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29-12-2019, 07:24
Visit the Shut up about Barclay Perkins site (http://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2019/12/the-problem-of-providing-beer-for.html)
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Learning new stuff. It's the main resaon I do all my research. I'm always happy to be pointed at something I'd never contemplated.
In this case, it's about all the beer shipped to the British troops serving abroad. Well, not so much the beer, as the bottles, crates and barrels in which it was packaged. It shouldn't come a surprise that virtually none of the packaging was returned. Which was a big problem during the war and its immediate aftermath as they could not easily be replaced.
The head of the off-licence trade organisation was very aware of this problem and made an appeal to the public in this letter:
"Christmas Beer
Sir —Despite acute shortages of hops, barley, labour and transport, the brewing industry is doing its best to provide Christmas beer for the public and our troops overseas.
Of the millions of beer bottles sent overseas very few return, and the consequent strain on supplies for home distribution is enormous. Brewers, licensees and off-licence holders will be faced with a breakdown in the bottled beer supply over the festive season unless they have the wholehearted co-operation of the public in returning all empty bottles, complete with stoppers, whatever their condition and wherever they may be unearthed.
May I, therefore, appeal to every beer consumer to search his cupboards and deliver to his "local” or off-licence every bottle he can find, and to renew the effort after the holiday.—Yours etc.
GEO BIRMINGHAM,
Secretary, National Federation of Off-licence Holders’ Association."
Birmingham Daily Gazette - Monday 17 December 1945, page 2.Here are UK wartime exports by destination:
UK beer exports by destination 1939 - 1945
Destination
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
Egypt
26,597
28,857
28,519
3,658
45
4,804
2,966
Irish Free State
52,081
35,306
25,843
16,730
14,810
4,878
128
British W. Africa
12,468
13,873
22,328
15,544
19,161
10,225
1,190
India & Straits Settlements
63,186
69,963
62,260
11,523
638
2,506
38,333
Brit. West India
10,925
8,499
8,081
5,082
6,629
1,701
7
Belgium
29,140
13,080
Other Countries
89,577
97,188
78,521
42,259
65,736
53,483
78,732
Total
283,974
266,766
225,552
94,796
107,019
77,597
130,443
Source:
Brewers' Almanack 1955, page 57.
Why the big fall in 1942? Could it be connected with the USA's entry into the war?
More... (http://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2019/12/the-problem-of-providing-beer-for.html)
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xeo3pPmVSMg/XgdHjM2TvNI/AAAAAAAAheg/qG0jiA8MhR42FKrdrKFJhGrzIJZuN4ZrACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Barclay_Perkins_Victory_Stout.jpg (https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xeo3pPmVSMg/XgdHjM2TvNI/AAAAAAAAheg/qG0jiA8MhR42FKrdrKFJhGrzIJZuN4ZrACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Barclay_Perkins_Victory_Stout.jpg)
Learning new stuff. It's the main resaon I do all my research. I'm always happy to be pointed at something I'd never contemplated.
In this case, it's about all the beer shipped to the British troops serving abroad. Well, not so much the beer, as the bottles, crates and barrels in which it was packaged. It shouldn't come a surprise that virtually none of the packaging was returned. Which was a big problem during the war and its immediate aftermath as they could not easily be replaced.
The head of the off-licence trade organisation was very aware of this problem and made an appeal to the public in this letter:
"Christmas Beer
Sir —Despite acute shortages of hops, barley, labour and transport, the brewing industry is doing its best to provide Christmas beer for the public and our troops overseas.
Of the millions of beer bottles sent overseas very few return, and the consequent strain on supplies for home distribution is enormous. Brewers, licensees and off-licence holders will be faced with a breakdown in the bottled beer supply over the festive season unless they have the wholehearted co-operation of the public in returning all empty bottles, complete with stoppers, whatever their condition and wherever they may be unearthed.
May I, therefore, appeal to every beer consumer to search his cupboards and deliver to his "local” or off-licence every bottle he can find, and to renew the effort after the holiday.—Yours etc.
GEO BIRMINGHAM,
Secretary, National Federation of Off-licence Holders’ Association."
Birmingham Daily Gazette - Monday 17 December 1945, page 2.Here are UK wartime exports by destination:
UK beer exports by destination 1939 - 1945
Destination
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
Egypt
26,597
28,857
28,519
3,658
45
4,804
2,966
Irish Free State
52,081
35,306
25,843
16,730
14,810
4,878
128
British W. Africa
12,468
13,873
22,328
15,544
19,161
10,225
1,190
India & Straits Settlements
63,186
69,963
62,260
11,523
638
2,506
38,333
Brit. West India
10,925
8,499
8,081
5,082
6,629
1,701
7
Belgium
29,140
13,080
Other Countries
89,577
97,188
78,521
42,259
65,736
53,483
78,732
Total
283,974
266,766
225,552
94,796
107,019
77,597
130,443
Source:
Brewers' Almanack 1955, page 57.
Why the big fall in 1942? Could it be connected with the USA's entry into the war?
More... (http://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2019/12/the-problem-of-providing-beer-for.html)