Bath's wartime salvage scheme

Bath, Somerset UK
Evidence of early salvaging can be found in the book 'Bath at War 1939-1945' by David and Jonathan Falconer, printed in 1999 by Sutton Publishing Ltd. A brief chapter outlines Bath's salvage scheme, which was important during the war years and went hand in hand with the theme of thrift championed during the war campaign. The more self-sufficient Britain could become, the less foodstuffs and raw materials would need to be shipped in from overseas.

Answering the call for salvage, local salvage shops and street depots were set up for the collection of scrap iron, bones, waste paper aluminium pots and pans and countless other items that could be recycled for the war effort. By spring of 1941 some 12,000 Bath households were aiding the salvage scheme and the city took top place among the county boroughs for general salvage collection.


Above: A salvage collection point at the circus in Bath. [photo. Bath at War 1939-1945]


Above: Photo taken from the Chronicle, the caption reads 'It's pots and pans that will go a long way towards winning this war. Any quantity of aluminium articles will be welcomed at the depot of the Woman's Voluntary Service.' [photo. Bath at War 1939-1945]


Above: A salvage scheme leaflet which was issued to all Bath households in April 1941 by the City Engineer. [photo. Bath at War 1939-1945]