Home Front

On this day in 1916, the Triple Industrial Alliance protested the use of Chinese labour on ships without equal pay, and there are grumblings in the Belgian colony in Birtley.

Written by Sebastian Baczkiewicz

On this day in 1916, the German peace proposals were published in Britain, and in Collingwood, Adeline has negotiations of her own.

Written by Sebastian Baczkiewicz

On this day in 1916, the Committee for the Relief of Belgians announced that 8 million envelopes would be left on British Christmas tables for donations, and in Tynemouth, Alan Lowther has a lot on his plate.

Written by Sebastian Baczkiewicz

On this day in 1916, Newcastle papers condemned German use of "Belgian slavery", and at The Examiner, Edgar Bates' new reporter is not what he'd been expecting.

Written by Sebastian Baczkiewicz

On this day in 1916, the Women's Imperial Defence Council discussed fears of "the hidden hand", and at Marshall's factory, Martha Lamb is determined that the women's voices are heard.

Written by Sebastian Baczkiewicz

On this day in 1916, Lord Devonport declared in his maiden speech as Food Controller that rationing might be necessary, while in Tynemouth, Lester Reed is delighted with his lot.

Written by Sebastian Baczkiewicz

On this day in 1916, French President Briand dismissed Germany's peace offer, while in Tynemouth, Marion rekindles an old friendship, and builds a new one.

Written by Sebastian Baczkiewicz

SECRET SHAKESPEARE

On this day in 1916, Germany offered peace terms to the Allies via neutral America, and in Tynemouth, Geoffrey Marshall builds a new alliance with a New York steel magnate.

Written by Sebastian Baczkiewicz

NOTES

After two and a half years of war, and against a backdrop of the British Empire Union's "Intern Them All" rallies, anxieties about foreigners were beginning to simmer ever closer to the surface across Britain. There were real fears of a "hidden hand", networks of "Hunnish" sympathisers going up to the highest level of Government, with an agenda to destroy the country from within. Newspapers and politicians called for public lists of both naturalised and unnaturalised "aliens", whose patriotism was constantly questioned. In Tyneside, a crucible of foreign sailors, munitions factories and a tradition of dissent, paranoia about foreign bodies was most keenly felt.

Season 9 of Home Front is story-led by Sebastian Baczkiewicz (PILGRIM, MR RAINBOW) and written by Sarah Daniels (THE CAZALETS, EATING FOR ENGLAND), Katie Hims (MARTIN BECK, KING DAVID), Shaun McKenna (THE FORSYTES) and Claudine Toutoungi (SLIPPING).

SECRET SHAKESPEARE

On this day in 1916, the papers carried complaints about British men marrying German women, and in Folkestone, it's a day of secrets and unexpected joy.

Written by Sebastian Baczkiewicz

SECRET SHAKESPEARE

On this day in 1916, Lloyd George revealed 'There is no end of the war in sight', and in Folkestone, Isabel Graham summons her resolve.

Written by Sebastian Baczkiewicz