A Prisoner Wants Food

Houses in North Street

Friday 16th April 1915: Private W. Smith of the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, whose father and mother live at 73 North-street, Luton, a prisoner-of-war in Germany, writes asking for food. He is at Munster, Westphalia, and on a postcard recently received by his sister, Mrs Virgin, of 62 North-street he says: - "Please send me some bread, lard, cheese or good old bread pudding. You can send up to 11 lbs free of charge - no stamps or anything".

His father and mother have since received a letter in which he says: "I got the last parcel on March 5th. We get parcels quicker than letters or cards. If you can get me anything else I should be very pleased, as we can do with it, or I should not keep sending to you for stuff. I will pay you for it, and a bit more besides, when I get home, which I hope won't be long. When I do get home I shall never forget I have got a good mother and dad, who have looked after me at the right time … Send me some tinned bread, margarine, cheese, or anything like that for the cheapest - not because I shall be afraid to pay for it, but because it is most filling. And send me a pair of socks if you can as I have not got any. You have sent me some nice parcels and I think I am asking you to do too much, but I can't help it. Lord help them, sausages for breakfast tomorrow (Sunday) … the fag papers are useful, and if I don't want them I can make 2½d. per packet and buy bread with the money"(1).

Source: Luton News 22nd April 1915

---

(1) This letter points to shortages of food already in Germany. This was due to the blockade imposed by the Royal Navy which went a long way to winning the war. By 1918 German civilians were on starvation rations, fuelling such discontent that uprisings began to take place. Rationing had been introduced in January 1915.