On the 12 August 1914, the War Office gave Huntley & Palmers substantial orders to manufacture army biscuits, which involved working continuously day and night for several weeks. Army biscuits presented few ingredient problems because they required no sugar. In all £84,000 worth of such orders were fulfilled to the end of March 1915 and £653,000 worth by November 1918, nearly 6.5% of the firms total turnover.
Captain M H Cleeve and his soldiers at Gallipoli in 1915 with large wooden cases stamped 'Huntley and Palmer Reading Biscuits'. The Gallipoli campaign was a disaster from beginning to end. (REDMG : 1997.130.200)
The No. 4 standard biscuit, measuring roughly 4 inches square, was made out of whole-wheat flour and was often issued as an emergency ration. It was very hard but highly nutritious and when soaked in water made a sustaining meal.
The war created a drain on labour as men responded to General Kitchener's (pictured) campaign for volunteers to join up. This meant that the company was employing more women than ever by the end of the War. (REDMG : 1997.130.522)
The effect of war on biscuit production
From December 1916, food control by the government severely affected the production of biscuits at Huntley & Palmers. In 1913-14 Huntley & Palmers used 82 tons of sugar a week - its permitted weekly use until the end of the war was 28 tons. As an alternative, the company manufactured sweet biscuits without sugar, for example by reintroducing a form of honey biscuit. By March 1917 the cake factory had been closed and 242 kinds of biscuit were no longer being produced.
Despite starting the war with low stock levels, Huntley & Palmers managed to honour its commitments to the government until 1917 when it halted its supply of army biscuits in an attempt to rescue its export business. (REDMG : 1992.2.1304)
Continue reading about biscuits between the wars at Huntley & Palmers.
