In WWII, did someone secretly stockpile vast amounts of metal etc, which was then used to re-arm after the Dunkirk withdrawal?

[ricki]

Hello,
About 4 years ago I read a red A6 sized hardback book, titled approximated "A history of Winston Churchill in WWII". It described in one part about how after the Dunkirk withdrawal (Operation Dynamo), when Britain had very little resources, It mentioned one Lord that diverted military resources (metal etc) to a (I believe) private company (illegally but without anyones knowledge!). It then became a very useful resource and was diverted back for military use. I've researched and googled, but can't find anything yet. Max Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook was the Minister of Supply in that period, and he's recorded in Wikipedia and other websites as having unconventional methods, but I was looking for something concrete, and some more information. I've tried to find the book and also checked out book listings, but can't find it.
I'd be interested in any clues or answers!

[johnnybriggs]

Beaverbrook certainly ran a campaign for ordinary people to give up scrap metal such as pots, pans, railings etc. The railings outside of Buckingham Palace were removed for example.

The metal was to be used for the war effort but I'm not sure about private involvement.

The question is, was this metal actually any use? Or was it a morale building excercise?

The village where my grandparents lived tried to collect enough scrap metal to build a Spitfire and were very proud of their efforts but I have my doubts as to whether much of this metal would be any use.

There was a similar campaign in Australia mentioned by Clive James in his autobiography where they were encouraged to collect "Fat for Britain"- old waste cooking fat and dripping. I'd be equally interested in the effectiveness of this.