Home Front

On this day in 1918, Totnes announced that the town had raised £24,000 in War Weapons Week, but not everyone in Devon is so supportive.

Written by Lucy Catherine

On this day in 1918, the National Federation of Women Teachers advised its members not to be gulled by promises of bonuses, while in Ashburton, Clarence Ogden leads the school assembly.

Written by Lucy Catherine

On this day in 1918, a registry office for boy farmworkers opened in London, and in Devon, Hardy Walsh finds his work more of a challenge than he expected.

Written by Lucy Catherine

On this day in 1918, the soft fruit harvest was reported at a quarter the yield of 1917, and in Devon, Adeline Lumley arrives hoping for a better return.

Written by Lucy Catherine

On this day in 1918, the Times published plans for Alexandra Day, a project to sell pink roses to raise £1m, while in Ashburton, Cora Gidley sees her roses differently.

Written by Lucy Catherine

Notes

The Home Front story returns to Devon, a county central to the country's desperate hopes for a good harvest, in which the upheavals and social schisms of WW1 were felt particularly keenly. Summer 1918 marks the point when Britain was on the brink of starvation, with the most important harvest of the war looming, both literally and metaphorically. Women, children, prisoners of war and wounded soldiers are all being put to work on the land. However, there are also those unable or unwilling to help the Government drive to feed the war effort. Dartmoor prison now houses 1000 conscientious objectors, much to the fury of local people with family away fighting, whilst at nearby Seale Hayne, a radical new hospital for shell-shocked soldiers has opened. Season 14 challenges notions of a harmonious rural idyll.

Season 14 of Home Front is story-led by Sebastian Baczkiewicz, and subtitled "Needs Must When the Devil Drives".

Lucy Catherine, Katie Hims and Sarah Daniels complete the writing team for this season, which will also feature the return of Anton Lesser, Matthew Beard and Maggie Steed, and guest appearances from Geoffrey Palmer, Mark Heap, Jonathan Bailey and Damien Molony.

A preview of Home Front's penultimate season which is set in Devon. Its lead writer, Sebastian Baczkiewicz, gives an idea of what to expect.

On this day in 1918, Lord Crewe presented 53 humble working Londoners with OBE's, while in Folkestone, Jeanie Jones, a working girl, is given in death all the respect she was denied in life.

Written by Sarah Daniels

On this day in 1918, a man received £75 damages from the man who seduced his daughter, and in Folkestone, Kitty determines to lead a less selfish life.

Written by Sarah Daniels

On this day in 1918, the German Army claimed 6,000 prisoners at the second battle of Kemmel, while in Folkestone, Edie and Dilys feel trapped in different ways.

Written by Sarah Daniels

On this day in 1918, the Reverend Sir Douglas Scott was given 18 months hard labour for bigamy, and Alec Poole risks ending up with less than one wife.

Written by Sarah Daniels