Home Front

On this day in 1917, On this day in 1917, the YMCA appealed for workers in their base camps in France, and Jessie Moore would rather be anywhere than here.

Written by Shaun McKenna

On this day in 1917, there were protests in Plymouth against the light treatment of conscientious objectors, while in Folkestone, Reverend Hamilton is feeling less lenient.

Singers ..... Nancy Cole, Ksynia Loeffler, Stephen Jeffes, Tom Raskin, Charles Gibbs

Written by Shaun McKenna

On this day in 1917, a funeral was held in Dover for the 7 British and 28 German casualties of the 2nd Battle of Dover Straits, while in Folkestone, there's a new start for Kitty.

Written by Shaun McKenna

On this day in 1917, six German destroyers attacked two British patrol boats in the early hours of the morning, and Sylvia Graham's patriotism is invigorated.

Written by Shaun McKenna

On this day in 1917, a special American service was held at St Paul's Cathedral to mark the US entry into the war, and in Folkestone, the new vicar's son, Noah Hamilton, pursues small acts of resistance.

Written by Shaun McKenna

On this day in 1917, a report from Russia claimed the revolutionary movement was spreading in the south with "tranquility" that was "almost miraculous", while in Folkestone, Maisie Harris searches for the still, small voice.

Written by Shaun McKenna

On this day in 1917, German strikers returned to work after protesting food shortages, and in Folkestone, Alec Poole offers spiritual sustenance to an unorthodox congregation.

Written by Shaun McKenna

On this day in 1917, newspapers reported that food prices had risen 94% since the start of the war, and Ralph Winwood returns from France to a Folkestone he doesn't recognise.

Written by Shaun McKenna

NOTES

Season Ten has as its theme the Church and Class. By April 1917, food shortages were becoming a focus of Great War Britain. In Berlin, the day before our season opens, there were food riots and strikes in protest against food rationing. Meanwhile in Britain, discussions were beginning about voluntary rationing for the upper classes, and the working classes struggled to afford what food there was.

Nearly three years into the war, with no prospect of peace on the horizon, and many, many families touched by loss and grief, the desire to memorialise the fallen took hold, and the debate about intercessionary prayers (i.e. for the dead) raged. Just after the season's close, the Archbishop of Canterbury controversially included an intercessionary prayer in his new prayer book.

Out of nowhere, on 25 May 1917, a fleet of Gothas attacked the South coast of Britain, specifically Folkestone, in the first ever air raid on Britain, causing the greatest number of civilian casualties of the war to date.

A special edition of Home Front: A LIGHTENING, written by Sarah Daniels and directed by Jessica Dromgoole, was broadcast as Radio 4's Afternoon Drama on 25 May 2017 to mark this anniversary.

Season 10 of Home Front is story-led by Sarah Daniels (THE CAZALETS, EATING FOR ENGLAND), and written by Shaun McKenna (THE FORSYTES), Sebastian Baczkiewicz (PILGRIM, MR RAINBOW), and Katie Hims (LOST PROPERTY, BLACK DOG).

On this day in 1917, America formally broke diplomatic relations with Germany, and in North Shields, Marshalls Munitionettes Football Team have a challenge of their own.

Written by Katie Hims

Note:

This day in 1917 marked the official formation of the Women's Land Army, and in Tynemouth, Dilys works out how to win her fight.

Written by Katie Hims