Georgia Posted 5 February Share Posted 5 February Hello, I've just joined the group. Please can anyone point me in the right direction for information on line or books about the vegetable shows held by the British Expeditionary Forces at Le Harve or elsewhere? Thank you Georgia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin kenf48 Posted 5 February Admin Share Posted 5 February Welcome to the GWF The war diaries for the various commands at the Havre Base are free at TNA if you register had a Quick Look at the Commandant war diary but no mention This BL blog has limited info https://blogs.bl.uk/untoldlives/2016/08/mud-blood-and-vegetables.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgia Posted 5 February Author Share Posted 5 February Thank you kenf48, Sorry what is the TNA, when I Google it, I get wrestling 😳😅 Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin kenf48 Posted 5 February Admin Share Posted 5 February The National Archives diaries are free if you register https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_q=Havre&discoveryCustomSearch=true&_cr1=WO+95&_col=200&_hb=tna take your pick but they are mainly about troop movements Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgia Posted 5 February Author Share Posted 5 February OK Thank you, I'll take a look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonraker Posted 5 February Share Posted 5 February As the war increased and certain foods became in short supply, increasing emphasis was placed on military organisations cultivating their own vegetables and I have several references to this being done at Wiltshire training camps. I have a postcard showing a fine display inside a hut at Fovant Camp, west of Salisbury. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEW Posted 5 February Share Posted 5 February There's an older topic on 'Gardening in the trenches'. There are references to vegetable growing and an image of a medallion for Le Havre Vegetable Show Aug 1917. TEW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgia Posted 6 February Author Share Posted 6 February Thank you for this information. The long thread was wonderful to read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgia Posted 6 February Author Share Posted 6 February Thank you everyone for your help. I'm interested as I recently bought a silver medal for the 1917 vegetable show from an auction. I live in France. I think it must have been a 2nd prize to a French civilian, a Monsieur Debeouf. The French Army were excluded from taking part, and impossible to find out why?! I'm a keen grower and was fascinated to think that these gardens and shows existed within a raging war. I'll continue researching this subject with the help of this group. I loved reading the diary entries of the soldiers. I'll look to see if there's a book published with a soldier who kept a garden. Best wishes G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knittinganddeath Posted 6 February Share Posted 6 February Check out John Stempel-Lewis' Where Poppies Blow: The British Soldier, Nature, and the Great War. It is very heartwarming to see how soldiers grew flowers and vegetables in the trenches and more than any other book it made me want to visit the battlefields. I don't remember any mention of vegetable competitions but one internment camp for British/foreign nationals in Germany did have a flower competition that eventually drew the attention of the Royal Horticulture Society. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgia Posted 6 February Author Share Posted 6 February Thank you 😊 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin kenf48 Posted 6 February Admin Share Posted 6 February I've restored the missing images in the previously mentioned thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Posted 6 February Share Posted 6 February 14 hours ago, kenf48 said: https://blogs.bl.uk/untoldlives/2016/08/mud-blood-and-vegetables.html "A Depot Company of German Prisoners of War won, with an average of 26 tons of vegetables produced per acre" That is extremely impressive. I'm assuming the bulk was potato, which an average fully mechanised and fertilized farm would be pushed to reach 20 tons/acre today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgia Posted 7 February Author Share Posted 7 February Thanks Kenf48 and Dai Bach y Sowldiwr. 23 hours ago, knittinganddeath said: Check out John Stempel-Lewis' Where Poppies Blow: The British Soldier, Nature, and the Great War. It is very heartwarming to see how soldiers grew flowers and vegetables in the trenches and more than any other book it made me want to visit the battlefields. I don't remember any mention of vegetable competitions but one internment camp for British/foreign nationals in Germany did have a flower competition that eventually drew the attention of the Royal Horticulture Society. Thank you, I have ordered this book to read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaureenE Posted 7 February Share Posted 7 February (edited) Also see the previous topic (August 2016) "Article re Vegetable Show at Le Havre" ( British Library blog also mentioned above) Edited 7 February by MaureenE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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