1 00:00:05,127 --> 00:00:06,879 The great British countryside. 2 00:00:07,127 --> 00:00:10,597 The setting for one of the most pivotaI battIes of the Second WorId War. 3 00:00:12,007 --> 00:00:14,760 ChurchiII caIIed it the ''frontIine of freedom''. 4 00:00:18,207 --> 00:00:20,596 It was fought by the farmers of Britain. 5 00:00:23,607 --> 00:00:27,156 When war broke out, the Nazis attacked British shipping, 6 00:00:27,207 --> 00:00:29,596 attempting to cut off food imports. 7 00:00:34,247 --> 00:00:38,479 The Government turned to farmers to doubIe home-grown food production. 8 00:00:39,287 --> 00:00:41,642 The plough, really, had become a weapon ot war. 9 00:00:43,447 --> 00:00:47,122 If they faiIed, the nation couId be starved into surrender. 10 00:00:51,967 --> 00:00:55,482 Now, archaeoIogists AIex LangIands and Peter Ginn... 11 00:00:56,527 --> 00:00:58,324 ..and historian Ruth Goodman... 12 00:00:59,767 --> 00:01:01,166 ..are turning back the cIock, 13 00:01:02,807 --> 00:01:04,286 working Manor Farm in Hampshire 14 00:01:04,327 --> 00:01:07,364 as it wouId have been during the Second WorId War. 15 00:01:10,207 --> 00:01:11,560 (Aeroplane tlies overhead) 16 00:01:17,167 --> 00:01:20,603 By 1 943, Britain was at breaking point. 17 00:01:21,287 --> 00:01:25,075 In the first few months of the year, there were record Iosses at sea, 18 00:01:25,167 --> 00:01:27,158 depIeting imports more than ever. 19 00:01:28,927 --> 00:01:32,078 AIthough the German army had been defeated at StaIingrad, 20 00:01:32,127 --> 00:01:35,085 uItimate victory was not yet in sight. 21 00:01:35,807 --> 00:01:39,800 After four years of war, Britain's farmers were exhausted. 22 00:01:41,047 --> 00:01:43,720 So the team resort to new sources of Iabour. 23 00:01:44,607 --> 00:01:47,121 We're going to need a lot more than that. 24 00:01:47,247 --> 00:01:50,125 Scavenge crops from every scrap of wasteIand. 25 00:01:50,487 --> 00:01:52,523 That looks absolutely lethal. 26 00:01:52,567 --> 00:01:55,479 And find innovative ways to cIothe themseIves. 27 00:01:56,647 --> 00:02:01,038 As resources are stretched to the Iimit on the Wartime Farm. 28 00:02:05,007 --> 00:02:06,998 (Air-raid siren) 29 00:02:15,327 --> 00:02:19,878 1 943 saw imports of food sIump to the Iowest IeveI of the war 30 00:02:19,927 --> 00:02:21,918 and the Government feared a crisis. 31 00:02:25,207 --> 00:02:28,882 Victory in EI AIamein created access to suppIies of petroI 32 00:02:28,927 --> 00:02:30,918 to heIp the continuing offensive. 33 00:02:32,447 --> 00:02:36,998 But with more ships given over to miIitary use, there were fewer to bring food to Britain. 34 00:02:40,327 --> 00:02:45,401 At home, the Government demanded that an extra one miIIion tonnes of cereaIs be produced. 35 00:02:46,967 --> 00:02:50,755 But arabIe Iand was becoming tired from years of consecutive use. 36 00:02:53,167 --> 00:02:56,000 There's a Iarge excess of straw on the farm, 37 00:02:56,047 --> 00:02:59,084 a by-product of aII the cereaI crops being grown. 38 00:02:59,647 --> 00:03:01,842 Ruth's using this to make a fertiIiser. 39 00:03:02,167 --> 00:03:05,762 Ot course, it we had a surplus ot barley straw, we could use that tor animal teed. 40 00:03:05,807 --> 00:03:09,959 But wheat straw really isn't much use. 41 00:03:10,487 --> 00:03:14,605 So all this spare straw l'm just adding to the dung heap to help it rot down. 42 00:03:14,887 --> 00:03:17,526 lt it didn't have any dung at all, it wouldn't rot 43 00:03:17,567 --> 00:03:22,402 and we'd have to add ammonia or lime or something like that to speed it up. 44 00:03:22,847 --> 00:03:26,442 With a little bit ot dung, mix it all together, 45 00:03:26,487 --> 00:03:29,047 eventually you get something spreadable on the tields. 46 00:03:30,167 --> 00:03:31,566 And with harvest approaching, 47 00:03:31,607 --> 00:03:35,043 we're perhaps paying a bit more attention to the dung heap than we were. 48 00:03:35,087 --> 00:03:39,205 We know that as soon as that crop is in, we've got to get this lot back out on the tields 49 00:03:39,247 --> 00:03:42,922 to tertilise and to start that cycle ot production all over again. 50 00:03:54,967 --> 00:03:58,084 AIex and Peter have aIso found a use for the spare straw. 51 00:03:59,847 --> 00:04:05,046 The harvest is on the horizon, but Manor Farm has a significant rodent probIem. 52 00:04:07,207 --> 00:04:13,760 Before the war, rats cost British farmers an estimated £25 miIIion a year in damage, 53 00:04:14,607 --> 00:04:16,882 eating crops and destroying buiIdings. 54 00:04:17,687 --> 00:04:21,965 So the boys are determined to stamp them out before the precious wheat is brought in. 55 00:04:23,287 --> 00:04:25,482 But they're going to need a IittIe heIp. 56 00:04:26,847 --> 00:04:29,315 Now, we've got a rat-catcher in residence. 57 00:04:29,367 --> 00:04:30,880 She's coming down tor a week or so, 58 00:04:30,927 --> 00:04:33,395 serving our tarms and all the other tarms in the area. 59 00:04:33,447 --> 00:04:37,998 So we have very chivalrously, Peter, haven't we, decided to give up our room. 60 00:04:38,047 --> 00:04:39,765 We have. 61 00:04:39,807 --> 00:04:41,923 BiIIeting was at an aII-time high, 62 00:04:41,967 --> 00:04:46,279 with Iand girI numbers reaching a peak of aImost 90,000. 63 00:04:46,647 --> 00:04:52,324 So farmers needed to create accommodation wherever and with whatever they couId. 64 00:04:53,207 --> 00:04:56,483 One ot the things we've got a surplus ot on the tarm at the moment is straw. 65 00:04:56,527 --> 00:04:59,087 So all ot this stuff is just knocking round the tarm. 66 00:04:59,127 --> 00:05:02,642 We're going to use it to build ourselves a little straw bale house 67 00:05:02,687 --> 00:05:04,678 to sleep in tor the next week or so. 68 00:05:05,327 --> 00:05:07,522 Now, you keep count ot the bales, Henry. 69 00:05:07,607 --> 00:05:10,121 Right, so l think a door here just running down to the path. 70 00:05:10,167 --> 00:05:11,395 Yeah. 71 00:05:11,447 --> 00:05:12,641 - You all right? - Yeah. 72 00:05:12,687 --> 00:05:15,565 Straw buiIdings were not uncommon during the war 73 00:05:15,607 --> 00:05:18,519 and were aIso used to house tooIs or even Iivestock. 74 00:05:21,567 --> 00:05:26,925 Baled straw is absolutely superb tor using as a construction material. 75 00:05:27,607 --> 00:05:31,077 Because you've got really good sturdy blocks here. 76 00:05:31,727 --> 00:05:33,046 You know? 77 00:05:33,087 --> 00:05:35,157 And it's all locking in beautitully. 78 00:05:35,367 --> 00:05:41,397 And its main benetit, really, is that it's just so tantastic at insulation. 79 00:05:42,007 --> 00:05:43,963 You know, there's no doubt about it. 80 00:05:44,007 --> 00:05:47,795 This is going to keep the wind and the wet out ot this sheltered area. 81 00:05:47,887 --> 00:05:49,878 Just going to pop on the end here. 82 00:06:03,807 --> 00:06:07,322 - Think it's big enough? - l think it's going to be absolutely tine, Peter. 83 00:06:07,567 --> 00:06:09,046 lt's certainly long enough. 84 00:06:09,087 --> 00:06:10,315 Yeah. l'll get down there. 85 00:06:10,367 --> 00:06:12,005 Plenty ot room there. 86 00:06:12,447 --> 00:06:14,438 - Oh. - Hello, Henry. 87 00:06:16,007 --> 00:06:17,679 We're missing something, Peter. 88 00:06:17,727 --> 00:06:19,319 l can see the sky, Alex. 89 00:06:19,367 --> 00:06:21,756 Well, it we put a root on it, which we have to, 90 00:06:22,127 --> 00:06:23,242 a couple ot beds, 91 00:06:23,287 --> 00:06:25,278 a picture ot the King, 92 00:06:25,527 --> 00:06:26,960 bedside table... 93 00:06:27,007 --> 00:06:29,919 - Home trom home. - Yeah. 94 00:06:32,967 --> 00:06:37,961 By 1 943, there was a reaI concern that stamina was running out. 95 00:06:38,687 --> 00:06:41,406 Britain's farmers had aIready been asked to give everything. 96 00:06:41,447 --> 00:06:44,120 And now they were being asked to give even more. 97 00:06:47,207 --> 00:06:49,596 RUTH: People had endured tour years ot war. 98 00:06:51,727 --> 00:06:55,606 They had watched everything get worse and worse and harder and harder. 99 00:06:56,767 --> 00:07:02,444 Rationing had started out reasonably OK and got tighter and tighter. 100 00:07:02,487 --> 00:07:05,399 Clothes rationing, tood rationing, petrol rationing. 101 00:07:05,447 --> 00:07:07,358 Everything rationing. 102 00:07:07,407 --> 00:07:11,639 And while the early days ot the war, there was a sense ot adrenaline with the Blitz and so torth, 103 00:07:11,687 --> 00:07:15,919 by 1 943 people had been slogging tor so long. 104 00:07:15,967 --> 00:07:21,041 l think tor many people there was just an exhaustion, a weariness: 105 00:07:21,087 --> 00:07:23,555 ''Oh, God, will it ever be over?'' 106 00:07:25,647 --> 00:07:31,005 So we've got our walls up but there's been a slight change ot plan. 107 00:07:31,047 --> 00:07:33,242 We were sort ot halt way through the root 108 00:07:33,327 --> 00:07:36,319 when we thought, actually, we're doing ourselves a disservice 109 00:07:36,367 --> 00:07:40,565 it we don't include, as an extra architectural teature, 110 00:07:42,567 --> 00:07:45,161 a window, which l've managed to salvage. 111 00:07:47,887 --> 00:07:49,445 That looks really good. 112 00:07:49,487 --> 00:07:52,604 - Let's have a proper look. - A bit ot cosmetics. 113 00:07:52,647 --> 00:07:54,956 lt looks good. lt looks made-to-measure. 114 00:07:55,287 --> 00:07:57,596 Excellent. Right, let's get this root on. 115 00:07:59,287 --> 00:08:01,676 WhiIe Peter buiIds the roof's wooden frame, 116 00:08:01,727 --> 00:08:05,766 AIex turns his mind to the best materiaI for wartime thatching. 117 00:08:06,687 --> 00:08:08,757 l'm just hand-pulling nettles here. 118 00:08:09,447 --> 00:08:13,406 Because it's going to be one ot the plants that we use tor our thatch. 119 00:08:14,687 --> 00:08:16,564 Perfect time ot year to pull them as well 120 00:08:16,607 --> 00:08:20,805 because they've got all their energy in the plants and the plant's very strong. 121 00:08:20,847 --> 00:08:22,326 And the root is weak. 122 00:08:22,367 --> 00:08:26,121 So when you give it a tug, what happens, it just comes away at the root. 123 00:08:27,167 --> 00:08:31,365 Every time you throw that up, Alex, l get a constant shower ot mud coming down on me. 124 00:08:31,407 --> 00:08:33,159 (Laughter) 125 00:08:33,687 --> 00:08:36,247 The thing with nettles is they can sting. 126 00:08:36,447 --> 00:08:40,326 But it you get stuck into them and show them who's boss, 127 00:08:40,847 --> 00:08:42,838 they tend not to hurt as much. 128 00:08:43,887 --> 00:08:45,878 Now l'm using what's called a gad 129 00:08:46,847 --> 00:08:49,725 to secure the thatch 130 00:08:50,327 --> 00:08:51,840 to the root. 131 00:08:51,887 --> 00:08:53,878 A gad is a thin strip of wood. 132 00:08:54,327 --> 00:08:58,718 The nettIes rest on the batons of the roof and the gad Iies on top of them, 133 00:08:58,767 --> 00:09:00,758 pinning them into pIace. 134 00:09:00,967 --> 00:09:02,958 You know, in the early 20th Century, 135 00:09:03,007 --> 00:09:06,920 there were still thatchers who were very much using this style ot thatch. 136 00:09:07,847 --> 00:09:12,079 So it wouldn't be entirely alien to Second World War tarmers. 137 00:09:12,927 --> 00:09:15,839 lt's turning into a sort ot semi-permanent buildings, isn't it? 138 00:09:15,887 --> 00:09:17,559 lt is, yeah. 139 00:09:17,607 --> 00:09:20,075 This thing could last a very, very long time. 140 00:09:24,647 --> 00:09:27,878 With the house compIete, the boys can move in. 141 00:09:28,727 --> 00:09:30,718 lt's very, very cosy, Alex. 142 00:09:34,567 --> 00:09:36,558 (Dog barks) 143 00:09:37,367 --> 00:09:39,039 Henry. 144 00:09:49,687 --> 00:09:51,678 That is extremely comtortable. 145 00:09:57,647 --> 00:10:02,038 It's summer on the farm and there's an important job for the boys. 146 00:10:02,407 --> 00:10:04,045 Making hay. 147 00:10:05,847 --> 00:10:08,520 The team have dairy cows to feed. 148 00:10:09,287 --> 00:10:13,405 Imports of cattIe feed were Iow but miIk production remained a priority. 149 00:10:14,247 --> 00:10:17,557 The Government saw it as vitaI for the nation's heaIth 150 00:10:17,607 --> 00:10:22,362 and at Ieast 1.3 biIIion gaIIons were required in 1 943. 151 00:10:24,287 --> 00:10:28,485 Before the war, the cows wouId have been fed through the winter on hay. 152 00:10:28,527 --> 00:10:32,042 But Britain's acreage of meadowIand had been hugeIy reduced. 153 00:10:34,687 --> 00:10:38,441 l suppose all the pasture land has been turned over to arable 154 00:10:38,487 --> 00:10:40,000 but there's still grass around 155 00:10:40,047 --> 00:10:42,845 and this is a prime example, a churchyard. 156 00:10:42,887 --> 00:10:44,559 This is a great hay crop, isn't it? 157 00:10:46,087 --> 00:10:50,763 In desperation, farmers had begun turning to every spare scrap of Iand 158 00:10:50,807 --> 00:10:52,604 to find grass to make hay 159 00:10:52,967 --> 00:10:55,686 from verges to orchards 160 00:10:55,727 --> 00:10:57,319 and now churchyards. 161 00:10:59,087 --> 00:11:00,406 lt's a tricky piece ot land. 162 00:11:00,447 --> 00:11:03,996 - lt's not tlat. There's gravestones everywhere. - Yeah. 163 00:11:04,527 --> 00:11:07,246 We're going to have to think ot some way ot taking it down. 164 00:11:07,287 --> 00:11:10,120 lt's just, the weather hasn't been on our side recently. 165 00:11:10,167 --> 00:11:11,361 Not. lt's not. 166 00:11:11,407 --> 00:11:16,720 l mean, to be honest, this is just still a bit too wet to cut now. 167 00:11:16,767 --> 00:11:21,557 So we'll have to leave this tor a couple ot days and just hope we get some sun and some wind. 168 00:11:22,367 --> 00:11:24,358 - Yeah. - And then come back. 169 00:11:24,487 --> 00:11:26,523 - (Barking) - Henry's upset about something. 170 00:11:26,567 --> 00:11:28,558 Let's go and tind out what. 171 00:11:29,327 --> 00:11:31,124 lt's probably the pigeons and the rats. 172 00:11:33,087 --> 00:11:35,203 WhiIe the team wait to bring in the hay, 173 00:11:35,607 --> 00:11:38,599 AIex wants to deaI with Manor Farm's rodent probIem. 174 00:11:39,567 --> 00:11:44,322 With the wheat harvest onIy a few months away, this is a major threat to their essentiaI crop. 175 00:11:48,127 --> 00:11:51,836 During the war, it was estimated that rat damage to foodstuffs 176 00:11:51,887 --> 00:11:54,606 cost Britain £60 miIIion a year, 177 00:11:54,767 --> 00:11:56,758 more than twice pre-war IeveIs, 178 00:11:57,047 --> 00:12:00,164 destroying over two miIIion tonnes of food. 179 00:12:03,727 --> 00:12:07,242 This represented hundreds of cargo-ships' worth of imports 180 00:12:07,287 --> 00:12:09,596 and was a huge bIow to the war effort. 181 00:12:11,847 --> 00:12:13,246 Hello, Angela. 182 00:12:13,287 --> 00:12:14,481 Nice to meet you. 183 00:12:14,527 --> 00:12:18,884 So members of the Women's Land Army were trained as speciaIist rat catchers 184 00:12:18,927 --> 00:12:20,440 by county committees 185 00:12:20,487 --> 00:12:23,479 and moved from farm to farm in coordinated assauIts. 186 00:12:25,007 --> 00:12:28,841 ProfessionaI pest controI agent AngeIa ChettIe has arrived on the farm 187 00:12:28,887 --> 00:12:30,957 to heIp AIex tackIe the rat probIem. 188 00:12:32,167 --> 00:12:35,284 Oh, we have got a bit ot an intestation here, haven't we? 189 00:12:35,567 --> 00:12:36,795 Look at this. 190 00:12:36,847 --> 00:12:39,566 lt you have a rummage, you don't need to look tar, do you? 191 00:12:39,607 --> 00:12:41,518 Oh, look, there's detinite rat droppings. 192 00:12:41,567 --> 00:12:43,285 - The common rat? - Detinitely. 193 00:12:43,327 --> 00:12:46,080 And obviously you've got a tood source as well. So... 194 00:12:46,127 --> 00:12:48,277 You're supplying everything they need in here. 195 00:12:48,327 --> 00:12:50,557 - Shelter, tood... - Everything. 196 00:12:50,607 --> 00:12:51,835 Water. 197 00:12:51,887 --> 00:12:56,199 So what we've got to do here, then, is we've got to turn this into an anti-rat zone. 198 00:12:56,447 --> 00:12:59,757 First ot all, we've got to look where they're obviously accessing, 199 00:12:59,807 --> 00:13:01,843 which is here. They've gnawed in here. 200 00:13:01,887 --> 00:13:03,081 Rats have to gnaw. 201 00:13:03,127 --> 00:13:05,322 Because ot their teeth. They never stop growing. 202 00:13:05,367 --> 00:13:07,517 lt's not because they like to gnaw. They have to. 203 00:13:07,567 --> 00:13:08,920 Right, so they just gnawing. 204 00:13:08,967 --> 00:13:11,162 lt's why they cause so much damage to buildings. 205 00:13:11,207 --> 00:13:14,324 AngeIa has spotted yet more evidence of the probIem. 206 00:13:14,367 --> 00:13:16,005 Look how dark it is here, look. 207 00:13:16,047 --> 00:13:18,880 So this is their teet just running up and down these boards? 208 00:13:18,927 --> 00:13:20,918 And their bellies are touching on it. 209 00:13:20,967 --> 00:13:22,685 Look, can you see? We call it smearing. 210 00:13:22,727 --> 00:13:24,604 That's what we call it. 211 00:13:24,647 --> 00:13:28,686 The smearing is worsened by the fact that rats urinate on their surroundings. 212 00:13:29,087 --> 00:13:32,159 So they urinate continuousIy on their surroundings. 213 00:13:32,767 --> 00:13:35,327 But that is telling us where the rats are coming trom. 214 00:13:35,367 --> 00:13:36,243 Exactly. 215 00:13:38,167 --> 00:13:40,886 AIex and AngeIa are going to Iay some bait boxes. 216 00:13:41,807 --> 00:13:45,117 We could probably get one ot the tubes underneath the shed. 217 00:13:46,247 --> 00:13:49,762 The bait box consists of a tube which the rat can crawI down 218 00:13:49,807 --> 00:13:51,877 and a gIassjar fuII of food at the end. 219 00:13:53,007 --> 00:13:55,601 So what we're doing here, then, is we're pre-baiting. 220 00:13:55,647 --> 00:13:58,878 We're getting the rats tamiliar with this place as a teeding place. 221 00:13:58,927 --> 00:14:01,725 And then we sweep in, replace all ot the tood with poison 222 00:14:01,767 --> 00:14:03,837 - and we get them in a clean hit. - Detinitely. 223 00:14:03,887 --> 00:14:06,401 lt's going to take a while because rats are neophobic. 224 00:14:06,447 --> 00:14:08,119 They don't like new objects at all. 225 00:14:08,687 --> 00:14:12,999 One pair of rats can produce aImost 900 offspring a year, 226 00:14:13,047 --> 00:14:16,198 capabIe of consuming nine tonnes of wheat. 227 00:14:16,847 --> 00:14:18,599 Now we need some big bricks to weigh it down 228 00:14:18,647 --> 00:14:22,117 because we've got the chickens roaming around the yard here. 229 00:14:23,047 --> 00:14:24,765 Well, that's superb. 230 00:14:24,807 --> 00:14:27,799 Sop they're the kind ot baiting stations l need to be setting up. 231 00:14:27,847 --> 00:14:31,840 Now, once they are taking the grain, it's a case ot then tilling it up with poison. 232 00:14:31,887 --> 00:14:33,559 - Detinitely. - Excellent. 233 00:14:39,047 --> 00:14:42,278 AIex and Peter need to take advantage of the cIear weather 234 00:14:42,327 --> 00:14:45,205 to get going with the cruciaI task of making hay. 235 00:14:49,687 --> 00:14:52,042 Peter has found an AIIen scythe, 236 00:14:52,087 --> 00:14:56,205 a mechanicaI scythe specificaIIy designed to tackIe unusuaI terrain. 237 00:14:57,367 --> 00:15:01,155 Its motto, ''Wherever a man can waIk, an AIIen can cut. '' 238 00:15:03,407 --> 00:15:08,083 Invented in the 1 930s, a new modeI appeared in 1 943 239 00:15:08,127 --> 00:15:11,119 and farmers couId Iease them from the Ministry of AgricuIture. 240 00:15:14,247 --> 00:15:17,523 The main thing, Peter, is not to hit any ot the headstones. 241 00:15:18,487 --> 00:15:19,636 Good luck. 242 00:15:19,687 --> 00:15:21,678 Let's give it a go. 243 00:15:22,567 --> 00:15:23,795 - (Fails to start) - Oh. 244 00:15:33,247 --> 00:15:36,523 lt's a bit noisier than the hand scythe, though, isn't it? 245 00:15:44,847 --> 00:15:49,079 The AIIen scythe cuts the grass using a Iarge-toothed cutting bIade, 246 00:15:49,127 --> 00:15:53,405 which sIides back and forth against a knife bed to give a scissor-Iike action. 247 00:15:56,407 --> 00:16:00,719 This is the boss, basically. This thing is in charge. 248 00:16:00,767 --> 00:16:02,246 lt pulls you torward. 249 00:16:02,287 --> 00:16:04,278 When it's cutting, it's happy. 250 00:16:04,967 --> 00:16:07,925 But then as soon as it comes out ot the grass you're tighting. 251 00:16:10,927 --> 00:16:14,522 To get a successfuI hay crop requires dry conditions, 252 00:16:14,567 --> 00:16:17,240 so keeping an eye on the weather was essentiaI. 253 00:16:18,087 --> 00:16:20,601 But this posed a probIem for wartime farmers. 254 00:16:23,127 --> 00:16:25,766 The Government banned weather forecasts 255 00:16:25,807 --> 00:16:29,686 for fear they couId provide criticaI information to enemy bombers. 256 00:16:31,367 --> 00:16:37,158 For five years, the British pubIic were not officiaIIy informed if it was going to rain or shine. 257 00:16:41,127 --> 00:16:43,925 We're going to have to use the old haymaker's art 258 00:16:43,967 --> 00:16:47,516 ot rushing out here when we see the storm clouds looming 259 00:16:47,567 --> 00:16:49,205 and cocking the hay up. 260 00:16:49,247 --> 00:16:53,240 We're going to be tighting our own mini-battle here in the churchyard. 261 00:16:53,287 --> 00:16:56,518 But l have to say, it we can get this hay in, 262 00:16:57,687 --> 00:17:00,997 it'll provide an extra bit ot nutrition tor the livestock on the tarm. 263 00:17:15,887 --> 00:17:17,878 (Cockerel crows) 264 00:17:20,327 --> 00:17:22,079 It's summer on the farm. 265 00:17:22,127 --> 00:17:26,359 And the team's preparation for the harvest months are going weII. 266 00:17:26,407 --> 00:17:29,956 This was especiaIIy important in the crisis year of 1 943 267 00:17:30,007 --> 00:17:32,316 when increasing productivity was vitaI. 268 00:17:35,447 --> 00:17:38,120 And the rat probIem is being tackIed. 269 00:17:38,407 --> 00:17:40,875 They're detinitely taking that. lt's almost all gone. 270 00:17:41,767 --> 00:17:43,359 Time tor some poison, then. 271 00:17:44,967 --> 00:17:47,037 l did wonder where that vase had gone. 272 00:17:47,407 --> 00:17:50,319 The dairy cows are heIping Ruth's dung heap to grow. 273 00:17:53,727 --> 00:17:56,116 AIex and Peter are weeding the wheat fieId. 274 00:17:56,927 --> 00:18:02,126 This will let a little more light in at this critical period ot growth. 275 00:18:02,687 --> 00:18:07,124 And that light, obviously, is going to do the weeds a lot ot tavours. 276 00:18:08,367 --> 00:18:12,246 But the jobs are mounting up and it's cIear they couId use some heIp. 277 00:18:15,807 --> 00:18:19,925 In 1 942, there was a huge shortage of manpower on farms. 278 00:18:19,967 --> 00:18:21,480 And by 1 943, 279 00:18:21,527 --> 00:18:26,999 the Minister of AgricuIture anticipated that an extra 20,000 workers wouId be needed 280 00:18:27,047 --> 00:18:29,436 if Britain was to feed itseIf. 281 00:18:31,167 --> 00:18:33,158 How many children have we got? 282 00:18:33,367 --> 00:18:35,358 20, 30, something like that. 283 00:18:35,887 --> 00:18:39,721 The Ministry of Labour proposed that chiIdren be reIeased from schooI 284 00:18:39,767 --> 00:18:42,839 to heIp farmers at the most criticaI times of the year. 285 00:18:44,327 --> 00:18:46,761 These chiIdren wouId form harvest camps, 286 00:18:46,807 --> 00:18:49,844 Iiving in tents and working on the Iand by day. 287 00:18:51,287 --> 00:18:54,757 The team have appIied for a camp to come and assist on the farm. 288 00:18:55,447 --> 00:18:57,642 lt's one thing, isn't it, to work outdoors all day 289 00:18:57,687 --> 00:19:00,645 it you know you're going home to a nice hot bath at the end ot it. 290 00:19:00,687 --> 00:19:06,284 But to have to do that and be living under canvas is a whole new...different thing. 291 00:19:06,327 --> 00:19:09,364 - Some might call it character-building. - Character-building. 292 00:19:10,207 --> 00:19:12,846 When you read like kids' accounts ot what it was like, 293 00:19:12,887 --> 00:19:15,560 there were obviously two sorts ot tarmers locally, 294 00:19:15,607 --> 00:19:19,077 those who supported the kids in the harvest camps and those who didn't. 295 00:19:19,127 --> 00:19:22,358 And what type ot tarmers do you think we are, then, Peter? 296 00:19:22,407 --> 00:19:26,923 l think the tact that we're stood here in the rain erecting tents tor these children 297 00:19:26,967 --> 00:19:28,798 rather than making them do it themselves, 298 00:19:28,847 --> 00:19:30,883 we're the type that are going to look after them, 299 00:19:30,927 --> 00:19:33,441 give them a good time and get the best out ot them. 300 00:19:36,007 --> 00:19:38,805 NormaIIy recruits were required to be over 1 4 301 00:19:38,847 --> 00:19:42,760 but in speciaI circumstances younger chiIdren couId aIso take part. 302 00:19:45,207 --> 00:19:49,723 AImost 70,000 chiIdren worked in harvest camps in 1 943. 303 00:19:50,327 --> 00:19:55,037 Without them, producing food to feed the nation wouId have been aImost impossibIe. 304 00:19:55,967 --> 00:19:58,765 - (Ruth laughs) How many have we got? - Looks about 20. 305 00:19:58,807 --> 00:20:00,798 Hello! 306 00:20:01,087 --> 00:20:02,679 Have you come tor our harvest camp? 307 00:20:06,927 --> 00:20:10,806 One of the jobs the harvest camps were invoIved in was new to farmers. 308 00:20:11,567 --> 00:20:14,081 CoIIecting herbs for the pharmaceuticaI industry. 309 00:20:18,167 --> 00:20:22,604 At the start of the war, 90% of medicines were derived from pIants, 310 00:20:22,647 --> 00:20:24,638 mainIy sourced abroad. 311 00:20:25,527 --> 00:20:28,599 With imports cut off and drugs urgentIy needed, 312 00:20:28,647 --> 00:20:31,844 pharmaceuticaI companies turned to home-grown herbs. 313 00:20:37,767 --> 00:20:41,237 Don't just pick the top. We want the whole plant. All right? 314 00:20:42,807 --> 00:20:45,116 In conjunction with Kew Gardens, 315 00:20:45,167 --> 00:20:49,604 the Government drew up a Iist of essentiaI pIants needed for drug production 316 00:20:49,647 --> 00:20:51,763 and paid the British pubIic to coIIect them. 317 00:20:52,487 --> 00:20:54,478 This was an ideaI job for chiIdren. 318 00:20:56,527 --> 00:21:00,998 MedicaI herbaIist Linda HaroId has come to Iend her expertise. 319 00:21:02,167 --> 00:21:04,203 So this was quite a commercial thing. 320 00:21:04,247 --> 00:21:07,523 - We're not talking about herbalism. - No, totally not. 321 00:21:07,567 --> 00:21:10,206 We're talking about mainstream medicine, 322 00:21:10,247 --> 00:21:13,762 pharmaceutical companies using these things as their raw materials 323 00:21:13,807 --> 00:21:17,277 - and producing synthesised drugs trom them. - That is it. 324 00:21:17,327 --> 00:21:20,125 So when you see pictures ot people in wartime with the aspirin, 325 00:21:20,167 --> 00:21:22,727 the little white pill, the main painkiller ot the day, 326 00:21:22,767 --> 00:21:26,601 it's not synthesised. They're collecting vast quantities ot meadowsweet 327 00:21:26,647 --> 00:21:27,875 and white willow bark 328 00:21:27,927 --> 00:21:30,441 - to make aspirin. - Absolutely. 329 00:21:31,607 --> 00:21:34,167 Today, the chiIdren are Iooking for goosegrass. 330 00:21:34,807 --> 00:21:36,160 You've got loads. 331 00:21:36,207 --> 00:21:38,482 What was this used tor, the goosegrass? 332 00:21:38,527 --> 00:21:41,724 The goosegrass was used very much tor treating intections. 333 00:21:41,767 --> 00:21:44,565 lt's very good... lt works on the lymphatic system. 334 00:21:44,607 --> 00:21:48,282 And obviously, at that time, lots more people were ill. 335 00:21:48,327 --> 00:21:49,760 Lots more intections. 336 00:21:49,807 --> 00:21:51,445 But that's a really brilliant one. 337 00:21:51,487 --> 00:21:52,840 - Yeah. - For intections. 338 00:21:52,887 --> 00:21:56,163 And you've got loads ot it. l'm really pleased to see loads ot it. 339 00:21:56,207 --> 00:21:59,802 But we're going to need a lot more than that, aren't we? (Laughs) 340 00:22:01,367 --> 00:22:03,437 That's the good thing about child labour. 341 00:22:03,487 --> 00:22:05,318 You can just send them off. 342 00:22:05,367 --> 00:22:07,358 l wish l had that energy. 343 00:22:09,807 --> 00:22:11,718 They were so important during this time. 344 00:22:11,767 --> 00:22:14,235 They picked so many herbs. They really... 345 00:22:14,287 --> 00:22:16,926 lt was incredible, what they actually achieved. 346 00:22:18,087 --> 00:22:24,560 By 1 944, the chiIdren of Britain were coIIecting up to 4,000 tonnes of pIants a year. 347 00:22:27,007 --> 00:22:29,601 The hay has been drying in the churchyard. 348 00:22:29,687 --> 00:22:34,477 And Peter is aIso making use of the harvest camp chiIdren to heIp him gather it up. 349 00:22:35,847 --> 00:22:37,838 Now, watch your points. 350 00:22:39,447 --> 00:22:41,961 We've had a really good spell ot weather but... 351 00:22:42,007 --> 00:22:43,440 l teel that the rain's coming on 352 00:22:43,487 --> 00:22:45,205 and we've got to get this hay cocked 353 00:22:45,247 --> 00:22:48,364 because otherwise it'll ruin. lt'll go black in the ground. 354 00:22:48,407 --> 00:22:50,557 So the idea is to build it up into piles 355 00:22:50,607 --> 00:22:55,237 and the bigger the piles as possible, with a very small surface area, 356 00:22:55,287 --> 00:22:59,758 it just means that when the rains comes it will basically run off 357 00:22:59,807 --> 00:23:02,560 and it will affect very, very little hay. 358 00:23:02,927 --> 00:23:04,918 (Children chatter) 359 00:23:07,407 --> 00:23:08,806 We've roped in a bit ot help 360 00:23:08,847 --> 00:23:11,998 and, well, it's mayhem. 361 00:23:12,047 --> 00:23:14,038 (Shouts) 362 00:23:14,287 --> 00:23:16,278 mind those spikes! 363 00:23:16,807 --> 00:23:18,320 To avoid expIoitation, 364 00:23:18,367 --> 00:23:22,883 the Ministry of AgricuIture introduced a minimum wage of sixpence an hour 365 00:23:22,927 --> 00:23:24,155 for under-1 6s. 366 00:23:25,047 --> 00:23:28,039 We've got nine kids here. They're all very, very enthusiastic. 367 00:23:28,087 --> 00:23:29,964 They've all been armed with a pitchtork. 368 00:23:30,007 --> 00:23:32,202 Each pitchtork has at least two spikes. 369 00:23:32,247 --> 00:23:35,717 All kids have at the moment at least two eyes. 370 00:23:44,767 --> 00:23:48,965 Catering for chiIdren was often done by the farmer's wife. 371 00:23:49,007 --> 00:23:51,157 Today, Ruth is doing the cooking. 372 00:23:54,247 --> 00:23:58,638 Government advice was quite determined that despite the difficult conditions, 373 00:23:58,687 --> 00:24:00,564 despite the shortness ot rations, 374 00:24:00,607 --> 00:24:02,916 that the children should be well-ted, 375 00:24:02,967 --> 00:24:05,606 that they should be getting a nutritious balanced diet. 376 00:24:06,847 --> 00:24:10,123 But doing that on next to nothing is not easy. 377 00:24:10,167 --> 00:24:15,116 The sorts ot rations that were available to those out in a tent 378 00:24:15,167 --> 00:24:17,283 teeding children day in, day out, 379 00:24:17,327 --> 00:24:19,397 two hot meals and packed lunches, 380 00:24:19,447 --> 00:24:21,438 were very thin indeed. 381 00:24:24,407 --> 00:24:27,877 LocaI peopIe were encouraged to donate suppIies of foods 382 00:24:27,927 --> 00:24:31,636 such as fruit, vegetabIes and rabbit to the camps. 383 00:24:31,687 --> 00:24:33,678 But these were far from abundant. 384 00:24:35,807 --> 00:24:40,119 The Government issued a number ot leatlets in an attempt to help people who had to do this. 385 00:24:40,167 --> 00:24:41,520 lt was all sorts ot advice, 386 00:24:41,567 --> 00:24:43,603 trom how to set up your tield kitchen 387 00:24:43,647 --> 00:24:47,322 to how to store the tood outdoors in these sorts ot conditions... 388 00:24:48,407 --> 00:24:50,682 ..through to recipes and menu planning. 389 00:24:51,727 --> 00:24:55,322 They even advised how thick to slice the bread tor the sandwiches. 390 00:24:56,607 --> 00:24:58,677 So this recipe is a salmon loat 391 00:24:58,727 --> 00:25:01,878 and this comes trom one ot the Government leatlets, 392 00:25:01,927 --> 00:25:04,122 Carried meals, Snacks And Sandwiches. 393 00:25:04,207 --> 00:25:10,555 The amounts here are either a small recipe tor tour or scaled up tor 1 00 people at a time. 394 00:25:12,767 --> 00:25:16,680 Ruth has made a white sauce, which she adds to the mashed potatoes 395 00:25:16,727 --> 00:25:19,161 before stirring in some tinned saImon. 396 00:25:20,007 --> 00:25:22,760 Fresh tish was in real short supply during the war. 397 00:25:22,807 --> 00:25:24,240 l mean, it you think about it, 398 00:25:24,287 --> 00:25:27,836 pretty much everybody who'd made their livings on the sea betore the war 399 00:25:27,887 --> 00:25:29,366 got called up one way or another, 400 00:25:29,407 --> 00:25:31,967 either into the merchant navy or into the Royal Navy, 401 00:25:32,007 --> 00:25:33,235 in a large number ot cases. 402 00:25:33,287 --> 00:25:38,407 And huge amounts ot British waters were out ot bounds to those tew tishermen who were left. 403 00:25:39,767 --> 00:25:43,123 So tinned salmon coming in trom Canada 404 00:25:43,487 --> 00:25:48,436 was one ot the very tew torms ot tish available to most people in wartime Britain. 405 00:25:50,567 --> 00:25:53,206 Tinned saImon was so popuIar in Britain 406 00:25:53,247 --> 00:25:57,604 that we became the biggest market for both US and Canadian exports. 407 00:25:58,487 --> 00:25:59,920 Right, all mixed in. 408 00:25:59,967 --> 00:26:02,037 Now, this gets steamed. 409 00:26:03,367 --> 00:26:06,359 This just sits on top ot there. 410 00:26:07,367 --> 00:26:10,803 And steams or boils, whichever you want to call it, 411 00:26:11,887 --> 00:26:13,878 in a sort ot bain-marie, 412 00:26:13,967 --> 00:26:15,958 tor an hour and a halt. 413 00:26:23,687 --> 00:26:26,759 With aII the chaIIenges faced in 1 943, 414 00:26:26,807 --> 00:26:30,482 the heIp provided by chiId Iabour was vitaI to farmers. 415 00:26:37,327 --> 00:26:39,318 That's a doorstep and a halt. 416 00:26:39,607 --> 00:26:43,520 ChiIdren often worked an eight-hour day, so dinner was weII-earned. 417 00:26:46,207 --> 00:26:49,085 Righto, then. Take yourselves a sandwich. 418 00:26:49,647 --> 00:26:51,717 Come and get some hot chocolate in a minute. 419 00:26:51,767 --> 00:26:54,918 lt makes you hungry, doesn't it, all this hard work out in the cold. 420 00:26:54,967 --> 00:26:56,719 - Who's next? - lt's your turn. 421 00:26:56,767 --> 00:26:58,758 Come and get yourselt a sandwich. 422 00:26:59,767 --> 00:27:02,122 - So, what are they like? - Yummy. 423 00:27:02,167 --> 00:27:03,361 Yum, yum, yum. 424 00:27:03,407 --> 00:27:06,479 - You like them? - Nice and tilling, aren't they? Keep you going. 425 00:27:06,527 --> 00:27:08,040 The best sandwiches. 426 00:27:10,407 --> 00:27:14,400 Herbs were not the onIy medicinaI product to be found on farms. 427 00:27:15,687 --> 00:27:17,962 Honey couId be used to dress wounds, 428 00:27:18,007 --> 00:27:19,998 due to its antiseptic properties, 429 00:27:20,047 --> 00:27:21,924 and heIp to reduce scarring. 430 00:27:21,967 --> 00:27:23,958 It's stiII used in medicine today. 431 00:27:26,007 --> 00:27:28,965 But it was aIso an exceIIent sugar substitute. 432 00:27:31,567 --> 00:27:36,800 By 1 943, the rationing system was really starting to bite. 433 00:27:37,727 --> 00:27:40,764 And morale was suffering. 434 00:27:41,487 --> 00:27:46,766 People were having to do without all ot the toodstuffs they'd really enjoyed betore the war. 435 00:27:46,807 --> 00:27:49,401 And top ot that list was sugar. 436 00:27:49,847 --> 00:27:52,520 So to boost morale here on our wartime tarm, 437 00:27:52,567 --> 00:27:56,116 l'm going to see it l can't get myselt a tew jars ot honey by the end ot the summer. 438 00:27:57,207 --> 00:28:01,598 AIex is Iooking for a speciaI type of brambIe which grows up through bushes, 439 00:28:01,647 --> 00:28:03,638 creating a Iong stem. 440 00:28:04,527 --> 00:28:07,246 l've got a very old-tashioned way ot making honey. 441 00:28:07,287 --> 00:28:10,199 And this bramble is going to help me in that process. 442 00:28:13,367 --> 00:28:16,916 AIex is aIso making use of the surpIus straw on the farm 443 00:28:16,967 --> 00:28:18,605 to create a skep, 444 00:28:18,647 --> 00:28:20,478 a traditionaI basket beehive. 445 00:28:21,927 --> 00:28:24,600 To stitch it together, he'II be using the brambIe. 446 00:28:25,087 --> 00:28:28,397 It needs to be carefuIIy spIit open and the insides removed 447 00:28:28,447 --> 00:28:31,757 to form a strip which is both fIexibIe and strong. 448 00:28:33,527 --> 00:28:36,883 The brambIe stem is threaded through the hoIes in a wooden ring 449 00:28:36,927 --> 00:28:39,805 to create a cage for the straw to sit in. 450 00:28:40,047 --> 00:28:43,926 OK? So, the idea is, that is going to thread in here... 451 00:28:49,087 --> 00:28:51,078 And there we go. That's the start. 452 00:28:53,967 --> 00:28:55,764 Right, we're getting to the end 453 00:28:55,807 --> 00:28:57,240 ot the wooden wheel. 454 00:28:57,287 --> 00:29:02,077 So we're going to have to start now stitching into the straw 455 00:29:02,127 --> 00:29:03,879 and into the previous bind. 456 00:29:04,687 --> 00:29:09,078 A hoIIowed out and sharpened turkey bone heIps thread the cane through the straw. 457 00:29:10,647 --> 00:29:13,844 He wiII keep adding Iayers untiI the basket is compIete. 458 00:29:24,207 --> 00:29:27,722 Ruth is processing the herbs she picked with the harvest camp. 459 00:29:29,727 --> 00:29:33,117 PharmaceuticaI companies wouId pay good money for the herbs. 460 00:29:33,167 --> 00:29:35,556 A handy suppIement to the farm's income. 461 00:29:35,607 --> 00:29:41,045 But onIy if the pIants were properIy dried and packaged to preserve their active ingredients. 462 00:29:42,087 --> 00:29:46,126 Up to 80% ot the herb's weight is lost during drying. 463 00:29:46,167 --> 00:29:48,556 That's how much water you need to drive off. 464 00:29:49,167 --> 00:29:55,276 And ot course, to do that effectively, the air needs to get all the way around the herbs. 465 00:29:56,607 --> 00:29:59,758 And you don't want anywhere where things are against each other 466 00:29:59,807 --> 00:30:01,160 and moisture can get trapped. 467 00:30:01,207 --> 00:30:02,959 Because it you do, rot'll set in. 468 00:30:03,607 --> 00:30:06,121 And that includes turning things regularly. 469 00:30:07,167 --> 00:30:10,603 Another day or two and they'll be ready to be packed up. 470 00:30:12,007 --> 00:30:17,161 The ideaI temperature for drying herbs is around 35 degrees CeIsius. 471 00:30:17,447 --> 00:30:21,838 On a damp day like today, then this comes into play. 472 00:30:21,887 --> 00:30:23,115 The stove. 473 00:30:23,167 --> 00:30:26,716 Which is just turning out a little gentle heat. 474 00:30:26,767 --> 00:30:29,679 l don't want too much. l don't want to cook anything. 475 00:30:29,887 --> 00:30:33,766 l just want to maintain warm airflow through the whole space. 476 00:30:33,847 --> 00:30:36,361 This shed's beautitully ventilated. 477 00:30:36,407 --> 00:30:38,762 So the air in here, which can get... 478 00:30:38,807 --> 00:30:43,483 As all this moisture comes off the herbs, the damp is driven up by the heat 479 00:30:43,527 --> 00:30:44,846 and can make its way out. 480 00:30:46,007 --> 00:30:49,522 So the tirst things l do when l get them back is to sort ot go through the herbs 481 00:30:49,567 --> 00:30:51,000 and pick them clean. 482 00:30:51,047 --> 00:30:54,722 Because the pharmaceutical companies will only buy top quality. 483 00:30:54,767 --> 00:30:56,485 This is sage, ot course. 484 00:30:56,527 --> 00:31:00,600 Pharmaceutical companies will only pay tivepence a pound 485 00:31:00,647 --> 00:31:02,365 tor dried sage. 486 00:31:02,847 --> 00:31:05,236 l've got a lot ot it. So it's worth my doing. 487 00:31:05,807 --> 00:31:08,765 Foxglove, however, that was much more lucrative. 488 00:31:09,327 --> 00:31:11,318 All the seed that l'm drying out. 489 00:31:11,367 --> 00:31:14,359 Now, that retailed tor seven and six a pound. 490 00:31:14,407 --> 00:31:15,886 That's a lot more than tivepence. 491 00:31:15,927 --> 00:31:18,999 And even the leaves were one shilling and threepence. 492 00:31:19,807 --> 00:31:24,403 FoxgIove was so vaIuabIe because of its abiIity to Iower bIood pressure. 493 00:31:25,047 --> 00:31:29,359 But it must be handIed with care, as it's extremeIy poisonous. 494 00:31:29,687 --> 00:31:34,124 When l've tinished here, the last job l will have to do, as l leave the shed, 495 00:31:34,167 --> 00:31:37,159 will be to block up all the windows to keep the light out. 496 00:31:37,207 --> 00:31:43,396 Because sunlight, UV light, helps to decay the essential ingredients in the plants. 497 00:31:43,727 --> 00:31:46,799 So they don't only need it warm, they also need it dark. 498 00:31:50,127 --> 00:31:52,118 AIex's skep is compIete. 499 00:31:53,087 --> 00:31:59,003 During the war, a coIony of honeybees couId be purchased for around three pounds. 500 00:31:59,047 --> 00:32:03,199 But beekeeping expert Mike HoIIoway has brought one aIong for free. 501 00:32:03,527 --> 00:32:05,961 - Hello, mike. - Hello, Alex. 502 00:32:06,007 --> 00:32:07,884 l apologise tor my lack ot mobility. 503 00:32:07,927 --> 00:32:10,395 - l've turned my ankle over. - Oh, dear, oh, dear. 504 00:32:10,447 --> 00:32:12,358 But thanks ever so much tor coming down. 505 00:32:12,407 --> 00:32:14,523 - Great to see you. - And you. 506 00:32:14,567 --> 00:32:18,321 Now, tirst things tirst, obviously, is the skep inspection. 507 00:32:19,007 --> 00:32:20,998 So tell me what you think ot that. 508 00:32:21,887 --> 00:32:24,447 - l think... - You can be honest, mike. l don't mind. 509 00:32:24,487 --> 00:32:28,446 l think you've done a proper job there, Alex. 510 00:32:28,807 --> 00:32:32,482 UnIike with a wooden hive containing removabIe frames, 511 00:32:32,527 --> 00:32:35,758 AIex won't be abIe to inspect the bees'progress. 512 00:32:35,807 --> 00:32:38,480 But as it's made from surpIus materiaIs, 513 00:32:38,527 --> 00:32:42,918 the skep is a good, cheap and disposabIe wartime aIternative. 514 00:32:43,767 --> 00:32:46,998 Now, the other thing l've made as well is a sort ot top compartment. 515 00:32:47,047 --> 00:32:52,326 Because my understanding ot this is that we can get the queen and the brood in here 516 00:32:52,367 --> 00:32:53,561 and her young in here, 517 00:32:53,607 --> 00:32:56,724 - but we can deprive her access to this top area. - lndeed. 518 00:32:56,767 --> 00:33:00,806 But the workers can still get in there and produce comb and honey. 519 00:33:00,847 --> 00:33:03,725 What we will have to do is put a grille across there, 520 00:33:03,767 --> 00:33:08,636 which is...with spaces in large enough tor workers to get through, 521 00:33:08,687 --> 00:33:10,962 - too small tor the queen to go through. - Great. OK. 522 00:33:11,007 --> 00:33:15,239 Mike has aIready prepared a straw and nettIe sheIter for the skep. 523 00:33:15,287 --> 00:33:18,882 Talk me through the process. Now, you've brought a colony here. 524 00:33:18,927 --> 00:33:21,805 lt was a swarm that we picked up yesterday. 525 00:33:21,847 --> 00:33:26,238 And l've actually got the queen... We've got her in a little cage here. 526 00:33:26,287 --> 00:33:27,959 She's in there, then? 527 00:33:28,007 --> 00:33:29,326 lndeed she is. 528 00:33:29,367 --> 00:33:31,562 That's a sort ot old-school hair curler. 529 00:33:31,607 --> 00:33:33,837 ls that one ot your hair curlers, mike? 530 00:33:33,887 --> 00:33:35,843 l wish! 531 00:33:35,887 --> 00:33:42,645 Well, we'll just put this on to make sure we don't get any little stings. 532 00:33:42,687 --> 00:33:44,678 You don't want a sting to the tace. 533 00:33:46,127 --> 00:33:49,244 And we'll make sure the queen goes into your skep. 534 00:33:49,287 --> 00:33:50,879 And all the other bees will tollow. 535 00:33:51,487 --> 00:33:54,604 Mike's swarm contains around 1 0,000 bees. 536 00:33:54,767 --> 00:33:58,680 He introduces a few into AIex's skep before pIacing it in the sheIter. 537 00:33:59,567 --> 00:34:01,558 Put that down tor a moment. 538 00:34:05,807 --> 00:34:09,004 We don't want them all coming out ot the top, do we, 539 00:34:09,047 --> 00:34:11,117 so l'll put this on 540 00:34:11,167 --> 00:34:12,395 - the top. - Well done. 541 00:34:12,447 --> 00:34:14,836 That should keep them interested in there. 542 00:34:15,847 --> 00:34:18,122 So we'll just shake those out onto there. 543 00:34:21,487 --> 00:34:24,923 When bees are swarming, their honey stomachs are fuII, 544 00:34:24,967 --> 00:34:26,685 making it difficuIt for them to sting. 545 00:34:27,447 --> 00:34:30,166 In the hands of experts, they're safe to work with, 546 00:34:30,207 --> 00:34:32,767 which is why AIex and Mike aren't wearing gIoves. 547 00:34:33,967 --> 00:34:36,481 Bees naturaIIy tend to crawI upwards. 548 00:34:36,527 --> 00:34:38,518 So the sheet is pIaced at a gradient. 549 00:34:39,647 --> 00:34:42,639 Now we're hoping that they tind that entrance, yeah? 550 00:34:42,727 --> 00:34:45,400 The queen is reIeased near the edge of the skep. 551 00:34:45,767 --> 00:34:47,758 Pop her out. There she goes. 552 00:34:47,927 --> 00:34:50,202 And the bees wiII foIIow her scent inside. 553 00:34:51,327 --> 00:34:57,004 lt's almost as it someone's put a call out and all ot a sudden they are racing up that sheet 554 00:34:57,047 --> 00:34:58,241 to get into that skep. 555 00:34:58,287 --> 00:34:59,402 That's amazing, mike. 556 00:34:59,447 --> 00:35:02,883 - lsn't it tascinating? - That is absolutely wonderful to watch. 557 00:35:02,927 --> 00:35:05,805 - lt's like water running uphill, isn't it? - lt is. 558 00:35:06,967 --> 00:35:11,085 lt you notice, there are some bees that have got their tails in the air. 559 00:35:11,127 --> 00:35:12,958 - Like that one there. - Oh, yeah. 560 00:35:13,007 --> 00:35:16,602 And there. All around the periphery ot the slope. 561 00:35:17,887 --> 00:35:22,563 They are actually tanning an attractant pheromone 562 00:35:22,607 --> 00:35:25,758 which is bringing down these bees that are tlying 563 00:35:25,807 --> 00:35:27,763 to go into the skep 564 00:35:27,807 --> 00:35:30,560 - and join the queen. - (Hum ot airborne bees) 565 00:35:30,607 --> 00:35:33,485 lt is a happy sound, isn't it, that you can hear? These bees. 566 00:35:33,527 --> 00:35:35,757 - This is a happy sound, yeah? - Yes. lndeed. 567 00:35:43,967 --> 00:35:49,519 In May 1 943, the British peopIe received a much-needed moraIe boost. 568 00:35:51,167 --> 00:35:56,287 RAF Squadron 61 7, better known as the Dambusters, 569 00:35:56,327 --> 00:35:58,841 had destroyed two major German dams 570 00:35:58,887 --> 00:36:02,482 and there was a surge of pubIic interest in RAF bombers. 571 00:36:03,647 --> 00:36:07,799 In desperate need of funds, the Government seized on this enthusiasm 572 00:36:07,847 --> 00:36:11,044 by Iaunching the Wings for Victory Fundraising Scheme. 573 00:36:13,727 --> 00:36:17,800 The scheme encouraged peopIe to do yet more for the war effort, 574 00:36:17,847 --> 00:36:19,917 by saving money in Government bonds. 575 00:36:26,327 --> 00:36:29,160 - lt is quite a difficult moment, isn't it? - mm. 576 00:36:29,207 --> 00:36:31,880 You know, sort ot... we've been on the detensive tor so long 577 00:36:31,927 --> 00:36:34,361 and seeing ourselves as the victims here. 578 00:36:34,407 --> 00:36:38,559 And suddenly we get in a point where, no, no, we're going to become the aggressors. 579 00:36:38,607 --> 00:36:43,362 And at the end ot the day, the Germans had been pouring bombs on British cities 580 00:36:43,407 --> 00:36:48,276 but how did British people teel about then doing the very same 581 00:36:48,327 --> 00:36:51,763 to German women and children? 582 00:36:51,807 --> 00:36:55,083 lt is always this dilemma with any torm ot aggression. 583 00:36:56,967 --> 00:37:00,926 The Wings for Victory Scheme reIied on IocaI fundraising drives. 584 00:37:03,967 --> 00:37:10,805 Well, l obviously don't think we should set about raising tunds to buy bombs to bomb people. 585 00:37:10,847 --> 00:37:13,600 But l do think we should have some kind ot party 586 00:37:13,647 --> 00:37:16,081 to retlect some ot these tundraising activities. 587 00:37:18,447 --> 00:37:22,599 The team are organising a Wings for Victory fundraising dance. 588 00:37:23,847 --> 00:37:26,725 Even with a war on, women stiII wanted to Iook good. 589 00:37:27,287 --> 00:37:29,278 And Ruth is after a new dress. 590 00:37:32,647 --> 00:37:37,721 At the outbreak of war, Britain was one of the Ieading textiIe manufacturers in the worId. 591 00:37:38,687 --> 00:37:43,886 But it reIied on raw materiaIs from abroad, and these soon became scarce. 592 00:37:46,767 --> 00:37:49,725 CIothes rationing started in 1 94 1. 593 00:37:49,887 --> 00:37:54,119 And the Board of Trade introduced a scheme of utiIity fashion, 594 00:37:54,287 --> 00:37:56,039 where the Government reguIated 595 00:37:56,087 --> 00:37:59,477 the cIoth, price, quaIity and even styIe 596 00:37:59,527 --> 00:38:01,563 of the cIothes being produced. 597 00:38:02,767 --> 00:38:05,440 Many women started creating their own cIothes. 598 00:38:06,287 --> 00:38:08,517 Ruth wants to make a new dress 599 00:38:08,567 --> 00:38:10,762 and she's found a noveI source of fabric. 600 00:38:11,687 --> 00:38:13,643 We've all heard ot parachute silk dresses 601 00:38:13,687 --> 00:38:17,600 but that's not the only source ot tabric that people turned to. 602 00:38:17,647 --> 00:38:19,239 This is quite an ingenious one. 603 00:38:19,287 --> 00:38:21,437 Look, l've got a tlour sack. 604 00:38:21,487 --> 00:38:24,126 They have to be made ot cloth one way or another. 605 00:38:24,167 --> 00:38:25,919 The manutacturers had cottoned on 606 00:38:25,967 --> 00:38:29,164 that it they made it in an attractive sort ot material, 607 00:38:29,207 --> 00:38:32,597 people would buy their brand rather than somebody else's brand. 608 00:38:32,807 --> 00:38:34,525 So you get this sort ot thing. 609 00:38:34,567 --> 00:38:36,842 lt's amazing, isn't it? This is a tlour sack. 610 00:38:36,887 --> 00:38:40,516 So the whole ot this sort ot advertising stuff here can just peel straight off. 611 00:38:40,567 --> 00:38:42,603 lt's only held on with tlour and water paste. 612 00:38:42,647 --> 00:38:46,117 There's a little bit here. lt says, ''To remove Paper Band, Soak in Water.'' 613 00:38:46,167 --> 00:38:48,476 They knew that's what people were going to do. 614 00:38:48,527 --> 00:38:52,122 So this is my cunning plan tor my summer dress. 615 00:38:52,327 --> 00:38:54,318 A couple ot tlour sacks. 616 00:39:09,367 --> 00:39:12,677 AIex's bees wiII take some weeks to start producing honey. 617 00:39:13,727 --> 00:39:18,084 He wants to prepare some as a thank you to the chiIdren from the harvest camp. 618 00:39:18,127 --> 00:39:21,358 So Mike has Ient him a comb from one of his hives. 619 00:39:23,407 --> 00:39:26,797 These cells on this trame are used by the worker bees 620 00:39:26,847 --> 00:39:28,803 to store surplus honey. 621 00:39:28,847 --> 00:39:31,281 And what they do is they then cap it over with wax 622 00:39:31,327 --> 00:39:34,364 so that they can come back to it and teed throughout the winter. 623 00:39:35,567 --> 00:39:39,116 To extract the honey, the comb is scraped out of the frame. 624 00:39:40,607 --> 00:39:47,206 And l think those little kids at our dance are just going to be so gratetul tor this stuff. 625 00:39:47,527 --> 00:39:49,518 They're going to love it. 626 00:39:49,927 --> 00:39:54,364 The next step is to pound the comb, breaking down the wax and honey. 627 00:39:54,767 --> 00:39:56,519 This is quite a workout, this. 628 00:39:59,007 --> 00:40:02,363 Right, l think that is now pounded enough. 629 00:40:03,607 --> 00:40:06,326 lt's certainly a lot tiner grain than this stuff here. 630 00:40:06,367 --> 00:40:11,646 So that is now ready to go into the muslin sheet. 631 00:40:11,687 --> 00:40:13,757 So l just lay the sheet over this bowl. 632 00:40:19,367 --> 00:40:24,760 Now the theory is that the honey is that much tiner grained than the wax. 633 00:40:24,807 --> 00:40:29,278 So it will pour through the weave ot this muslin sheet. 634 00:40:29,967 --> 00:40:33,562 And already actually you can see we've got some coming through. 635 00:40:35,767 --> 00:40:38,520 During the war the price of honey was reguIated 636 00:40:38,567 --> 00:40:42,799 and it couId onIy be soId for around two shiIIings and sixpence per pound. 637 00:40:42,847 --> 00:40:44,838 About four pounds in today's money. 638 00:40:46,007 --> 00:40:49,682 l think we've got the right temperature in the room to do this. 639 00:40:49,727 --> 00:40:56,326 Ot course, l'd love to have been sat outside doing this catching the last tew rays ot sunshine. 640 00:40:57,567 --> 00:41:02,322 But l would have had every bee in the county breathing down my neck. 641 00:41:02,367 --> 00:41:07,077 Not only is our house bomb-proot, it's also bee-proot. 642 00:41:10,487 --> 00:41:14,765 As the war progressed and the pressure on imports became even greater, 643 00:41:14,807 --> 00:41:16,923 cIothes rationing grew ever tighter. 644 00:41:18,447 --> 00:41:23,396 In 1 94 1, a year's worth of coupons wouId have purchased a whoIe new outfit. 645 00:41:23,727 --> 00:41:28,164 But by 1 943, the cIothing aIIowance had aImost haIved. 646 00:41:30,207 --> 00:41:34,678 As a way of getting round the shortages, women formed communaI sewing pooIs. 647 00:41:36,767 --> 00:41:39,520 Ruth's enIisted the heIp of Jean Haines 648 00:41:39,567 --> 00:41:44,004 to turn her fIour sack into a new dress for the fund-raising dance. 649 00:41:44,047 --> 00:41:47,756 Oh, that's not bad, is it? That's quite a reasonable skirt width. 650 00:41:47,807 --> 00:41:50,526 But we haven't got enough tabric to cut the skirt in a one-piece, 651 00:41:50,567 --> 00:41:53,559 so we've had to do a bit ot asymmetrical lines on it 652 00:41:53,607 --> 00:41:56,804 - and we've got it in two. - making a virtue ot a necessity. 653 00:41:56,847 --> 00:42:00,840 Yes. There isn't enough material to go cutting away as we want to do, 654 00:42:00,887 --> 00:42:02,878 so we really have to cut tight. 655 00:42:04,127 --> 00:42:07,676 Minimising fabric waste was of vitaI importance. 656 00:42:07,727 --> 00:42:09,638 And there were strict government ruIes 657 00:42:09,687 --> 00:42:14,681 dictating the number of pockets, seams and even buttons garments couId have. 658 00:42:15,927 --> 00:42:19,363 '40s tashion was really dictated by this need tor clever cutting, 659 00:42:19,407 --> 00:42:21,841 tor using the minimum ot tabric. 660 00:42:21,887 --> 00:42:25,004 lt was all very, very cleverly put together. 661 00:42:25,047 --> 00:42:27,607 There were darts, there were gathers. 662 00:42:27,647 --> 00:42:32,596 Collars were detachable because you could have one blouse, three colours, three outtits. 663 00:42:34,807 --> 00:42:38,117 Sewing pooIs increased in popuIarity throughout the war. 664 00:42:38,967 --> 00:42:41,640 They not onIy provided the equipment for dressmaking 665 00:42:41,687 --> 00:42:44,360 but aIso some much-needed expertise. 666 00:42:44,407 --> 00:42:48,559 The youngsters, and particularly the young townies coming out into the countryside, 667 00:42:48,607 --> 00:42:51,565 they just hadn't picked up those skills in quite the same way. 668 00:42:51,607 --> 00:42:54,679 So it was a way ot learning as well as sharing equipment. 669 00:42:54,727 --> 00:42:56,957 That's right. making do with what you could get. 670 00:42:59,087 --> 00:43:04,002 WhiIe Ruth prepares for the fundraising dance, Peter has urgent work to do with the hay. 671 00:43:07,127 --> 00:43:11,518 It's been drying in the churchyard and now he must bring it in before the rain comes. 672 00:43:16,047 --> 00:43:19,198 He's going to take advantage of a baIing machine, 673 00:43:20,167 --> 00:43:22,761 something that increased in use during the war 674 00:43:22,807 --> 00:43:27,085 thanks to Ministry of AgricuIture's scheme of Iending equipment 675 00:43:27,127 --> 00:43:30,244 and experienced operators to farmers. 676 00:43:33,007 --> 00:43:34,565 mr Evans. How are you? 677 00:43:34,607 --> 00:43:36,199 Not so bad. 678 00:43:36,247 --> 00:43:37,999 - We've brought you some hay. - Yeah. 679 00:43:38,047 --> 00:43:40,038 - And you've got a baler. - Yeah. 680 00:43:40,487 --> 00:43:43,081 So this sort ot baler would have gone round the tarms. 681 00:43:43,127 --> 00:43:45,846 Round different tarms on contract. 682 00:43:45,887 --> 00:43:48,321 - What, trom the War Ag? - War Ag, yeah. 683 00:43:48,367 --> 00:43:53,919 Farmer Maurice Evans stiII uses his Massey Harris 701 baIer today. 684 00:43:54,967 --> 00:43:59,677 It was one of the first machines that couId be moved around a fieId coIIecting hay as it went 685 00:43:59,727 --> 00:44:02,764 as weII as being used as a static baIer. 686 00:44:03,327 --> 00:44:06,125 So these spikes here are picking up the hay, taking it in here, 687 00:44:06,167 --> 00:44:07,759 and it's going up into the auger. 688 00:44:11,087 --> 00:44:13,078 l can't even get the lid open. 689 00:44:14,447 --> 00:44:16,119 Oh, wow. OK. 690 00:44:16,167 --> 00:44:18,158 Righty, l wasn't expecting that. 691 00:44:18,607 --> 00:44:20,598 So the hay is coming up into here, 692 00:44:20,887 --> 00:44:24,562 the Archimedes screw, the auger, is pushing it this way 693 00:44:24,607 --> 00:44:26,325 and into that hay box. 694 00:44:26,367 --> 00:44:28,517 Obviously, the bale comes out there, l take it. 695 00:44:28,567 --> 00:44:30,125 Yeah. 696 00:44:30,167 --> 00:44:32,886 And that pushes it down into the chamber. 697 00:44:32,927 --> 00:44:34,997 - Sorry, what is this? - That's a knotter. 698 00:44:35,047 --> 00:44:36,366 - A knotter? - Yeah. 699 00:44:36,407 --> 00:44:39,080 - Looks like something out ot science tiction. - Yeah. 700 00:44:39,127 --> 00:44:43,086 l mean, this really is tarming being dragged into the modern world. 701 00:44:43,127 --> 00:44:43,843 Yeah. 702 00:44:43,887 --> 00:44:46,959 l mean, a tarmer during the Second World War... 703 00:44:47,007 --> 00:44:48,725 Previously there were ricks. 704 00:44:48,767 --> 00:44:50,166 Ricks are a lot ot work. 705 00:44:50,207 --> 00:44:52,118 They used to put it in ricks 706 00:44:52,167 --> 00:44:55,762 and then it got to the stage where they could sell the hay 707 00:44:55,807 --> 00:44:59,322 but they had to carry it loose and then it would be all up the road. 708 00:44:59,367 --> 00:45:04,760 So then they decided they'd hire a baler in, take the loose hay out ot the rick 709 00:45:04,807 --> 00:45:08,720 and bale it up and put it on the trailer and it would be easier tor transport. 710 00:45:17,567 --> 00:45:20,286 That looks absolutely lethal. 711 00:45:30,407 --> 00:45:33,558 This might look like a lot ot hay but it isn't. 712 00:45:34,047 --> 00:45:36,003 Not after this machine's tinished with it. 713 00:45:36,087 --> 00:45:41,002 lt's going to reduce this down to maybe six bales tops. 714 00:45:41,927 --> 00:45:45,636 So it just emphasises how much easier it must have made it 715 00:45:45,687 --> 00:45:49,566 tor someone tarming during that period in the war 716 00:45:49,607 --> 00:45:54,635 to be able to transport the hay, to be able to gauge exactly how much they had 717 00:45:54,687 --> 00:45:57,076 and ot course to be able to sell any surplus. 718 00:46:02,727 --> 00:46:04,718 This is looking pretty good. 719 00:46:04,767 --> 00:46:06,758 There's certainly a split there. 720 00:46:07,767 --> 00:46:11,646 ln tact, that is a hay bale. 721 00:46:14,047 --> 00:46:18,279 That's a really good hay bale, actually. That's one ot the best hay bales l've ever seen. 722 00:46:18,327 --> 00:46:20,477 But it's my hay bale. 723 00:46:20,527 --> 00:46:24,202 lt's the hay that l've cut in the churchyard and baled up. 724 00:46:24,287 --> 00:46:25,879 That is awesome. 725 00:46:28,727 --> 00:46:32,845 Beauty products were abundant in Britain during the 1 930s 726 00:46:32,887 --> 00:46:37,483 but the outbreak of war meant many of the raw ingredients were no Ionger avaiIabIe. 727 00:46:38,687 --> 00:46:40,678 AIthough makeup wasn't rationed, 728 00:46:40,727 --> 00:46:44,925 cosmetics companies were onIy making a quarter of pre-war amounts. 729 00:46:46,127 --> 00:46:49,802 But for women it was important to stiII Iook their best. 730 00:46:51,847 --> 00:46:54,077 With her dress finished and hair washed, 731 00:46:54,127 --> 00:46:55,606 Ruth and her daughter Eve 732 00:46:55,647 --> 00:47:00,482 have caIIed upon the services of historic makeup speciaIists Sharon and GIoria 733 00:47:00,527 --> 00:47:03,360 to heIp them get ready for the Wings for Victory dance. 734 00:47:05,887 --> 00:47:08,560 l've been having a bit ot a look in all the women's magazines 735 00:47:08,607 --> 00:47:12,077 and there's an enormous number ot articles about hair and makeup. 736 00:47:12,127 --> 00:47:13,958 ''Beauty Tightens the Belt. 737 00:47:14,007 --> 00:47:19,320 lt's our patriotic duty to cut down a bit on cosmetics but you can still stay lovely...'' 738 00:47:19,367 --> 00:47:22,996 But it is a huge issue ot morale now when we come into wartime. 739 00:47:23,047 --> 00:47:26,244 - Still trying to look good and look your best... - Yeah. 740 00:47:26,287 --> 00:47:28,482 ..is a sense ot actually being detiant. 741 00:47:28,887 --> 00:47:32,357 You know, you would be letting the side down it you let yourselt go. 742 00:47:32,407 --> 00:47:35,717 Let's have a little bit ot that in there, then, Gloria. 743 00:47:36,567 --> 00:47:38,478 In the absence of factory-made products, 744 00:47:38,527 --> 00:47:42,486 women empIoyed home-made methods to enhance their Iooks, 745 00:47:42,527 --> 00:47:45,564 incIuding using sugar water to set their hair. 746 00:47:46,647 --> 00:47:49,798 Some ladies used beer but when we spoke to our great-aunt about it, 747 00:47:49,847 --> 00:47:52,964 she said, ''lt there was any beer around we would have drunk it.'' 748 00:47:53,727 --> 00:47:56,287 Beauty was seen as such a moraIe booster 749 00:47:56,327 --> 00:48:01,003 that the Minister of Labour made skiIIed hairdressers exempt from conscription. 750 00:48:02,047 --> 00:48:06,199 AImost aII hair styIes in the '40s required the hair to be curIed, 751 00:48:06,247 --> 00:48:09,762 taking inspiration from the HoIIywood movie stars of the day. 752 00:48:11,167 --> 00:48:16,161 So the tinger wave technique is to use your comb and tingers 753 00:48:16,207 --> 00:48:20,837 to push the hair into tlat S-shaped waves. 754 00:48:21,287 --> 00:48:27,886 And when the hair has dried, it does create a beautitul wave. 755 00:48:28,727 --> 00:48:33,755 Ruth's hairstyIe requires fIat pin-curIs at the front, which wiII add definition, 756 00:48:33,807 --> 00:48:36,401 and Iarger barreI curIs at the back for voIume. 757 00:48:38,007 --> 00:48:40,043 l teel really weird like this. 758 00:48:40,087 --> 00:48:41,566 - Do l look weird? - Yes. 759 00:48:41,607 --> 00:48:42,642 (Laughter) 760 00:48:42,687 --> 00:48:45,645 Glamour in the making. Glamour in the making. 761 00:48:50,207 --> 00:48:54,519 FemaIe munitions workers aIso had a speciaI aIIowance of high-end makeup 762 00:48:54,567 --> 00:48:56,398 to wear in the factories, 763 00:48:56,447 --> 00:49:00,520 raising their spirits as they Iaboured in often grimy conditions. 764 00:49:00,567 --> 00:49:03,604 For a period that was very austere, it's still very glamorous. 765 00:49:03,767 --> 00:49:07,077 So a cream rouge just to give a bit ot a tlush. 766 00:49:07,127 --> 00:49:10,278 You get them starting to use mascaras. 767 00:49:10,327 --> 00:49:14,366 They came in a little block there and a brush. 768 00:49:14,407 --> 00:49:16,443 And you'd mix it with water or a bit ot spit. 769 00:49:17,087 --> 00:49:19,043 And brush it on. 770 00:49:19,087 --> 00:49:24,161 And this was something which started off as a little pack ot product 771 00:49:24,207 --> 00:49:26,516 tor men to use on their beards and moustaches. 772 00:49:27,807 --> 00:49:32,642 So trom men's vanity came a product which women could use. 773 00:49:44,887 --> 00:49:47,526 lsn't that tantastic? 774 00:49:47,567 --> 00:49:49,558 my God! 775 00:49:49,967 --> 00:49:51,958 Well, wait till you get the lippy on. 776 00:49:55,247 --> 00:49:57,203 The hay baIing is going weII. 777 00:49:57,247 --> 00:49:58,726 But to maximise efficiency, 778 00:49:58,767 --> 00:50:03,045 it's vitaI that Peter gets it finished whiIe he stiII has access to the baIer. 779 00:50:04,367 --> 00:50:11,000 When l said that we'd get six bales out ot this load, l didn't actually think we'd get six bales. 780 00:50:11,047 --> 00:50:12,799 But we have. 781 00:50:12,847 --> 00:50:15,964 Now you could probably get three times this amount on a trailer. 782 00:50:16,007 --> 00:50:18,521 So that means you can use less tuel in your tractor. 783 00:50:18,567 --> 00:50:21,764 lt's just so beneticial having these bales. 784 00:50:21,807 --> 00:50:25,356 But we've got hay all over this tarm. 785 00:50:25,407 --> 00:50:27,284 We need to get it in, we need to get it baled. 786 00:50:27,327 --> 00:50:29,716 l'll get another load. lt'll take me into the evening. 787 00:50:29,767 --> 00:50:32,759 So l don't think l'm going to make this dance tonight. 788 00:50:35,047 --> 00:50:38,881 America had entered the war in December 1 94 1 789 00:50:38,927 --> 00:50:41,043 foIIowing the attack on PearI Harbor. 790 00:50:42,247 --> 00:50:45,637 From 1 942, US troops poured into Britain, 791 00:50:45,687 --> 00:50:50,158 incIuding more than 1 30,000 African-American servicemen. 792 00:50:52,007 --> 00:50:54,282 They brought with them a new phenomenon. 793 00:50:54,807 --> 00:50:56,638 The jive. 794 00:51:03,647 --> 00:51:08,641 Occasions Iike this provided an escape from the drudgery of everyday Iife 795 00:51:09,087 --> 00:51:13,603 as weII as raising money for the Government's Wings for Victory NationaI Savings Scheme. 796 00:51:16,887 --> 00:51:18,206 Whoa! 797 00:51:19,207 --> 00:51:21,198 You certainly scrubbed up. 798 00:51:22,127 --> 00:51:24,322 That's a new dress, isn't it? 799 00:51:24,647 --> 00:51:28,003 There may be a war on but some people can still turn out well, can't they? 800 00:51:28,047 --> 00:51:32,359 - But you haven't noticed the shoes. Look. - That's the sign ot a hard-working tarm girl. 801 00:51:35,007 --> 00:51:37,077 (Women sing) 802 00:51:41,407 --> 00:51:42,362 Wow! 803 00:51:42,407 --> 00:51:45,797 - lt's great, isn't it? - l can tell the Americans are in town. 804 00:51:54,607 --> 00:51:56,598 (Woman sings) 805 00:52:03,447 --> 00:52:04,926 (Applause) 806 00:52:08,407 --> 00:52:12,286 Joseph SeweII is an expert in jive and swing dancing. 807 00:52:12,927 --> 00:52:18,206 lt's an intectious dance. You can't tind a dance tor dancing that's not smiling. 808 00:52:18,407 --> 00:52:19,635 lt's just impossible. 809 00:52:19,687 --> 00:52:22,042 lt's such a vibrant torm ot dance, isn't it? 810 00:52:22,087 --> 00:52:24,157 l mean, what is it officially called? 811 00:52:24,207 --> 00:52:26,323 The dance that we're doing is called Lindy Hop. 812 00:52:26,367 --> 00:52:28,119 lt's an Atrican-American dance. 813 00:52:28,167 --> 00:52:32,718 When you had the black Gls coming across and brought the real deal, the Lindy Hop, 814 00:52:32,767 --> 00:52:36,237 that's when it really started, you know, to take off. 815 00:52:36,847 --> 00:52:41,443 lt must have made such an enormous impact in village halls up and down the country. 816 00:52:41,647 --> 00:52:44,764 l guess the white dancing would have been a little bit more subdued. 817 00:52:45,287 --> 00:52:49,075 Once the Gls started chucking the ladies around, it would have blown people's socks off. 818 00:52:49,127 --> 00:52:52,199 But it would have made everyone teel good that was watching. 819 00:52:52,247 --> 00:52:55,557 There is one thing here that wouldn't really have happened during the war 820 00:52:55,607 --> 00:52:59,316 and that's black and white Gls being in the same dance. 821 00:52:59,367 --> 00:53:04,236 The Americans brought with them not only their dance but they also brought their social attitudes 822 00:53:04,287 --> 00:53:05,800 and their segregation 823 00:53:05,847 --> 00:53:07,724 that we weren't used to here. 824 00:53:07,767 --> 00:53:11,885 Yes, the white Gls would not tolerate being in the same building as the black Gls. 825 00:53:13,487 --> 00:53:18,197 African-American troops frequentIy came over in advance of the white GIs 826 00:53:18,247 --> 00:53:21,364 and had estabIished themseIves in IocaI communities. 827 00:53:22,647 --> 00:53:26,435 When white GIs arrived and tried to impose segregation, 828 00:53:26,487 --> 00:53:29,684 they often met a stony response from the British peopIe. 829 00:53:30,367 --> 00:53:32,323 Think we could have a go? Show us how to do it? 830 00:53:32,367 --> 00:53:33,402 Absolutely. 831 00:53:33,447 --> 00:53:35,642 Two tine young ladies like yourselves. 832 00:53:36,207 --> 00:53:38,596 Ladies, get ready tor the time ot your lite. 833 00:53:42,247 --> 00:53:44,238 - Ooh, sorry. - You're doing well. 834 00:53:47,407 --> 00:53:51,002 The Lindy Hop was deveIoped by mixing estabIished dances 835 00:53:51,047 --> 00:53:53,242 Iike the Breakaway and the CharIeston, 836 00:53:53,607 --> 00:53:56,679 becoming popuIar at the Savoy BaIIroom in HarIem. 837 00:53:57,447 --> 00:54:00,405 This new styIe spread Iike wiIdfire. 838 00:54:14,607 --> 00:54:16,598 Whoo! 839 00:54:20,167 --> 00:54:22,158 Wow! 840 00:54:25,407 --> 00:54:27,557 That was tantastic, Joseph. 841 00:54:28,407 --> 00:54:30,682 Tuck into that and tell me what you think. 842 00:54:32,247 --> 00:54:36,001 The chiIdren from the harvest camp have aIso come aIong to the jive, 843 00:54:36,047 --> 00:54:39,084 and have had some bread and honey as a fareweII treat. 844 00:54:40,847 --> 00:54:42,075 One ot the main reasons 845 00:54:42,127 --> 00:54:43,799 tor these sorts ot events 846 00:54:43,847 --> 00:54:45,997 was to raise money tor the war effort, wasn't it? 847 00:54:46,047 --> 00:54:46,718 Yeah. 848 00:54:46,767 --> 00:54:48,758 National Savings Certiticates. 849 00:54:49,127 --> 00:54:50,799 A system whereby ordinary people, 850 00:54:50,847 --> 00:54:52,519 instead ot putting money in the bank, 851 00:54:52,567 --> 00:54:53,761 gave it to the Government. 852 00:54:53,807 --> 00:54:57,277 Nearly tour million pounds at their prices, 853 00:54:57,327 --> 00:55:01,923 which, when you think ot what that means today, it's just vast. How would we have done it 854 00:55:01,967 --> 00:55:05,243 without the savings ot ordinary people? 855 00:55:05,287 --> 00:55:07,278 They made it possible tor us to win. 856 00:55:15,327 --> 00:55:18,956 Hopetully while we're all here Peter will tinish baling that hay. 857 00:55:19,007 --> 00:55:20,998 - That's a must-do job. - Yeah. 858 00:55:21,047 --> 00:55:24,119 And the children, haven't they been an enormous help? 859 00:55:24,167 --> 00:55:27,045 - You know, just done loads. - lt's been great to have them around 860 00:55:27,087 --> 00:55:32,241 and l sort ot teel like we've generally boosted morale here on the tarm. 861 00:55:32,287 --> 00:55:33,481 Yeah. 862 00:55:33,527 --> 00:55:35,882 But it's all to play tor in the next couple ot months. 863 00:55:35,927 --> 00:55:37,963 lt's make or break season. 864 00:55:38,007 --> 00:55:41,204 We've got to bring in a wartime harvest and it's not going to be easy. 865 00:55:43,207 --> 00:55:45,926 Despite another year of hardship at home, 866 00:55:45,967 --> 00:55:49,721 farmers'efforts in the fieIds wouId not go unrewarded. 867 00:55:50,087 --> 00:55:54,478 1 943 wouId see Britain's biggest acreage of crops, 868 00:55:54,527 --> 00:55:58,486 not just in the Second WorId War but in the history of the country.