Wartime brewing

1913 - 1964

Percy Beale Neame died in 1913, after 49 years at the brewery and, a year later, Shepherd Neame became a limited company, with all of Percy’s 10 children as the shareholders.

Further tragedy struck the family when, in 1916, Arthur died of pneumonia, to be followed by Alick only three months later. Harry became the sole managing director and was tasked with bearing the demands of the First World War and a government that was actively anti-brewing. There was a restriction on ingredients, taxation rose, prices shot up and building materials were scarce. There were labour shortages too, though these were often overcome by the employment of women.

The 1920s and 1930s saw a boom in profits and a new generation of Neames joining the brewery with Jasper Neame arriving in 1925 and Laurie in 1931. The growing demand for bottled beer spurred investment in the brewery site and public houses and a freshly established pension fund ensured that the growing Shepherd Neame workforce shared in the prosperity.

The Second World War saw the brewery depleted of staff due to military service. By 1940, 75 workers were away on duty, though production continued as beer was not rationed and indeed, was regarded by a now more pro-beer government as a morale-boosting essential.