The Fiddlers; Drink in the Witness Box

A stirring wartime essay confronts listeners with the stark reality of Britain’s home front during the Great War. Written in a direct, courtroom‑like voice, it charges the nation’s alcohol trade with feeding famine, slowing supplies, and even lengthening the conflict. The author weaves together striking statistics about destroyed food cargoes, soaring consumption, and the hidden cost of drunkenness on the war effort. By framing the debate as a trial, the piece forces the public to weigh moral responsibility against survival.

The narrative blends impassioned rhetoric with vivid snapshots of daily life—crowded pubs, ration queues, and the looming threat of German submarines. It urges citizens to consider how a single habit can undermine a nation’s resolve and endanger lives. Listeners will hear a compelling call for collective action, urging temperance as a patriotic duty. The work captures a moment when ordinary choices were cast as matters of national security, offering a powerful glimpse into the social pressures that shaped wartime Britain.