Western Approaches Area Combined Headquarters
Liverpool
Induction Sheet for New Recruits (U12b)
Name: …………………………………………………… Role: …………………………………………………
1. Observation Test
Look around the street and answer these questions.
i) What are Mac sweets?
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ii) What should you put in the bucket and why?
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iii) What items are being collected for salvage?
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iv) Name the removal company.
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v) Who says you deserve victory?
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vi) What is the name of the public house?
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vii) What is on the ground in front of the pub?
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viii) What is on the windows and why is it there?
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ix) Name the universal cleanser and polisher.
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x) Who makes the 30 second breakfast?
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2. Complete the following sentences:
Ackerleigh House, in Sefton Park, Liverpool, was built
in …………………………………….
It was first used by ………………………………………………………………… and
then the Children's …………………………………….
When war broke out, the children were ……………………………………
and the Admiralty commandeered the building.
…………………………………… House was used as ……………………………………
quarters by the …………………………………… officers (WRENS and
WAAFs) who worked at …………………………………….…………………………………….
3. a) Explain why rationing was needed during WWII.
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b) Do you think that rationing was fair for everyone,
regardless of whether they lived in the city or the
countryside? Explain your answer.
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4. What date was rationing first introduced on?
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5. Which 3 foods do you think were rationed first?
Bread Bacon Apples Sugar Butter Potatoes
6. How much of Britain's food was imported at the
start of the Second World War?
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7. What other vital item was rationed at the outbreak
of war, even before food was? (hint: transport)
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8. Diagram and label the average adult weekly rations.
9. Where can you buy your weekly rations?
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10. Complete the following sentences:
A buff-coloured ration book is for ……………………………………………
A green-coloured ration book is for …………………………………………
because they need ………………………………………………………………………………………
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A blue-coloured ration book is for ……………………………………………
because they need ………………………………………………………………………………………
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11. What information was collected about you in the
1939 census, in preparation for war and rationing?
a) your full name ⃣ b) your birthdate ⃣
c) your blood type ⃣ d) your occupation ⃣
e) your address ⃣ e) your religion ⃣
12. Who is Lord Woolton and what does his job entail?
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13. Why is the Ministry of Food targeting women with
its messages about rations and cooking?
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14. Why are inedible food scraps collected?
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15. The following materials are also being collected
during the war. What might they be needed for?
a) metal ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
b) glass ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
c) paper ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
16. "Rationing is a good thing during the war."
Do you agree or disagree? Explain why.
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Additional Tasks: Dig for Victory Campaign
At this time of national shortage, the Ministry of Food
needs every person to help win the war.
Why not plan your family's menu for one week, then try out some
of the most popular Ministry of Food recipes? Draw or photograph
your favourite meal, and share it with us. For more wartime
recipes, visit http://cookit.e2bn.org/historycookbook/index-20-
world-war-2.html
Additionally, you could design a poster to help promote key
Government messages - reduce, re-use and recycle - including:
• Dig for victory
• Win the war on the kitchen front
• Make do and mend
• Walk short distances
• Save waste for war weapons
British Pathé news-reel clips are shown in cinemas before the
main film, to educate and inform the British public. Many are
still available for us to watch, for example
https://www.britishpathe.com/video/milk-trailer
or on British Pathé’s channel, for example
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-n3scON9XSM
Could you design a new educational clip for British Pathé,
delivering the government's message for the British public stay
calm and carry on fighting the war on the Home Front?
The most creative ones will be shared on our site for everyone
to see.
Lt. Cmdr. D. Roberts, RNVR, Western Approaches HQ
Snacks
Dinner
Lunch
Breakfast
Day of the
week
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Weekly Menu Planner
Additional Tasks: Weekly Menu Planner
Weekly rations changed from month to month, as foods became more
or less plentiful, depending on the season and what foods had
made it safely across the Atlantic Ocean to Britain in the
Merchant Navy ships.
A typical weekly adult ration included:
butter 2 oz (50g) sugar 8 oz (225g)
margarine 4 oz (100g) tea 2 oz (50g)
lard 4 oz (100g) eggs one per week
cheese 2 oz (50g) milk 3 pints (1800ml)
Meat - to the value of 1 shilling and sixpence per week
Every four weeks:
Jam or preserves 1 lb (16 oz / 450g)
Dried eggs one packet
Sweets 12 oz (350g)
Additionally, everyone had points to purchase other foods, such
as breakfast cereals, condensed milk, tinned or dried food and
biscuits.
The Dig for Victory campaign and the efforts of farmers and the
Women's Land Army meant that there was always a supply of home-
grown potatoes, vegetables and fruit available.
Some families keep chickens or rabbits, or caught their own food
by fishing, giving them a little more to eat.
Because children were growing, they had different rations to
their parents. For most rationed foods, a child's ration was
half an adult's ration.
However, green ration books (for under-fives and pregnant women)
provided an extra pint of milk a day and a double supply of
eggs, as well as first choice of fruit.
Blue ration books (5 - 16 yrs) provided an extra half pint of
milk a day, as well as a full adult's meat ration and extra
fruit when it was available.
Children also were entitled to get extra supplements to keep
them healthy. Depending on availability and age, these included
concentrated orange juice, rosehip syrup, Virol (a tonic made
from bone-marrow) and cod liver oil.
Additional Tasks: Popular Wartime Recipes
Woolton Pie
A really tasty pie that works equally well with any root
vegetables you can find. [Serves 4]
Ingredients:
- 1 lb (16 oz) diced potatoes
- 1 lb diced cauliflower
- 1 lb diced swedes
- 1 lb diced carrots
- 1 onion
- 1 teaspoon Marmite or vegetable extract
- 1 tablespoon oatmeal
- water
Method:
Cook the ingredients together for 10 minutes until slightly
softened, with just enough water to cover them. Stir
occasionally to prevent the mixture from sticking, then allow to
cool.
Put into a pie dish, sprinkle with chopped parsley, and cover
with a crust of potato or wheatmeal pastry. Bake for about 30
minutes in a moderate oven until the pastry is nice and browned,
and serve hot with brown gravy.
Potato Jane
A really tasty dish, full of goodness, that will fill you up.
[Serves 4]
Ingredients:
• 1 1/2 pounds potatoes
• 3 oz cheese
• 2 oz breadcrumbs
• 1/2 chopped leek
• 1/2 – 3/4 pint of milk
• Salt and pepper to taste
Method:
Cover the bottom of a greased ovenproof dish with a layer of
sliced potatoes, and sprinkle with some of the breadcrumbs,
cheese and seasoning.
Repeat with alternate layers of potatoes and toppings, finishing
with a layer of cheese and crumb topping.
Pour over the milk, then bake in a moderate oven for about 45
minutes until the potatoes are cooked.
Baked Bean Loaf
For a vitamin-rich meatless dish, bake a bean loaf in the same
way as you would a meatloaf. [Serves 4]
Ingredients:
• three cups of cooked beans (any variety)
• one onion, chopped
• one egg (beaten)
• one cup of breadcrumbs
• chopped celery
• one-half cup of milk (or use water or liquid from the beans)
• salt, pepper and herbs to taste
Method:
Mix the ingredients together, then place into a greased loaf
tin. Roast for about 45 minutes in a moderate oven, until the
loaf is firm to touch.
Sausage Stovies
This versatile recipe can be made with other leftover meats if
you do not have any sausages. [Serves 4]
Ingredients:
• 4 large potatoes
• 1 onion
• 4 sausages
• 1 teaspoon each sage and thyme
• Salt to taste
• 1 teaspoon Marmite or other gravy seasoning
• 1/4 to 1/2 pint boiling water
Method:
Slice the potatoes, peel and chop the onion and dice / thinly
slice the sausages.
Grease your baking dish, then add a layer of potatoes, followed
by a layer of onion and a layer of sausage.
Season and sprinkle over some herbs.
Repeat until you have used up all the ingredients, making sure
to end with a layer of potatoes on the top.
Dissolve gravy seasoning in boiling water, then pour into the
baking dish.
Bake in a moderate oven for about 50 minutes, until the potatoes
are soft and the sauce has thickened.
Steamed and Boiled Puddings
This versatile recipe can be used to make a savoury
pie crust if you omit the sugar. [Serves 4]
Ingredients:
• 8 oz flour
• 2 oz sugar
• 1 oz fat
• 1 oz raw grated potato
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• Salt to taste
• Water or milk to mix
Method:
Rub the fat into the flour, add salt and baking powder. Stir in
the grated raw potato and mix to a moist consistency with water
or milk.
Add fruit, jam or a flavouring. Place in a greased basin, cover
and steam for 2 hours until cooked.
Spring Beauty Cake
For a special treat, with careful planning you can still have a
cake for that special occasion! [Serves 8-12]
Ingredients:
• 1 cup sifted flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 6 tablespoons hot milk
• 3 eggs
Method:
Sift the flour into a bowl and add the baking powder and salt.
Beat eggs with a rotary beater until thick enough to stand in
soft peaks (about 5-7 minutes), then add the sugar slowly,
beating continuously. Add the lemon juice.
Gently fold in the flour, a small amount at a time.
Add the hot milk and stir quickly until completely mixed. Pour
into a lined baking dish, and bake in a moderate oven for about
35 minutes until well done. Allow to stand until cold before
decorating.
Additional Tasks: Dig for Victory Campaign - Posters