Memories of rationing
Rationing continued in Great Britain until well after the end of World War II. Clothing, foodstuffs, furniture - just about everything was rationed.
That great British standby “tea” was at a premium. Every leaf had to be imported.
Clothing was rationed, as was furniture under a national design known as Utility Furniture. People could purchase furniture only if they were newly weds, or if their home had been bombed.
Here is a typical ration allowance for 1948 - three years after the war’s end.
Bacon and Ham 2 oz. (57 gm) per person a fortnight
Cheese 1½ oz. (43 gm) a week
Butter/margarine 7 oz. (198 gm) a week
Cooking fats 2 oz. (57 gm) a week
Meat 1s. (5p) worth a week Sugar 8 oz. (227 gm) a week
Tea 2 oz. (57 gm) a week
Chocolates and sweets 4 oz. (113 gm) a week
Eggs No fixed ration: 1 egg for each ration book when available
Liquid milk 3 pints a week
Preserves 4 oz. (113 gm) a week
And these are the dates on which items came off ration.
July 1948 - Bread.
December 1948 - Jam.
October 1952 - Tea.
February 1953 - Sweets (Candy)
April 1953 - Cream.
March 1953 - Eggs.
September 1953 - Sugar.
May 1954 - Butter, cheese, margarine and cooking fats.
June 1954 - Meat and bacon.
So of course I remember some rationing, and ration books. It all seemed so normal at the time.
If my memory is correct sweets (candy) came off rationing for a while, and then was rationed again for a short while.
So I’ll take the February 1953 date (when I was 8, going on 9) for this memory.
It was a Sunday morning. My twin and I were walking to Eastville to visit Nanny Povey. We passed a “Newsagent, Confectionary and Tobacconist” shop on Bellevue Road. A sign outside said “Sweets off ration”. I had some pocket money.
But my family sternly forbade Sunday shopping. I discussed the matter with my twin, and with myself. Wisdom won and I entered the store to buy a Fry’s Five Boys Chocolate Bar.
But it was not for me. I was a people pleasing little bugger even then. It was for Mum. I remembered her stories about “Fry’s Five Boys”.
So after our visit with Nanny, I took the chocolate bar home to Mum. I was not chastised for shopping on a Sunday!
That great British standby “tea” was at a premium. Every leaf had to be imported.
Clothing was rationed, as was furniture under a national design known as Utility Furniture. People could purchase furniture only if they were newly weds, or if their home had been bombed.
Here is a typical ration allowance for 1948 - three years after the war’s end.
Bacon and Ham 2 oz. (57 gm) per person a fortnight
Cheese 1½ oz. (43 gm) a week
Butter/margarine 7 oz. (198 gm) a week
Cooking fats 2 oz. (57 gm) a week
Meat 1s. (5p) worth a week Sugar 8 oz. (227 gm) a week
Tea 2 oz. (57 gm) a week
Chocolates and sweets 4 oz. (113 gm) a week
Eggs No fixed ration: 1 egg for each ration book when available
Liquid milk 3 pints a week
Preserves 4 oz. (113 gm) a week
And these are the dates on which items came off ration.
July 1948 - Bread.
December 1948 - Jam.
October 1952 - Tea.
February 1953 - Sweets (Candy)
April 1953 - Cream.
March 1953 - Eggs.
September 1953 - Sugar.
May 1954 - Butter, cheese, margarine and cooking fats.
June 1954 - Meat and bacon.
So of course I remember some rationing, and ration books. It all seemed so normal at the time.
If my memory is correct sweets (candy) came off rationing for a while, and then was rationed again for a short while.
So I’ll take the February 1953 date (when I was 8, going on 9) for this memory.
It was a Sunday morning. My twin and I were walking to Eastville to visit Nanny Povey. We passed a “Newsagent, Confectionary and Tobacconist” shop on Bellevue Road. A sign outside said “Sweets off ration”. I had some pocket money.
But my family sternly forbade Sunday shopping. I discussed the matter with my twin, and with myself. Wisdom won and I entered the store to buy a Fry’s Five Boys Chocolate Bar.
But it was not for me. I was a people pleasing little bugger even then. It was for Mum. I remembered her stories about “Fry’s Five Boys”.
So after our visit with Nanny, I took the chocolate bar home to Mum. I was not chastised for shopping on a Sunday!
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