Success of Bedford Business Men’s Week

Wednesday 22nd March 1918: The executive committee of the Bedford War Savings Committee, which was responsible for organising the recent Business Men’s Week in the town, has written a individual letter of thanks to all those involved, including fifty volunteer house-to-house collectors. Sales of War Bonds during the week reached £137,970 and of War Savings Certificates £19,347 17s. 6d, bringing the totals for the year to 9th March to £230,095 and £49,936 7s. respectively. Expenditure incurred in raising these large sums was only £39 19s 6d. The Committee writes:

“It is to the personal service and influence of yourself and others that this widespread movement owes its strength. We know you will leave no stone unturned to extend the educational and permanent side of our work which is of such great service to the community and without which we cannot hope to attain complete and lasting success.”

Source: Bedfordshire Standard, 28th March 1918

War Savings Week, 16-22 July

Advert in the Bedfordshire Times

Sunday 16th July: A campaign is launched for the National Savings Committee. The movement promotes cost-saving measures to fund-raise for government expenditure and calls upon citizens to limit consumption and form local associations out of patriotic duty:

“When you save you help our Sailors and Soldiers to win the war. When you spend on things you do not need you help the Germans, because when you spend you make other people work for you, and the work of everyone is wanted now to help our fighting men, or to produce necessaries, or to make goods for export.”

Citizens are advised to:

• Cut down on meat bills
• Reduce the amount of gas, coal and electricity used
• Cut down on parcel deliveries
•             Put in a regular order for newspapers, to reduce paper waste and labour
•       Avoid spending on luxury items

Citizens are encouraged to form local associations so they can lend their savings to the country by purchasing war savings certificates. These certificates earn interest over time. It is hoped that every church, office, shop, factory, school, village and club will start an association.

Source: Bedfordshire Times 14/07/1916