The Second World War saw the disappearance from the shops of all but the basic necessities. Rationing of food and clothing was extensive and in October 1939 the Ration Book became a familiar sight to every family and citizen for the duration of the war, and indeed for some years after.

A campaign by the Daily Express newspaper brought a temporary postponement to rationing from November 1939 until January 1940 but on Monday January 8th 1940 rationing recommenced and each person was allowed a specific amount of the basic foodstuffs.

The following examples are typical of the amounts allowed to each person per week;

Meat - Between one shilling and two shillings per head (5p - 10p)
Bacon - Between 4 and 8 ounces
Tea - 2 to 4 ounces
Cheese - 1 -8 ounces
Sugar - 8oz per week

A complete ban was placed on the making or selling of iced cakes in July 1940 while in September 1940, the manufacture of candied peel or crystalised cherries was no longer permitted.

On December 1st, 1941, the Ministry of food introduced the points rationing scheme for items such as canned meat, fish and vegetables and this was later extended to include rice, canned fruit, condensed milk, breakfast cereals and biscuits. Everyone was allowed sixteen points a month, later increased to twenty, to spend as they desired at whichever shop had the items they required.

A 12oz packet of washing powder was half-a-month's ration, one egg could be obtained every two months and powdered egg could be purchased using your allotted points. Some fruits such as banana's, disappeared completely.

In June 1941, clothes rationing was introduced and a new kind of 'utility' clothing appeared, using cheap materials and the minimum amount of cloth.

There were even points for furniture although you were allowed these only if you were newly married, had been bombed out, or were having a baby. The rationing of fuel for cars prevented many people from buying them.

In 1948, three years after the end of the war, rationing was still in force with bacon, ham, butter, cheese, meat, sugar, tea, chocolates and eggs still difficult to obtain. Bread, soap potatoes and banana's were also still rationed at this time and in 1951 people could still purchase only 10d (4p) worth of meat each week.

Two new commodities were rationed after the war. Bread was rationed from 1946 to 1948 and potatoes from 1947 until 1948. The points system ended in 1950.

Rationing ended completely in 1954 after a period of 14 years when meat was finally de-rationed.

Reproduced with the kind permission of P. Risbey