You are in [Events] [Second World War] [National Savings Campaign]
The Hungerford District National Savings Campaign 1939-1945 collected a total of over one million pounds for the war effort - an incredible amount for a town the size of Hungerford.
What were the various campaigns?
| War Weapons Week | Apr 1941 | £211,257 |
| Warships Week (HMS Freesia) | Dec 1941 | £129,846 |
| Wings for Victory Week | May 1943 | £175,994 |
| Salute the Soldiers Week | Jul 1944) | £197,237 |
| Thanksgiving Week | Oct 1945 | £360,850 |
| Total: | £1,075,184 |
Photo Gallery:
The National Savings Movements weekly record card - used for all the various fund-raising campaigns
The National Savings Movements weekly record card - used for all the various fund-raising campaigns
Hungerford "Thanksgiving" procession tours town in the rain. Oct 1945
Hungerford Printing Works, 129 High Street, with display of Savings Stamps for sale. The Printing Works was run by Ernest Munford, Constable 1936-40 before William Raine.
War Weapons Week, April 1941. In all £211,257 was collected in this single week.
The Town Hall & Corn Exchange during War Weapons Week, April 1941. Note the blackouts obscuring the windows.
The organising committee for War Weapons Week, April 1941.
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War Savings Campaign Award, 1944.
- The National Savings Movements weekly record card - used for all the various fund-raising campaigns. The organisation behind the various savings initiatives was considerable. Strict records were made of all subscribing members on special forms.
- War Weapons Week, 1941.
- War Savings Campaign Award, 1944.
War Weapons Week, Apr 1941:
The first savings campaign was War Weapons Week, April 1941. Under an enthusiastic committee led by Mr Turner of Hungerford Park, £211,257 was collected. (See Photo Gallery).
Congratulatory messages were sent:
"Please convey my congratulations to the people of Hungerford on the splendid response to War Weapons Week" (Sir Kingsley Wood, Chancellor of he Exchequor.
"I congratulate you on having been so successful at Hungerford during your War Weapons Week. To have aimed to save £35,000 and to have achieved £211,257 is a feat which reflects great credit on yourself and the other organisers." (Air Chief Marshall Sir Charles Portal, Chief of Air Staff).
On Saturday evening at the invitation of the President (Mr A G Turner), members of the committees and other workers were entertained at a smoking concert at the Bear Hotel, Hungerford. The President took the occasion to thank everybody for their support and hard work which had enabled such a wonderful result to be achieved. The telegram from the Chancellor of the Exchequor was read. The Constable (Mr W S Raine), proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Turner for the excellent lead he had given and for the kindness and generosity he had shown on that and other occasions. He also spoke with pride of the fine result achieved.
Thanksgiving Week, Oct 1945:
"Hungerford Rural District's Thanksgiving Week, which realised £360,850 2s 9d, means the average saving works out at £39 9s 2d per head of population."
Lord Portal of Hungerford said "You have once again shot down the target as decisively as ever and you have the satisfaction of having now brought your savings to a total of over £1,000,000 - a truly splendid achievement with which I am proud to have been associated."
Details were:
| 15/- and £1 Savings Certificates: | £9,368 15s 0d |
| Post Office Savings Bank: | £5,986 19s 0d |
| Trustee Savings Bank: | £421 0s 0d |
| 3% Defence Bonds: | £28,830 0s 0d |
| Gift Tokens: | £76 10s 10d |
| Savings Stamps: | £2,089 11s 6d |
| National War Bonds (2.5%): | £257,500 0s 0d |
| 3% Savings Bonds: | £62,315 0s 0d |
| Free Gifts: | £27 7s 0d |
Visit by crew of HMS Freesia:
The crew of HMS Freesia visited the town in April 1946: "In reply to an invitation sent to them, Mr E L Tye has received notification that the Captain and members of the crew of HMS Freesia, the corvette adopted by Hungerford Rural District in Warship week, are visiting Hungerford this Saturday. An address of welcome will be given by Mr A G Turner from the Town Hall Steps at 3.45pm to which the commanding officer of HMS Freesia will reply. Tea will be served in the British restaurant and anyone in the district who has served in the Royal Navy, Merchant Navy or the Royal Marines is invited...."
6d National Savings Stamps were sold through school. A certificate was purchased for 15/- (fifteen shillings).
Note that pay at this time averaged £2 10s 0d per week.
Servicemen received 4/- per day, £1 8s 0d per week.
See also:
- HMS Freesia, the corvette adopted by Hungerford
- Wings for Victory Parade, 2nd May 1943 - see Second World War
The Canal Wharf, 2011