THIS week in Down Memory Lane, we look at farming in Thurrock during the Great War, a century ago.

The need to increase food production as imports were threatened by the U-boat blockade, reducing the home supply, and the need to send food to troops abroad stretched the Thurrock farming community. Every parish in Thurrock had farming activities, with sheep, cows and pigs, through to market-gardening and cereal production.

Many local farmers had lost their horses as they were required by the Army, so for some ne w mechanical tractors were being supplied, some driven by the Women’s Land Army.

Many women had voluntaril y joined to help the war effort and were bolstering the labour suppl y to farms in the district.

By the end of the war, eve n prisoners of war had been selected to work in camps associated with their own skills .

Those with farming skills were “camped” at a farm in South Ockendon managed by Mr Mullins .

Interestingly, Farmer Mullins was presented at the end of the war with a certificate of thanks from the Royal Navy for his service in supplying vegetables to the warships!

An unusual fact about our ow n Colonel Whitmore, from Orsett, in command of the Esse x Yeomanry, is that he set up farming units in battlefields in France, in an effort to boost the local supply of food to the troops.

Unfortunately, the battlefront moved dramatically and the Germans reaped the benefits.

An exhibition, Thurrock’s Food and Farming in the Great War, is being held at Thurrock Museum in the ground floor gallery, researched by volunteers from the museum.

It will be on from Monday until October 2, so do come along and see what you can glean about this important role of Thurrock during the war.

DOWN MEMORY LANE is written by JONATHAN CATTON, Thurrock Heritage and Museum Office. Memories, photographs or objects relating to Thurrock’s past will be gratefully received for the Thurrock Museum collections. Contact by letter at Thurrock Museum, Thameside Complex, Orsett Road, Grays, RM17 5DX, call 01375 413965, make a personal visit or e-mail jcatton@thurrock.gov.uk