Unheard Black Country stories from WWI explored in new book
Unheard stories from the First World War and the social changes brought by the conflict on a Black Country borough are explored in a new book.
Authors Chris Sutton and Mary Lee have written From the Factories to the Front Line charting the impact of the war on the people and industries of Smethwick.
Among the issues raised in the book were the loss of fathers in families in the area as local men went off to fight the Germans on the battlefields of Europe.
Their place in factories in the borough had been replaced by women and another knock-on effect was a breakdown in discipline among children, especially as many teachers had also gone off to fight.
The manufacturing industry was also affected and Smethwick was at the heart of this, as many of its companies changed from their traditional roles to help the war effort.
Among these were the brewers Mitchells and Butlers, and firms engaged in producing steel, but instead given the task of producing munitions for the war.
The book also reveals that at the time there was a newspaper called the Smethwick Telephone, so called because it was around the time that Scottish scientist Alexander Graham Bell launched the first ever telephone.
Readers will also learn more about some of the punishment levied for wartime crimes, including fines for opening the curtains and letting light escape during blackouts.
Peter Allen, publicity officer for Smethwick Heritage Centre, said the book drew on a variety of sources, including the centre's own archives, press cuttings and trade directories.
Sandwell mayor Derek Rowley helped to launch the book in the council chamber at Smethwick Council House on Saturday afternoon.
A number of other activities also took place on the same day at the heritage centre, including an exhibition of artefacts and items from the war.
Warley MP John Spellar was also present for the launch along with Sandwell Council leader Darren Cooper.
Mr Allen said: "Overall, it was a great turnout. There were several hundred people I would suspect. The refreshment area was doing brisk business."
The book is available online at Amazon and at the heritage centre.
