British Merchant Navy and war supply routes highlighted
The article notes the Merchant Navy’s pivotal role in wartime logistics. It cites the long supply line to the Middle East via the Cape, with 1941–42 activity delivering over three million tons to Egyptian ports and North Africa deployments using more than 10,500,000 tons of Allied shipping. A single night in March 1943 saw over one million tons moving from Gibraltar to Tunisia bases.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Britain
Southampton
Havre
Middle East
Cape
North Africa
Gibraltar
Tunisia
Perilous Task of the Merchant Navy in World War II
The British Merchant Navy sustained Britain's war effort carrying 77 million tons from Canada to June 1943 and transporting 206,000 Canadian soldiers. In early 1943 over two million tons of British shipping served the United States under the mutual aid agreement, with British transports also carrying American troops overseas.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Britain
Germany
Canada
United States
Merchant Navy prefixes aid to Russia and India through perilous routes
The Merchant Navy has carried vast supplies to Russia via the perilous Murmansk corridor and to India through a hazardous sea route. By end of 1942 nineteen large convoys reached Russia, with many more since, and a single Indian convoy had to be split across several ports due to its size. In three wartime years British, Dominion, Indian, colonial, allied and neutral crews logged over 125 million ship miles, underscoring the force's vital role in Allied victory.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Russia
Murmansk
India
Britain
Air Force
Navy
British Columbia
Prairies
H. R. MacMillan
Vancouver
Canada
Prices and Trade Board
Ingenious Passenger Extends Match Supply on Train
A clever traveler on a train shares a simple method to double matches by slicing each match with a razor to leave brimstone on half. The halved matches are thinner but still usable with care, effectively doubling the supply. The note also states the first zoo in America was founded at Halifax in 1847 by Andrew Downs.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Leeds Yorkshire
Halifax
Andrew Downs
Plastics From Farm Oils Highlighted For War Needs
The article notes plastics production from farm oils as essential for wartime equipment and future peace use. It cites soybeans and sunflowers as sources, with soybeans providing edible oil, protein feed, and potential plastic material. Soybean cultivation in Canada has increased to support waterproofing fabrics and oil production.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Canada
Britons Told Chewing Gum Won’t Change Appearance
The Daily Mirror asked the Royal Anthropological Institute if the American habit of chewing gum would alter the British profile. The Institute replied that Britons could chew from now until dooms day without any difference to the jowl.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
The
Daily Mirror
Royal Anthropological Institute
Institute
Solid molasses blocks developed for storage and shipping
The US Board of Economic Warfare developed a dehydration and drying process to turn molasses into solid blocks. These blocks can be stored indefinitely in ordinary warehouses and sheds and shipped and handled as general dry cargo.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
US. Board of Economic Warfare
Portable medical lab aids ships at sea for rapid tests
A compact 40 lb portable medical laboratory developed by the RCN research unit will enable on ship testing and diagnosis at sea. About 100 kits are distributed to test for tuberculosis diphtheria blood grouping and serum, and to purify drinking water in foreign ports. The piece highlights sea service life and naval support roles.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
RCN
There is strength in unity of purpose
A Canadian war era feature credits local lumber dealers with coordinating a unified effort to secure lumber for war needs. Faced with price controls and shortages, the Western Retail Lumbermen's Association lobbied Ottawa and won higher priority for grain and farm supplies, ensuring farmers could build granaries and housing to support Britain.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Prairie Provinces
Control Board
Lst
Western Retail Lumbermen’s Association
Ottawa
Winnipeg
Regina
Edmonton
Britain
Britain Finds Room for Refugees Amid Influx
The Foreign Office disclosed that since May 1940 about sixty thousand non British refugees have been admitted to various parts of the United Kingdom and arrivals continue at eight hundred a month. It also said fourty thousand Polish refugees are being removed from Iran to East and South Africa India Palestine and Mexico through the joint efforts of concerned governments.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Britain
United Kingdom
Foreign Office
Iran
East
South Africa
India
Palestine
Mexico
Sault Star
Cleaning lunch boxes for lunchbox safety
Advice for workers and children on keeping lunch boxes clean and fresh. Wash frequently with warm water and baking soda, then dry thoroughly to prevent contamination and odors.
Butter Shipments Ordered to Route Surplus to Deficiency
The Dairy Products Board issued a December 23 order restricting prairie butter shipments to authorized destinations. It bans transporting creamery butter in quantities over 1000 pounds from Alberta Saskatchewan or Manitoba to other provinces without board authorization and rescinds prior limits into Alberta and British Columbia. The aim is to prevent surpluses and move butter to scarcity areas.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Canada
Dairy Products Board
Prairie Provinces
Alberta
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
British Columbia
German Barbarians Destroy Russian Church at Novgorod Ruins
German forces reduced the Spass Nereditsy Church near Novgorod to rubble after seven and a half centuries of standing walls. Ikon faces and frescoes by historic masters were left visible among damaged stones as artists and scientists from many nations look on.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Novgorod
Old Russia
Nereditsy
Kiev-Novgorod
British Empire deemed indispensable to civilization
Allan Nevins of Columbia University argues the British Empire provided peace, order, and expanding freedom. He says Britain carried much of the burden of world progress, widened fair play, free trade, and representative institutions.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Allan Nevins
Columbia University
British Empire
Britain
British Eighth Army Drives Afrika Korps Across North Africa
The British Eighth Army advanced significantly, pushing the German Afrika Korps 1400 miles across North Africa, signaling a major momentum shift in the campaign.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Eighth Army
Afrika Korps
North Africa
Army Engineers Repair Bondsville Bridge for Training
Bondsville Mississippi finally secures a Swift River bridge repair as Army engineers, seeking a training project, join with local officials to complete the work. The town gains a usable bridge and the Army gains hands on experience.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bondsville
Miss
Swift River
Corps of Army Engineers
Grapefruit Reaches Florida via 16th Century Spaniards
A historical note explains that Spaniards introduced the grapefruit to Florida during the 1500s. The item highlights early botanical exchange and colonial horticulture in the region.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Florida
Also Mentioned on This Page
Merchant Navy
Vicki VapoRub
VapoRub
Vicks Farporous
G. W. Meadows
Bowsman Lake
Meadow
Polish Women's Army
Montreal
P.W.A.C
London
England
Poland
Pte
Alice Dziki
Manville
Alta
Ruby Soper
Arcola
Sask
Marie Za
L-Cpl
R. Wickbergh
A. Phillips
R. M. Burns
Medicine Hat
E. C. Brander
Lethbridge
F. G. Cassidy
Drumheller
M. Moynihan
Cwac’s
Sicily
Italy
W. G. Bury
J. A. Dougan
A. G. Cheshire
Ashmont
W. T. Davies
Genevia
Louis L. Melton
Atlantic
Pacific
F. C. Pickwell
Stoos
Éine Center
Miles Nervine
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!