rules.

It was not introduced because of the railways. By 1916 the largest munitions factory in the Empire was opening just up the road near Gretna. Both the construction workers and the new munitions workers were earning big money and would pile onto the trains to Carlisle straight from work. The resulting drunkenness was starting to harm production and was causing great alarm in the city.

I remember reading a short local history of the scheme in the 1970s and it may still be available in the Carlisle area. I think it was called "A City Under the Influence", but I cannot remember the author.

Incidentally, a smaller state control scheme operated in the Ross and Cromarty area of Scotland, which I think was to do with drunkenness at the Naval base at Invergordon (well if you were sent to there or Scapa Flow, what else was there to do but commit slow suicide by alcohol poisoning?) - but they did not have their own brewery and the pubs sold other commercial beers.

[Guest steveadcock]

Greetings,

Having opened this discussion over 2 years ago i'm touched and amazed that people are still suggesting research possibilities and sharing personal experiences.

Although my dissertation on cigarettes and alcohol on the western front has long been submitted i've still enjoyed exploring the articles, stories and pictures offered in the last few months - thanks very much to those who have contributed.

For the record, i'm now a History teacher at a secondary school in South London, so i've had the privilege of helping a new generation of school children explore the First World War.

Many thanks and best wishes to all.

Steve Adcock

[robbie]

Greetings,

Having opened this discussion over 2 years ago i'm touched and amazed that people are still suggesting research possibilities and sharing personal experiences. 

Although my dissertation on cigarettes and alcohol on the western front has long been submitted i've still enjoyed exploring the articles, stories and pictures offered in the last few months - thanks very much to those who have contributed.

For the record, i'm now a History teacher at a secondary school in South London, so i've had the privilege of helping a new generation of school children explore the First World War.

Many thanks and best wishes to all.

Steve Adcock

THat's good to hear. I admit when I replied to your post I didn't look at the date, that is until after I had posted it..i thought well we might hear from him one day, and we did! Well done.

Robbie

[shaymen]

This was always an interesting thread so back to the top you go with an article I thought I would share with the forum.

(Chris B - Any chance of the pics coming back for these older threads.)

Glyn

[Boreenatra]

c.1915

Regards Steve

[Patrick]

Morning all

@+

Patrick

[Simon Furnell]

I am glad to see this thread is still going as well.

Important things to the young and old men,during two World Wars,Ciggies and Booze,but a luxury and a comfort,and that someone is looking into how it all got out of control(and must have nearly passed the degree by now!!),is even more important.

You can definitely raise morale rapidly with a"Fag",in a war situation,or at work,which is something i know from experience,in the job that i do!!.

I am not in the Army,but work in manufacturing,which is not a lot different,especially in the UK,but when there is a problem,even the Non Smokers come out for a "Fag",or a" Passive",as it is known today,and work it out.

Checkout Steven.E.Ambrose,for the negative effects of Alcohol during WW2,and the March Offensive of 1918,for the negative effects of Alcohol,plus everything else,food like.

I just hope and pray,that the research doesn't prove,that the Rum Ration,before going"Over the Top",is the cause of the todays "Binge Drinking Culture",and that having a,"Lucifer to light your Fag",is the cause of people smoking too much.

Christmas Day will never be the same in my house,ever again,if this is true!.

All the best.

Simon.

[sandyford]

A soldier who was wounded in 2nd Ypres, returned to England and had several operations to deal with a bullet wound to the stomach, is reported as having had his first cigarette, after 2 months in hospital.

This is reported as a sign of returning health and a reason for rejoicing. Presumably he had his cigarette in the hospital ward.

No having to go outside and loiter by the bins then.

Kate