As we mark the 70th anniversary of the start of the second world war, the. Four different series of war ration books were issued. 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. The ration books arrived quickly and in perfect condition for use in a ww2 project at our grandsons school. Food rationing lasted for 14 years in britain, from 1940 until 1954. Everything seemed to be rationed or in short supply. Each page is separate so you can include what you need.
This article may feature affiliate links to amazon or other companies, and purchases made via these links may earn us a small commission at no additional. Home page ration book search why war ration book no. The ration book contained an application for canning and preserving that had to be sent to local boards before 15 april. 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. It began after the start of ww2 with petrol and later included other goods such as butter, sugar and bacon. Rationing is the controlled distribution of scarce resources, goods, services, or an artificial restriction of demand. Ration book four was printed in red, blue and green.
The set came to me as a 14 year old and while looking in the drawers i came across a ww2 ration book and inside were stamps in an envelope when postage was only 3 cents and post dated july 31, 1947 and a letter appointment dated 1962 with a 4 cent stamp with lincoln on it. More than 8,000 ration boards across the country administered the program. A ration book which was issued to the residents of the united kingdom during world war 2. Of the 180,000,000 printed, 123,000,000 were issued. Bbc ww2 peoples war rationing and wartime recipes p. This was sent to school with his greatgreat grandfathers honourable discharge certificate from ww1 and was appreciated by his teachers. A warning inside the front cover declared it illegal for the shopkeeper to accept loose coupons they had to be presented in the book to be valid. The paper stubs, or stamps, in each ration book purchased rationed consumer goods and foods. Ration book used during world war ii with sheets of stamps inserted in the middle. Ration books of world war ii arizona historical society.
The first two images explain how ration books were to be used. Between 1942 1947, the government issued four different series of ration books. Jim sherman received this ration book and stamps at 8 years old. Information stamps regarding to the name and location of food suppliers. Details of retailers are listed where the holder of the ration book can get their essentials. Fantastic books about women living through the second world war. In 1942, five months after december 8, 1941 the united states entered the second world war, book one series were issued.
Ration book stamps were torn out and presented along with payments at grocery stores and other locations. The c ration was the first serious attempt for a modern palatable emergency ration before the war. This replica is faithfully reproduced by a professional uk printer, and is an actual copy of an original ration book from 19441945. There is a note on the back of the book that reads. From january 1940, bacon, butter and sugar were rationed. This is a single replica junior ration book from 19441945.
I have a ww2 ration book holder and books from a family of 4, some of the books have. At the end of september 1939 our family were issued ration books. I remember in early september 1939 sitting on the lap of my twenty six year old uncle being read the. 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. These ration books were issued to doris and montague corri. Ration books, world war ii, original object lessons. With the pending capitulation of japan, the printing of ration books for 1946 was halted by the opa on august, 1945. 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. Bbc ww2 peoples war issuing ration books in the food office. Learn more about rationing for the war effort during world war ii with research starters at the national wwii museum. Ideal for school projects, events or for those with an interest in world war 2. The book contains pages of coupons for clothing, tea, sugar and food. The ration books contained removable stamps good for certain rationed items, like sugar, meat, cooking oil, and canned goods. 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.
During the emergency, as the second world war was known in ireland, every individual was issued with a ration. Eating for victory and over 8 million other books are available for amazon kindle. Ration book definition and meaning collins english. It stopped the resources running out during the war.
Once a persons ration stamps were used up for a month, she couldnt buy any more of that type of food. World war ll ration book printable pdf teaching history. During the emergency, as the second world war was known in ireland, every individual was issued with a ration book, and rationing continued long after the end of the war. Rationing was introduced to germany in late august 1939, shortly before the.
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. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front. Yet bagration, the biggest and most successful surprise attack in. Rationing controls the size of the ration, which is ones allowed portion of the resources being distributed on a particular day or at a particular time. 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.
One can only imagine the frustration of juggling all these different ration books in order just to get byhere is a wonderfully wry account of the. The opa accepted ration book applications and issued ration books, from which consumers tore out stamps in order to purchase food and other supplies at grocery stores. Rescuing texas history, 2015 and one other and was provided by pioneer city county museum to the portal to texas history, a digital repository hosted by the unt libraries. Rationing controls the size of the ration, which is one persons allotted portion of the resources being distributed on a particular day or at a particular time. War ration book one 1942 office of price administration. A message about food from the president of the united states in this fourth year of. Inside each ration book was tokens that allowed you to buy rationed items. During times of uncertainty and disruption, frugal, storable ingredients to make simple, nutritional recipes come into their. There are many forms of rationing, and in western civilization people experience some of them in daily life without. Im just reading all the light we cannot see, about a blind french girl and a. It was well received during tests, because it was better than the hardtack and ground coffee issued earlier. 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.
A ration of two pounds per person per week became effective. Illustrations of carrot in ancient manuscripts and early printed books. Identity cards had to be presented with the ration book to prove that the person was the proper owner of the ration book. The weird and wonderful rationbook dishes that helped britain to victory most watched news videos onlookers hurl abuse as twelve police officers fine two men. Everyday life in germany during the war haydn corper author. The inside pages of the war ration book number two. Ration book definition and meaning collins english dictionary. During times of uncertainty and disruption, frugal, storable ingredients to make simple, nutritional recipes come into their own. Add these 12 incredible novels set during world war ii to your.
War ration book one ration coupons on the home front, 1942. Did you scroll all this way to get facts about war ration book. This is the inside of the blue stamp book, showing the stamps eileen used to buy canned goods. A person could not buy a rationed item without also giving the grocer the right ration stamp. Eventually, most foods were covered by the rationing system with the exception of fruit and vegetables. Ww2 peoples war life for civilians during the war bbc. This is one of nine ration books salvaged from a skip in the town of ennis in the early 1990s. Using different coloured paper green,blue and pale brown and the below templates, children can create ration books for themselves and their family. Food rationing during world war 2 primary homework help.
Each stamp was worth 1 lb of sugar and was given a designed two week period during. 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. Rationing was officially started on 8th january 1940. Initially used to ration sugar, coupons were later designated for other products.
Ration book number 4 inside 1943 office of price administration private collection. History in ww2 takes an in depth look of the role of carrots in world war two, reviving its. During world war ii these items were hard to come by. The most common war ration book material is cotton. A world war 2 ration book template containing 12 pages and a front and back cover. Wartime nostalgia blinds us to britains changed realities mark. 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. There were also red stamps, not included in eileens ration book purse, used to ration meat. Corrie ten boom was born on 15 april 1892 to a workingclass family in amsterdam, netherlands, near haarlem. The coupons inside allowed the owner to purchase a small amount of different foods, clothing or petrol each week.
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. You would hand the token to the shopkeeper or the shopkeeper would sign the token to show you have used it. World war two ration book replica x 10 booklets copy of a ration book 194445. It was thought that even if japan does not fold now, the war will certainly be over before the books can be used. Bbc ww2 peoples war issuing ration books in the food.
Jun 02, 20 what is the value of war ration book no. The ministry of foods carefully formulated diet is generally believed to have improved the nations health. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. I have been reading this book to my mother who is almost blind and she loves. It will limit their purchases of sugar beginnning around the middle of march to 12 ounces per individual per week. Each book required different identification and some were more detailed than others.
Rationing is the controlled distribution of scarce resources, goods, or services, or an artificial restriction of demand. Here are some facts about rationing during ww2 in britain. It was where ration books were issued once a year and everyone who needed coupons if they were going away to relatives had to come in and youd give. Ration books were given to everyone in britain who then registered in a shop of their choice. Each stamp was worth 1 lb of sugar and was given a. Extra sugar for the important household task of making jams and pickles was provided if an application was submitted. Food rationing in britainration booksbuffcoloured ration books were for adultsgreen ration books were for pregnant women and children under five years of agethey were also allowed double egg ration and one pint of milk per dayoranges, when available, were for them alsoblue ration booksthese were for children between five and 16 years of agethey were. The name and address details are left blank front of the ration book therefore students could fill in their own details. Youll notice that they change slightly throughout the war. On inside cover is printed instruction on how to use your ration book. Find great deals on ebay for world war 2 ration books. How to shop with ration book two poster 19431945 office of war information national archives and record administration. On august 15, 1945, world war ii gas rationing was ended on the west coast of the united states.
Print or photocopy onto coloured card and staple together. Ration book four also introduced red and blue cardboard tokens, each valued at onepoint, to be used as change for ration coupon purchases. This meant planning meals carefully, being creative with menus, and not wasting food. 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. Jul 11, 2016 the ration books contained removable stamps good for certain rationed items, like sugar, meat, cooking oil, and canned goods.