Sheffield Independent – Saturday 12 January 1918

“Invasion” of Mexborough

District Shoppers in Need of Margarine and Meat

The Mexborough Food control committee on Thursday and yesterday commandeered and distributed sufficient margarine to supply a quarter of a pound to each of 21,000 people.

The population of Mexborough is 17,000 yet there were queues in all parts of the town yesterday, many people failed to obtain a supply.

This is because places in the immediate neighbourhood – Swinton, Wath, Bolton, Goldthorpe, Thurnscoe and even Wombwell and Darfield – are badly supplied, and the population are turning to Mexborough in increasing numbers, greatly to the prejudice of the local people and the embarrassment of shopkeepers. Great numbers from Bolton and Goldthorpe came into town yesterday and studied the queues, principally for margarine, but also for meat.

Mexborough will continue to be subjected to these “invasions” until a scheme for rationing and registration, pooling and distributing is put into operation throughout the district. The town’s prestige of the shopping and supply centre is enhanced by current events, very small satisfaction in that for the residents.

There was a fair quantity of mutton and pork for sale in Mexborough yesterday, but very little beef.