Wartime Rationing:
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During the Second World War, the Government introduced food
rationing to ensure that everyone received their fair share of the
limited food that was available. Introduced in 1940 rationing finally ended in
1954, nine years after the war had ended! Although, to be fair during that period
many foodstuffs had come of the ration.
The food ration varied during the war and additional allowances were
given to certain groups. Each person was given a ration book and a
points system was introduced for unrationed food. Each person was
allocated a number of points and a selected range of foods were given a
points value. The consumer could choose how to spend these points. Many
people were better fed during the war than they were before it, infant
mortality rates declined and the average age at which people died of
natural causes increased.
The wartime shortages forced people to adopt new eating patterns, people
now ate less meat, fats, eggs and sugar than they did before. People
with a poor diet before the war were able to increase their intake of
protein and vitamins as they received the same rations as everyone else.
Young children, expectant and nursing mothers received cod-liver oil,
orange juice and milk from Welfare Clinics. When oranges were available
children under six years old were entitled to receive one pound (lb)
each week. The general health of children improved and on average they
were taller and heavier than children born before the war. |
8 January 1940 -
Bacon, butter and sugar rationed
11 March 1940 - All
meat rationed
July 1940 - Tea and
margarine rationed
March 1941 - Jam
rationed
May 1941 - Cheese
rationed
1 June 1941 -
Clothing rationed and coupons
issued
June 1941 - Eggs
rationed
July 1941 - Coal
rationed
January 1942 - Rice
and dried fruit rationed
February 1942 - Soap
rationed. Tinned tomatoes and
peas rationed
March 1942, gas and
electricity rationed
26 July 1942 - Sweets
and chocolate rationed
August 1942 -
Biscuits rationed
1943 - Sausages
rationed |
Two ration books from the 1953-1954 period have survived in the
family and these are shown below. |
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My grandmothers ration book 1953-1954 |
My grandfathers ration book from 1953-1954 |
Reproduction war-time ration book |
My grandfathers ration book from 1953-1954 is shown
below and is identical to that of my grandmother. Use the scroll bar to
move through the various pages. Not all items shown in the book were
still on ration in 1953-1954, tea rationing ended in 1952 with sugar and
sweets coming off ration in 1953. All food rationing ended on the 4th
July 1954 - 9 years after the war ended. |
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Use the scroll bar to move through the pages of the
Ration Book. |
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