DORA

1
DORA

• Defence of the Realm Act (1914) included many
  laws/rules/regulations, giving the government
  wide ranging powers to organise the country to
  fight the war

2

Munitions vital for victory.
but.. poor planning ammo shortages
Daily Mail printed rumours of daily limits of 3
rounds per soldier Recruits trained with
sticks, not rifles This was not good for morale
for soldiers or civilians!
3
Government response?

• A coalition government was formed
• Lloyd George became Minister of Munitions
• Government munitions factories were opened
• Essential workers were asked to stay in their
• jobs instead of moving to better paid work
• Women were encouraged to work in munitions

4
Success? (direct/indirect!)

• The shell shortages were overcome.
• Women gained equal pay as unions claimed if they
  were paid lower wages, employers would choose
  female rather than male workers.

5
Failure?

• 100,000 women registered for industrial work in
  1915. Only 5000 were employed.
• Unions gained an agreement that women would be
  replaced by men once the war was over.

6
Rationing why was it needed?

• By April 1917 German U-Boats were sinking 25 of
  British merchant shipping, bringing essential
  supplies from overseas
• Britain had only 6 weeks supply of wheat in
  store
• Prices rose rapidly as a result of shortages.
  They had almost doubled by 1917, unlike wages.
• This led to strikes and demonstrations

7
What did the government do?

• Womens Land Army was set up early in 1917. It
  encouraged women to become farm workers
  (replacing men who had joined up)
• Wages of industrial workers were raised
• May 1917 a voluntary rationing system was
  introduced the Royal family supported it
• November 1917 the price of bread was restricted
  
• the ninepenny loaf,
• Recipe books were printed to encourage careful
  use of food
• Propaganda posters aimed to discourage waste

8
Success ?

• Rationing was welcomed by many, as being a fairer
  system. (Who wouldnt be so pleased?)
• By 1918, the diet of many had improved as a
  result of the system.

9
Failure?

• The measures failed to end the food shortage
• Early in 1918, compulsory rationing of sugar,
  butter, meat and beer was introduced, with coupon
  books (and harsh punishment for those breaking
  the rules)

10
Propaganda and censorship

• Early enthusiasm was declining fewer recruits
  by mid 1915
• As trench warfare became established, it was
  obvious that the war would go on for a long time
• Bad news would deter many from joining up or
  cause their families to discourage them

11
Government response?

• Lord Beaverbrook (newspaper owner) joined the
  Cabinet in 1916
• Pictures of dead British soldiers were banned
• Letters were censored
• Government was very secretive about its
  intentions even failing to let Parliament know
  about some things

12
Success?

• The Red Book (Oxford professors justifying the
  war) was a best seller
• Childrens books/comics had patriotic themes
• The Battle of the Somme film attracted mass
  audiences. While viewers were shocked by the
  sight of wounded soldiers, it helped morale
  (why?)

13
Failure?

• Drastic restriction on free expression indicated
  government fear that it was losing support for
  the war
• The Nation (shut down) claimed It is a domestic
  tragedy that the country which went out to defend
  liberty is losing its own liberties one by one
• Children were indoctrinated by books/comics
  showing Germans as warlike and brutal.

14
And now..

• DORA is still with us
• Seasonal clock changes were introduced by DORA,
  to make best use of daylight
• Restricted opening times for pubs (changing soon)
  were introduced to ensure workers were not too
  drunk to work hard.
• 
  aknkowledgement to Russell tarr