Agriculture
Agriculture was the basis of Charing’s economy before the war. War had a profound effect on it with farmers struggling to reconcile the imperative of producing more food, while their requirements for manpower, horses, machinery and transport took a distant second place behind military needs. Food shortages and price rises became an increasing problem as the War progressed.
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Agriculture before the war
When the war began
The drive to increase output
Farmers and the problems of enlistment, conscription and transport
Tackling the labour shortage: the use of troops and school children
Tackling the labour shortage: women on the land
Horses during the war
Food prices and shortages