Country and delivered one of the greatest speeches
of renown,
A splendid welcome to your town.
He’s done his best for our Empire,
The man his foes do him admire.
Even the King upon his throne
Is not afraid his deeds to own.
He’s done his best for England’s cause,
Then he is worth our best applause.
So when the Premier appears,
Give him three mighty cheers.”
David Lloyd George then stood up in front of a packed audience at the Grand Theatre and delivered what many consider to be one of the greatest political oratories ever heard on British soil. The Armistice two weeks earlier meant he was the man who won the war. Yet still he said: “The work is not yet over - the work of the nation, the work of the people, the work of those who have sacrificed. Let us work together first.
“What is our task? To make Britian a fit country for heroes to live in. I am not using the word ‘heroes’ in any spirit of boastfulness, but in the spirit of humble recognition of fact. I cannot think what these men have gone through. I have been there at the door of the furnace and witnessed it, but that is not being in it, and I saw them march into the furnace. There are millions of men who will come back. Let us make this a land fit for such men to live in. There is no time to lose. I want us to take advantage of this new spirit. Don’t let us waste this victory merely in ringing joybells.”
The Prime Minister’s next port of call was the Town Hall where he was due to arrive at 3pm. At the Council Chamber hundreds of people had gathered to witness his arrival. On the platform were members of the council plus Sir Charles Shaw Bart and Lady Shaw, the Honourary Judge Howard Smith and N. Neville (stipendary). Then at five minutes to three Lord and Lady Dartmouth, the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Birmingham Sir David and Lady Brooks, and Sir Charles and Lady Mander entered the chamber. The public gallery was filled to capacity and the chamber had been decorated with national emblems and displays of flowers. At 3 o’clock there was a cordial reception as first the Mayor, Councillor Jeffs and then the town Clerk, Horatio Brevitt, were followed into the chamber by the Prime Minister and his wife.
Peace
Upon rising to speak Lloyd George received a prolonged ovation. “Mr Mayor, members of the council and distinguished guests. Thank you for conferring the Honorary Freedom of the borough of Wolverhampton on me, also for the priceless illuminated silver casket containing the borough arms and historic motto. The war has been a hard fight and I thank you all that at its end you have been kind enough to acknowledge my small part in it. May I say, as head of the government from 1916, just how much we owe this area for the vital part it has played throughout what can only be described as a horrifying conflict. Local men serving in various fields of our armed forces have displayed tenacity, endurtance and distinction, attributes that have finally brought about freedom and peace.
“It is also important to record that this is not the only vital input provided by this unique region towards ultimate victory. The country required desperately the skill and knowledge of its workforce both male and female. I particularly recall that when becoming head of the new Ministry of Munitions in 1915 numerous very serious problems had surfaced in industries producing essential war supplies. Apart from the faults in manufacturing and quality of shells, the Nation was facing the huge task of re-equipping Britain’s armed forces as quickly as possible. As an example the government needed to fully equip an army that was twenty times the size of the one that existed at the beginning of the hostilities. It soon became clear that a great deal of the burden would fall on the Birmingham and Black Country population.
Responded
“That challenge could only be met by appealing to the patriotism of local workers and manufacturers, asking them to apply their energy, skills and strength in order to achieve that massive target. The whole of the Midlands responded nobly with the output and quality of military supplies and equipment improving to a figure beyond expectations. It was a privilege to witness people bending to the task especially at a time when things were not going well and criticism of the government regarding the shortage of shells was in danger of becoming a major issue for a large proportion of the nation. The amazing increase in the output of materials and goods definitely delivered a blow that shook the enemy. This means, by your efforts you have a perfect right to claim that men and women of Wolverhampton, Dudley and adjacent towns responded in the country’s period of need by working extra shifts for longer hours to ensure maximum output in the region’s industries.
“Just how the region’s workforce both men and women responded to the ministry of Munitions appeal to take on the task of working longer hours, increased rota shifts, accepting strict rules of working and suspending traditional union privileges on a temporary basis was to be an important factor in changing the direction of the war.
“Today I want to voice the gratitude of not only the Nation but also the Empire for taking on the responsibility of accepting those tough revised working rules and regulations that ensured the British Army became just about the best equipped in the field of combat. Because of my time at the Ministry of Munitions I have always been fully aware of that fact and the massive contribution of men and women of the Black Country to final victory after four long years.”