Rationing was introduced temporarily by the British government several times during the 20th century, during and after the Wars.

At the start of the Second World War in 1939, Britain imported about 70% of its cheese and sugar, nearly 80% of fruits, 70% of cereals and fats and 50% of its meat, to feed its population of 50 million. One of the main aims of the Germans in the Battle of the Atlantic was to attack ships bound for Britain, and starve the nation into defeat.

To deal with shortages, the Ministry of Food started rationing. Each person was provided with a ration book containing coupons. Shoppers had to take ration books with them when shopping, so that the relevant coupons could be cancelled.

Petrol was the first commodity to be rationed, followed by bacon, butter and sugar, meat, tea, jam, biscuits, breakfast cereals, cheese, eggs, lard, milk, and canned and dried fruit. Almost all foods apart from vegetables and bread were rationed by August 1942. Strict rationing created a black market. Fresh vegetables and fruit were not rationed, but supplies were limited. Lemons and bananas disappeared for most of the war; oranges were available but greengrocers reserved them for children and pregnant women. Many grew their own vegetables, encouraged by the ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign. Clothes, soap, paper & coal were rationed later.

Surprisingly, rationing improved the health of theBritish; infant mortality declined and life expectancy of civilians rose. This was because it ensured that everyone ate a varied diet with enough vitamins. The diet eaten by most people in Britain during the Second World War was far healthier than many diets in the 21st century; with far less sugar, fat & salt.

This ration book shows that rationing did not stop when the War finished in 1945; it finally ended in July 1954.