This website is run out of our own pockets and from donations made by visitors. I am writing a book on the scottish part of the second world war and i remember that the ration books had different coloured pages. Rationing during world war ii world war ii stories youtube. To help prevent a shortage of food and goods necessary during world war ii, the federal government began to ration everything with a strategic value. In the united states, nationwide food rationing was instituted in the spring of 1942, and each member of the family was issued ration books by the office of price administration opa. Coupons and rationing during world war ii dealhack. I do not know anything else about this young man, or what became of him.
The wartime memories project is a non profit organisation. Details of retailers are listed where the holder of the ration book can get their essentials. Before the second world war, britain was not selfsufficient in many materials. The ration book became the key to survival for nearly every household in britain. Before the start of world war ii the uk imported 55 million tons of food, a mere month after the start of world war ii they imported 12 million.
My childhood memories of world war ii, cambridge bbc. Anyone who did not live through the times of rationing and shortages of the second world war would tend not to realise that the austerity in britain continued in an even worse form for years after the war ended. These were redeemable stamps or coupons, and every family was issued a set number of each kind of stamp based on the size of the family, ages of children and income. I have yet to discover any other nation that had an official po. Wwii ration books utilised a system that ensured that everyone had equal amounts of food, clothes and provisions and were an integral part of the war effort in the united kingdom, united states and germany. The government found it necessary to ration food, gas, and even clothing during that time. Ration books were distributed in 1939 but due to a misguided and virulent. It was thought that even if japan does not fold now, the war will certainly be over before the books can be used. World war two ration book replica x 10 booklets copy of a ration book 194445. July 1940 tea and margarine were added to the list of rationed foods. Ration books and clothing coupons were issued to all, with adjustments to meet.
How the ministry of food managed food rationing in world. I have firm memories of my father growing a range of vegetables on his. War ration book and woolworth menu plus memories vintage type. Ration books worked on a coupon system, so people could only purchase their entitlement and no more. In 1942, five months after december 8, 1941 the united states entered the second world war, book one series were issued. World war ii rationing stamps program, 19431946 overview of the collection title world war ii rationing stamps program dates 19431946 inclusive 1943 1946 quantity 1 box. Jul 11, 2016 this meant planning meals carefully, being creative with menus, and not wasting food.
Consumers were allotted so many points that were recorded in these books. Hannah lewis evacuation ruth watson how did ww2 start. In january 1940, the british government introduced food rationing. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Childs ration book, used in britain during world war ii ww2 propaganda posters rosie the riveter battle of britain blitz world war two american history wwii united kingdom names wwii ration books. It was meant to ensure a fair distribution of food, in short supply due to enemy ships attacking merchant ships, preventing them from bringing supplies such as sugar, cereals, fruit and meat to the uk. If you are enjoying the site, please consider making a donation, however small to help with the costs of keeping the site running. Apr 19, 2012 rationing regulations for food and clothing were gazetted on 14 may 1942. It began after the start of ww2 with petrol and later included other goods such as. In 1939 only around 30% of everything brits ate was produced domestically the rest was shipped in from producers and suppliers around the world. When individuals received a certain amount of points for scarce goods, such as sugar, coffee, and butter, they could not purchase these items until they received a new ration book. Even though world war two ended in 1945 it was another six years before rationing came to an end in ireland on december 17th 1951. How rationing in world war 2 democratised the british table and made us all healthier 75 years since the introduction of rationing in britain, with obesity at record levels, we should remember. Jun 02, 20 what is the value of war ration book no.
Today, i decided to learn a little more about ration books because they are an interesting historical artifact in addition to being a useful genealogy aid. Our memories constantly play tricks on us, mine being worst than most. I heard a story recently about an incident at the end of the war. Meat rationing continued for 10 years after dday june 1954 in 1946, when food was just as short as during the preceding years, bread was added to the ration and the sweet ration. Should the uk government introduce rationing and enforce. World war ll ration book printable pdf teaching history.
The scheme was designed to ensure fair shares for all at a time of national shortage. Childrens ration books allowed them more of certain items, such as milk, but less of everything else. Oct 10, 2017 the weekly food ration for two people, uk, 1943 this photograph shows the amounts of butter, milk, bacon, lard, sugar, cheese, tea and jam received by two people per week in britain. Rationing in britain during world war 2 primary homework help. I have ww2 ration book, which was used very briefly.
Other meat value of 1 shilling and 2 pence equivalent to 2 chops butter 2 oz. Shortly after the commencement of world war two, rationing was introduced in canada on january 24, 1942, to limit the use of imported food and to free up supplies for the military and their allies. The goverment wanted to curb inflation, reduce total consumer spending, and limit potential shortages of essential goods, as in britain, by trying to ensure that there was an equitable distribution of food and clothing. Civilian peace time rationing of food may also occur, especially after natural disasters, during contingencies, or after failed governmental economic policies. The war ration stamps are very common and the demand for them in the collectors circle is not very high. Food rationing during world war 2 primary homework help.
World war ii ration book three stamps these are the world war ii ration stamp books of young william walton smith jr. Rationing in world war 2 australia deborah burrows. Unfollow world war 2 ration books to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. At the start of the second world war in 1939, the united kingdom was. Oct 10, 2019 before the start of world war ii the uk imported 55 million tons of food, a mere month after the start of world war ii they imported 12 million. In these parts there were not too many cars at any rate indeed you could count the amount of cars in the parish on one hand i believe so the petrol rationing did not have the impact that it. We lived in that same area when i worked for lone star half a century later. Perhaps your relatives received ration books during world war ii. Office of price administration book description washington, d. Each stamp was worth 1 lb of sugar and was given a designed two week period during. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front, 1942. More than 8,000 ration boards across the country administered the program. The ration books contained removable stamps good for certain rationed items, like sugar, meat, cooking oil, and canned goods. Print or photocopy onto coloured card and staple together.
Im sure there were shortages to starvation level in post war soviet russia but the official line was that rumours to this effect were antisoviet propaganda. This replica is faithfully reproduced by a professional uk printer, and is an actual copy of an original ration book from 19441945. That summer of 1945 ireland had experienced a tremendous amount of rain. The army and navy were growing, as was the nations effort to aid its allies overseas. Nov 07, 2012 today is day three of my wartime kitchen and ration book cooking challenge, and today is all about eggs and the recipe i am sharing is for egg in a nest. Wwii ration books are items of historic ephemera dating from the second world war. A world war 2 ration book template containing 12 pages and a front and back cover. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options.
World war 2 replica ration book money saving bundle. Purchasers had to present ration books with them when shopping so that the coupon or coupons could be. Those of us who dont remember the war may not think much of the sacrifices made by people at home, as thousands also died abroad. K leeds evacuation letters flora day welsh translation by iona venables the evacuation. Ration coupons on the home front, 19421945 duke university libraries digital collections. Once a persons ration stamps were used up for a month. Food rationing lasted for 14 years in britain, from 1940 until 1954. Basic foodstuffs such as sugar, meat and cheese were restricted and food was bought using ration books. A typical persons weekly ration allowed them 1 egg, 2 ounces each of tea and butter, an ounce of cheese, eight ounces of sugar, four ounces of bacon and four ounces of margarine. To allow food to be distributed fairly, ration books were used from january 1940, with tokens for various items such as butter, eggs, sugar, bacon and meat.
Uk ration books and uk id from ww2 i have mine my brothers and sisters have some there are plenty in the british museums. Before world war ii, keeping food on britains tables was heavily dependent on foreign imports. Still have my grandfathers ration books from the war such an. Apr 07, 2020 war ration book four, issued to the family of gardiner johnson by u. Rationing was officially started on 8th january 1940. I was 2 years old when world war ii started and i can still recall some of those times. How clothing fell victim to world war ii austerity in the summer of 1941, with the second world war at its height, president of the board of trade oliver lyttelton did.
Ww2 ration book for sale in uk 21 used ww2 ration books. Before the war, britain imported 55 million tons of food, a month after the war had started this figure had dropped to 12 million. During world war ii, ration books were distributed to families by the office of price administration opa to help regulate food shortages as a result of the war. Rationing in the united kingdom didnt end until 1954, 9. Jan 31, 20 antique world war ii ration books are not rare,antiques expert larry cox answers readers questions about world war ii ration books, blakely china and commemorative coins. Ask anyone who remembers life on the home front during world war ii about their strongest memories and chances are they will tell. The rationing scheme evolved as consumer demand for desirable foods outstripped supply, just as it had in the first world war. Dec, 20 a world war 2 ration book template containing 12 pages and a front and back cover. After the outbreak of war only essential foods were imported into britain.
With the onset of world war ii, numerous challenges confronted the american people. How gas rationing worked during world war ii hemmings daily. Living on rations in the second world war i was there ww2. Rationing was introduced temporarily by the british government several times during the 20th century, during and immediately after a war at the start of the second world war in 1939, the united kingdom was importing 20 million long tons of food per year, including about 70% of its cheese and sugar, almost 80% of fruit and about 70% of cereals and fats. For example, world war ii ration books include the persons name, age, address, occupation, and even their height and weight.
Rationing was regulated by the office of price administration and ration books holding stamps used for purchasing goods were distributed to all citizens. Ration book four also introduced red and blue cardboard tokens, each valued at onepoint, to be used as change for ration coupon purchases. The emergency powers act was repealed on 2 nd september 1946. But the fact is that bread was never rationed during ww2 in britain, although it was for a short. In order to conserve strategic war materials, rationing of commonplace items was instituted in 1942. Rationing was introduced temporarily by the british government several times during the 20th century, during and immediately after a war.
The emergency powers act was repealed on 2nd september 1946. Every member of the public was issued with a ration book. Each stamp was illustrated with a military symbol such as a naval ship, airplane, tank, gun, horn of plenty or torch of liberty, adding a patriotic flair. This ration book belonged to luella runck of oxford, indiana. With the pending capitulation of japan, the printing of ration books for 1946 was halted by the opa on august, 1945. We arent going to run out of food, toilet paper or. What you need to know about rationing in the second world war imperial war museums. World war two ration book motor cycle and motor car. Of the 180,000,000 printed, 123,000,000 were issued.
It worked well in the last war when food really was short and nobody starved. Orrs contention was based on his 1936 paper food health and income which coined the breathtaking myth that the foods chosen by rich people must be healthier, since rich people are generally healthier. He has to do a chapter on rationing in world war 2 and the school want the kids to include in their projects personal accounts of elder family members experiences of world war 2, as my family have noone alive today that was around in world war 2, i wondered if anyone who was around in world war two could give me some of their memories of. Below is a timeline of some of the things which were rationed during the war. Civilians still needed these materials for consumer goods as well. Initially used to ration sugar, coupons were later designated for other products. The only way to survive was to implement world war 2 rationing, and soon the ration book would become the most important book in every british household. Interestingly, the ration books issued during world war two attempted to capture these items. Could you tell me what each colour represented and also the actual daily limits of the actual product e.
Ration books sawar241 ration books search catalogue. Answered by a verified antique expert we use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. Should the uk government introduce rationing and enforce it by law. During the second world war, you couldnt just walk into a shop and buy as much sugar or butter or meat as you wanted, nor could you fill up your car with gasoline whenever you liked. With not a single person unaffected by the war, rationing meant sacrifices for all. The ministry of foods carefully formulated diet is generally believed to have improved the nations health. Records from war ration books for genealogy world war two. Civilians were also encouraged to recycle during the war. Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 1942. My childhood memories of world war ii neville j wilson.
Fleeing war on the last boat back to england i was there ww2 duration. World war 2 replica ration book money saving bundle of 10. In the uk, ration books wee issued by the ministry of food. These ration books were issued to doris and montague corri. Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 19421947. Did you know that these books could hold significant clues into your ancestry. Meat rationing continued for 10 years after dday june 1954 in 1946, when food was just as short as during the preceding years, bread was added to the ration and the sweet ration was halved. Every american was issued a series of ration books during the war. Individuals used these books daily to purchase rationed goods such as sugar, butter, beefsteak, and gas. A person could not buy a rationed item without also giving the grocer the right ration stamp. On august 15, 1945, world war ii gas rationing was ended on the west coast of the united states. What you need to know about rationing in the second world war.
The name and address details are left blank front of the ration book therefore students could fill in their own details. The great bane of the poor housewives was queuing, which might take up. Between 1942 1947, the government issued four different series of ration books. Four different series of war ration books were issued. Anne hayton rationing in wwii k leeds what was an evacuee. Of course even after the war things were still tight in the uk rationing went on thru the 50s so everybody put out extensive gardens and canning was a big annual ritual with the wives. War ration book four, issued to the family of gardiner johnson. Rationing of petrol began almost immediately just after the start of the world war 2 in october 1939.
Here are some facts about rationing during ww2 in britain. World war ii dot hullah world war 2 jobs hannah lewis who was anne frank. World war 2 ration books the war ration was not very high. Ration book four was printed in red, blue and green. Each page is separate so you can include what you need. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources. Rationing became common during the second world war. Links to 1940s newspaper clippings on rationing, primarily world war ii war ration books. Throughout the 1940s and for nine years after the end of the war every man woman and child in britain owned ration books of coupons for food and clothing. World war ii put a heavy burden on us supplies of basic materials like food, shoes, metal, paper, and rubber. Towards the end of the first world war, panic buying in the united kingdom prompted rationing of first sugar, then meat, for the rest of the war. Why rationing and shortages continued in britain after ww2.
1230 857 1556 630 46 1306 640 1075 1105 1182 260 1385 137 704 1503 484 1052 981 1159 601 263 718 1029 623 1025 495 432 143 823 170 314 1070