70th anniversary of Warship Week in Chard and Ilminster (From Chard & Ilminster News)

70th anniversary of Warship Week in Chard and Ilminster

6:20am Monday 6th February 2012 in Chard

SEVENTY years ago this month, with the country in the middle of the Second World War, the people of South Somerset rallied to the cause, raising the equivalent of about £4.5m today, in just days, for Warship Week.

In the middle of the Second World War, in 1941 through to 1942, communities across the country came together to raise £955,611,589 for the war effort.

Warship Weeks allowed a community to sponsor a naval vessel through individual investments in Government Bonds and National Savings Certificates.

The National War Savings Committee organised the weeks and the Admiralty fully supported them. Some 1,178 Warship Weeks were organised during the campaign, involving 1,273 districts.

Each district was set a target appropriate to the size and affluence of its population.

A small village therefore needed to sponsor a motor launch, while a city could expect to reach the £2m required for a battleship.

Warship Week in Chard and Ilminster was held from February 7-14, 1942. Chard was asked to raise £120,000 to fund a Corvette, while Ilminster was challenged to raise £136,500 to fund a minesweeper.

The Chard and Ilminster News was filled with news about the Warship Week and one advert said it was “all hands on deck with every penny you can spare – even if it means going without a little Bovril.”

Local people showed an incredible unity. Chard raised £90,209 – today worth about £2.5m – and Ilminster raised £74,011, just over £2m today.

To think that 70 years ago this month local people raised that much money when the population was a lot lower than it is today, is staggering.

FOR more on the story pick up a copy of the February 1 edition of the Chard and Ilminster News - which is in shops now.