1917 Timeline of the United Kingdom home front during the First World War

women s land army farm workers in hertfordshire, 1917.

march 1917

a shortage of wheat leads introduction of government bread , contains proportion of flour made oats, barley, rye or potatoes.
women s land army , women s forestry corps established.

28 march 1917

ministry of national service established.

21 may 1917

the first national kitchen opened queen mary in westminster bridge road, london, providing cheap meals affected food shortages.


a german gotha g.iv bomber in flight, 1917.

25 may 1917

first raid on england german gotha heavy bomber aircraft @ folkestone in kent.

29 may 1917

a royal proclamation issued king george v encourages voluntary reduction in bread consumption.

13 june 1917

first attack on london german heavy bombers; 104 civilians killed, including 18 children @ elementary school in poplar.

july 1917

the metropolitan police introduce first air raid warning system, consists of police officers detonating maroons (a type of loud firework) , clear sounded boy scout buglers.

17 july 1917

a royal proclamation issued george v declares: our house , family shall styled , known house , family of windsor , renouncing german titles.


riddance : cartoon in punch magazine showing king george v sweeping away german titles in july 1917.

4 september 1917

first night-time bomber raid on london.

2 november 1917

the foreign secretary, arthur balfour, makes declaration of british intention provide national home jewish people in palestine, being captured ottoman empire.

17 december 1917

residents of pontypool issued ration cards sugar, tea, butter , margarine.

29 november 1917

former cabinet minister, henry petty-fitzmaurice, 5th marquess of lansdowne, writes letter daily telegraph appealing peaceful settlement war become known lansdowne letter .

31 december 1917

national sugar rationing introduced.




^ beckett (2006) pp. 112-113
^ beckett (2006) p. 116
^ cite error: named reference beckett 2006 p. 75 invoked never defined (see page).
^ beckett (2006) p. 218
^ beckett (2006) p. 124
^ doyle p. 29
^ beckett (2006) p. 187
^ castle & hook p. 7
^ food rationing . www.hibbert-assembly.org.uk. hibbert trust. retrieved 15 august 2015.