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

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.