WikiWirral Online with you since 2003, fantastic.
Forum Statistics
Forums65
Topics76,509
Posts1,034,178
Members14,906
Most Online113,173
Sep 9th, 2025
Who's Online Now
11 members (4 invisible), 9,441 guests, and 692 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters
sunnyside 45,164
MattLFC 22,315
Mark 21,269
granny 17,811
_Ste_ 16,347
Newest Members
Monkeh, Caro11, Monroe, jonmac, Rmad1997
14,906 Registered Users
New General Forums
Magnet fishing
by Dilly - 2nd Oct 2017 11:43am
New Wirral History
Looking for lost streets
by CloverBee - 12th Sep 2025 2:20pm
what was this building in Claughton Road
by derekdwc - 1st Sep 2025 12:10pm
461 Collingwood, Black Horse Hill, West Kirby
by diggingdeeper - 3rd Mar 2009 9:30pm
Top Posters(30 Days)
bert1 7
Topic Replies
461 Collingwood, Black Horse Hill, West Kirby
by KevinFinity - 13th Sep 2025 10:05pm
Looking for lost streets
by CloverBee - 13th Sep 2025 4:49pm
Temporary relocation of Birkenhead Market
by diggingdeeper - 12th Sep 2025 12:12am
Are there any grants available for a new boiler?
by tomcat77 - 5th Sep 2025 11:19am
Tree surgeon recommendations
by CarterUSM - 4th Sep 2025 1:24pm
Magnet fishing
by diggingdeeper - 3rd Sep 2025 1:32am
what was this building in Claughton Road
by diggingdeeper - 2nd Sep 2025 6:46am
What are they doing at four bridges?
by Excoriator - 29th Aug 2025 3:32pm
Purple Aki found dead
by Softy_Southerner - 27th Aug 2025 10:21pm
September
M T W T F S S
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30
Top Likes Received (30 Days)
Top Likes Received
bert1 29
Mark 4
casper 4
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#327360 11th Jun 2009 9:23am
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,811
Likes: 29
bert1 Offline OP
Wiki Veteran
OP Offline
Wiki Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,811
Likes: 29
I know this subject has been touched on in other threads but i just thought this subject deserved its place so members could record their own thoughts and experiences, also when we all use that phrase " I'm starving " think again.

Rationing was introduced in Britain at the beginning of 1940. Before the start of WW2 Great Britain imported 55 million tons of food, within a month that figure had fallen to 12 million tons of food.
On 29th September 1939 National Registration Day was declared and every household in Britain had to fill in a form giving details of all the people that lived in their house. Rationing was introduced to make sure everyone had a fair share of all imported goods and anything else that was in short supply and difficult to obtain. Rationing was not just restricted to food, there was also clothes, petrol, coal, gas and electricity. The coal shortage was due to so many miners leaving the pits and joining up and a lesser workforce had a snow balling effect. The government encouraged the population to grow their own, by using allotments and turning their gardens into vegetable plots. They were also encouraged to keep livestock, such as chickens, rabbits, pigs and goats, to be reared in gardens and open spaces such as parks.
It should not be forgotten the gratitude owed to the seaman of both services for the brave and dedicated role they played in keeping this country going in the darkest of times.
Below a time line of rationing between 1939-54.


1939 - Petrol rationing (ended May 1950 )

8 January 1940 - Rationing of bacon, butter and sugar

11 March 1940 - All meat was rationed

July 1940 - Tea and margarine were added to the list of rationed foods.

March 1941 - Jam was put on ration.

May 1941 - Cheese was rationed

1 June 1941 - Rationing of clothing (ended 15 March 1949)

June 1941 - Eggs were put on ration

July 1941 - Coal was rationed because more and more miners were called up to serve in the forces.

January 1942 - Rice and dried fruit were added to the list of rationed foods.

February 1942 - Soap was rationed so that oils and fats could be saved for food.

Tinned tomatoes and peas were were added to the list of rationed food.

By 17 March 1942, coal, gas and electricity were all rationed

26 July 1942 - Rationing of sweets and chocolate. Each person was allowed about 2oz (55 grams) a week

August 1942 - Biscuits rationed

1943 - Sausages are rationed

1945 World War Two Ends
Rationing continued on many items until 1954.

1948 - The end of rationing begins. It is another 5 years before rationing of all products is stopped.

25 July 1948 - end of flour rationing

15 March 1949 - end of clothes rationing

19 May 1950 - rationing ended for canned and dried fruit, chocolate biscuits, treacle, syrup, jellies and mincemeat.

September 1950 - rationing ended for soap

3 October 1952 - Tea rationing ended

1953 - Sweet and sugar rationing ends

4 July 1954 - Food rationing ends


Last edited by bert1; 11th Jun 2009 9:26am.

God help us,
Come yourself,
Don't send Jesus,
This is no place for children.


Bertieone.
Google Ads
bert1 #327361 11th Jun 2009 9:32am
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,811
Likes: 29
bert1 Offline OP
Wiki Veteran
OP Offline
Wiki Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,811
Likes: 29
Here is what was a typical weeks ration for an adult.

Attached Images
food.jpg (78.26 KB, 172 downloads)

God help us,
Come yourself,
Don't send Jesus,
This is no place for children.


Bertieone.
bert1 #327381 11th Jun 2009 11:46am
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,868
Forum Veteran
Offline
Forum Veteran
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,868
Thanks for this, Bert. It's surprising how long after the end of the war some rationing continued; it's a reminder of how much the war, even though we won, affected us.
Here's some scans of ration books. the first is inside pages from a 1945-46 book. The second is interesting; it shows the 1953-54 book of Hugh Swinstead as an adult & one from 1918 when he was a child. Rationing during the first World War was not introduced until Feb 1918 & books not issued until July of that year. The last scan is of a petrol rationing book from 1957, just after the end of the Suez crisis. Only one coupon has been used.

Attached Images
2009-06-11 10-52-01_0027.jpg (497.35 KB, 158 downloads)
2009-06-11 11-03-06_0028.jpg (537.76 KB, 159 downloads)
2009-06-11 11-10-24_0029.jpg (501.83 KB, 158 downloads)

Carpe diem.
chriskay #327519 11th Jun 2009 8:28pm
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,346
Forum Master
Offline
Forum Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,346
The hardship is still going on....SHE rations my beer!!!! raftl


IF IT HAS A HOSE THEN IM YOUR MAN

BETTER TO BURN OUT THAN FADE AWAY!
hoseman #327522 11th Jun 2009 8:40pm
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 19,446
Wiki Master
Offline
Wiki Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 19,446
What were typical ration sizes per person? In weƬght.

RUDEBOX #327533 11th Jun 2009 10:34pm
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,868
Forum Veteran
Offline
Forum Veteran
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,868
The amounts of different products varied according to supply. A typical ration per adult per week was:

Butter or lard 2 ounces
Bacon & ham 4 ounces
Margarine 4 ounces
Sugar 8 ounces
Meat to the value of 1 shilling & 2 pence (about 6p)
Milk 3 pints (1.7 litres)
Cheese 2 ounces
Eggs 1 or 2 a week
Tea 2 ounces
Sweets 3 ounces
Jam 1 pound every 2 months
Dried eggs 1 packet every 4 weeks

1 ounce = 28 grams
As far as I remember, bread was not rationed until after the end of the war.

These were the amounts to which you were entitled, but there was no guarantee they would be available. I remember often being sent to the shops & standing in a queue at the grocers or the butchers, not knowing what would be available.


Carpe diem.
bert1 #507451 24th Apr 2011 1:39pm
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1
Offline
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1
what was a unit of petrol entitling you to?

barry60 #507488 24th Apr 2011 4:35pm
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,868
Forum Veteran
Offline
Forum Veteran
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,868
Originally Posted by barry60
what was a unit of petrol entitling you to?


It would be a variable amount, according to availability, which is why the coupons are in units rather than gallons.
Welcome BTW.


Carpe diem.
bert1 #507544 24th Apr 2011 8:34pm
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 190
Enthusiast
Offline
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 190
A few bit's of war time paper work survive from my grandfathers firm.

He wanted the rolls on one of his steam rollers repaired and was told he would have to wait for an allocation of steel which he was told may take up to four months.
There is also a letter sent by a company in Birkenhead in which they say when he writes back to please include some paper for their reply as they have none of their own left !!.

There is also a few letters about fuel supplies for his vehicles when he undertook work for other people.
The fuel problem vanished so i was told when he started to do haulage work for the Ministry of Supply, they supplied any amount of fuel !.




Moderated by  Mod 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Random Wirral Images

Click to View Topic.
Newest Topics
Looking for lost streets
by CloverBee - 12th Sep 2025 2:20pm
Tree surgeon recommendations
by CarterUSM - 4th Sep 2025 1:24pm
what was this building in Claughton Road
by derekdwc - 1st Sep 2025 12:10pm
Purple Aki found dead
by Softy_Southerner - 27th Aug 2025 10:21pm
Are there any grants available for a new boiler?
by Longnails - 25th Aug 2025 9:34pm
For Sale & Free
Member Spotlight
Tranquil
Tranquil
Wallasey
Posts: 131
Joined: March 2012
Today's Birthdays
There are no members with birthdays on this day.
New Wirral Info
Are there any grants available for a new boiler?
by Longnails - 25th Aug 2025 9:34pm
A quiet drink.
by Excoriator - 16th Aug 2025 11:21am
What are they doing at four bridges?
by Excoriator - 25th Jul 2025 12:23pm
Temporary relocation of Birkenhead Market
by mikeeb - 29th May 2021 1:01pm
News : New Topics
Purple Aki found dead
by Softy_Southerner - 27th Aug 2025 10:21pm
Allotments Sell-Off
by diggingdeeper - 5th Aug 2025 8:27am
New Enthusiast Forums
Tree surgeon recommendations
by CarterUSM - 4th Sep 2025 1:24pm
Power steering line repair or fabrication
by phillhere - 18th Aug 2025 12:25pm
Popular Topics(Views)
10,585,659 CW Chat room thread
5,798,693 WIKI WALK CHAT
4,570,037 Spotted!
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5