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Newport in the Great War
Telford author Julie Phillips has always been interested in the past;
particularly people, places and how their environment, national policies
and sociology affected everyday life.
It wasn’t until she read a
1918 postcard and letter
by her husband’s Great
Uncle Fred to his sister,
Gertie, that she knew
she had to discover more
about the people who
fought in the Great War
and their families who
stayed behind, fighting
their own battles in their
own way. This has all
led to Julie’s latest book,
Newport in the Great
War which gives a flavour
of what it was like to
live in Newport and the
surrounding area during
one of the most turbulent
times in our history.
Every part of Newport’s
contribution to the war
effort is covered, from the
men who enlisted and
their stories to the civilians
who
knitted,
sewed,
auctioned and sang their
way through the war while dealing with food and fuel
shortages.
This showof patriotismand stoicismwas made against
the backdrop of a bloody and heinous war that went
on far longer than anticipated. The constant threat of
receiving the dreaded telegram indicating their loved
one’s fate was never far from the minds of Newport’s
civilians, yet the people of Newport kept the home
fires burning brightly.
Wars affect everyone. Whether they are fought on
the battlefields or on the home front, by the armed
forces or civilians, sacrifices have to be made, and
everyone suffers one way or another. This book gives
a flavour of what it was like to live in Newport and the
surrounding area during the Great War years.
Newport was proud to send its brothers, husbands,
uncles and fathers to fight for King and Country,
many of whom had never been far from home
before, some who came
from decorated service
backgrounds for whom
the armed service was in
their blood.
Rich or poor, farm worker,
office manager or son of
a wealthy estate owner,
they all united to enlist
and fight for their King
and Country, defend their
town and protect British
values and way of life.
Life continued as usual
for many of those on
the home front, despite,
amongst other things,
the introduction of DORA,
rationing and the loss of
the labour force from the
farms.
Newport was already
generous in its giving
to the poor but thus
was taken to a whole
new level with the
introduction of many national and local war charities.
They knitted, sewed, auctioned and sang their way
through the war - one local woman even drove one
the first tractors in Shropshire, playing no small part
in the war effort.
This show of patriotism and stoicism was made
against the backdrop of a bloody and heinous war
that went on far longer than anticipated. The constant
threat of receiving the dreaded telegram indicating
their loved one’s fate was never far from the minds of
Newport’s civilians, yet the people of Newport kept
the home fires burning brightly.
Detailed andmeticulously researched, this fascinating
book is a must-read for anyone interested in the
history of Newport during the First World War.
The paperback contains 141 pages with 100
illustrations and is available from January for RRP:
£12.99. (ISBN: 9781473828179).
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FEBRUARY 2016