Records of First World War Departments and of the Ministry of Munitions

Division within BT

1912-1940

Records of First World War Departments of the Board of Trade and of the Ministry of Munitions relating to specific war time responsibilities.

• Enemy Debts Clearing Office, BT 203
• Ministry of Reconstruction, BT 67
• Optical Instruments and Glassware Section and of the Potash Section of the Ministry of Munitions, BT 66
• Profiteering Act Department, BT 68
• Reparation Claims Department, BT 102
• Timber Supply and Timber Disposal Departments, BT 71

For records of the Coal Mines Department see:

POWE 26

POWE 16

POWE 20

POWE 22

Public Record(s)

English

6 series

Topics

Trade and commerce

Conflict

Weapons

Debt

Forestry

Operations, battles and campaigns

During the First World War several temporary departments and other bodies were set up within the Board of Trade or under its supervision to deal with special functions arising from the war and its immediate aftermath. A number of departments were taken over from the Ministry of Munitions as it was wound up in 1919.

On 1 March 1917 the coalfields were taken over by the government and the production, distribution and price of coal, the management and development of collieries and the employment of miners were made subject to the direction of a coal controller, who worked through a Coal Mines Department of the board. It was wound up in 1920, when its remaining functions passed to the Mines Department.

The Electric Power Supply Department, established by the Ministry of Munitions in June 1916, was transferred to the Board of Trade in April 1919 and continued to exist until the board's electricity functions were transferred to the Ministry of Transport.

Other Board of Trade First World War Departments include the Timber Supply and Timber Disposal Departments, the Optical Instruments and Glassware and Potash Sections, the Enemy Debts Clearing Office, the Reparation Claims Department and the Profiteering Act Department.