Wednesday, April 3, 1940 - Chamberlain gives Churchill more say

[Louis]

In London... There is a cabinet shuffle in the Chamberlain government. Lord Chatfield resigns his post as Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence; Churchill is appointed to chair the Ministerial Defence Committee -- a significant increase in his responsibilities. One of Churchill's first acts in his new post is to obtain final consent for the mining of the Norwegian Leads. Also, Lord Woolton become Minister of Food. Perhaps his most famous initiative in this office is the invention of the "Woolton Pie" -- intended to be a nourishing and appetizing use of ration materials. It will not be widely liked.

 

[Louis]

Also, Lord Woolton become Minister of Food. Perhaps his most famous initiative in this office is the invention of the "Woolton Pie"

As a dedicated, high profile Minister of Food (April 1940 - December 1943) Lord (Frederick James Marquis, first Earl of) Woolton was responsible for selling the benefits of rationing to the British public and educating it into better eating habits. Later in the war, with plentiful vegetables being produced as a result of the success of the 'Dig for Victory' campaign, some were used as the ingredients for the legendary 'Woolton Pie'. This particular vegetable pie recipe was made from potatoes, parsnips and herbs . Alas though, this particular dish never really took off with the British public.

 

[Louis]

Meanwhile, in my country ...

April 3, 1940: Former crewmen of Admiral Graf Spee arriving at the internment camp in San Juan, Argentina.