The effect of the war was not felt until 1915 when it was declared that any serving member would not have to vacate his seat on the Council. In that year it was decided to hold a public meeting to see what could be done to raise money for the relief of the distress caused by the invasion of Belgium. This was to take the form of a house-to-house collection. Unfortunately, it became impossible to send it to Belgium and in July 1916 the fund became known as For the Relief of Distress amongst the Allies and was sent to the Helston Union Area Committee.
It was not until January 1917 that the War made a direct impact on the Parish when the Council received a circular from the County War Agricultural Committee and called a public meeting to explain and set in motion the scheme for ‘Tilling of potatoes, supplies of seed potatoes, obtaining gardens or plots and keeping pigs’.
A working party was set up and applications invited. 25 people with less than two acres asked for a total of 44.1/2 hundredweight of potatoes while a further 10 with more than that acreage asked for 71 cwt. These last claims were passed to the War Agricultural Committee and were not deal with directly by the Council. A further 26 applicants claimed a further 51 cwt.
There were further provisions under the scheme; any uncultivated gardens or land could be bid for by anybody who was prepared to put it to good use. The County War Committee had strong powers of compulsory acquisition and could exercise them if necessary. A total of 6 people applied and the Redruth Brewery were approached about the plots at Chynhalls, Coverack. The provision regarding sanitary restrictions governing pigs was waived and any cottager could keep pigs anywhere.
In November 1917 it was reported that Cllr Bonfield had fallen in battle somewhere in France and the Council sent a letter of condolence to his widow and children.
In July 1918 the Council was asked for information about accommodation for agricultural labourers. The Council replied that owing to the depletion of the population of the Parish, the housing accommodation was quite sufficient for present requirements.