Portuguese Fireplace
50°52′08.36″N 001°37′26.81″W / 50.8689889°N 1.6241139°W | |
Location | New Forest United Kingdom |
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The Portuguese Fireplace is a
Plaque
Next to the memorial was a plaque explaining the significance of the fireplace which read:
This is the site of a hutted camp occupied by a Portuguese army unit during the first World War. This unit assisted the depleted local labour force in producing timber for the war effort. The Forestry Commission have retained the fireplace from the cookhouse as a memorial to the men who lived and worked here and acknowledge the financial assistance of the Portuguese government in its renovation.
In
History of the camp
On 15 February 1916, 18 months after the beginning of the
To save time, the Canadians brought over their own equipment and modifications were made to adapt to being in Britain. The differences in conditions were so great between Canada and Britain that it required highly expert knowledge to carry out the changes. This was done very quickly and few changes then had to be made again.[6]
The Canadian
In 1917–1918, the Canadian Forestry Corps received help from Portuguese labourers. A typical encampment was 4 to 5 acres (20,000 m2) in size. The camp was surrounded by four fences of various sizes and also included a
At the height of the camp's usage there were around 100 Portuguese and 200
Special arrangements had to be made so that Canadians and Portuguese got abundant food and the food they required as there was a difference in diversity. The Portuguese required a diet of largely fish, bread, potatoes, beans, rice and olive oil as well as green vegetables and onions. Eventually it was decided that Portuguese were better used for other work than timber as the workers found best suited were
References
- ^ "Portuguese Fireplace". New Forest Explorer's Guide. 2007–2008. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
- ^ http://www.rffs.org.uk/archived%20programmes/Programme_March_June_2008.html[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c Richard Reeves. Video Nation Archive:Portuguese Fireplace. BBC.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "History of the New Forest National Park 3: the New Forest at War" (PDF). New Forest. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 October 2009. Retrieved 17 August 2009.
- ^ "New Forest Focus 2007/2008" (PDF). Forestry Commission. 2007. Retrieved 17 August 2009.
- ^ a b c d e Bird, Charles Wesley; J.B. Davies (1919). The Canadian Forestry Corps; its inception, development and achievements. Prepared by request of Sir Albert H. Stanley. London H.M. Stationery Office.