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. During the second world war, you couldnt just walk into a shop and buy as much sugar or butter or meat as you wanted, nor could you fill up your car with gasoline whenever you liked. 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. The composite ration pack, or compo ration, was designed to feed troops in the field. Dominion of canada ration book 3 world war ii stamps. Every american was issued a series of ration books during the war. Records from war ration books for genealogy world war two. World war 2 ration books the war ration was not very high. Ever wondered what the distribution of food and other scarce resources looked like during the world war ii. What is the value of world war 2 ration books answers. To prevent hoarding and skyrocketing prices, the office of price administration issued 123 million copies of war ration book one, which contained stamps that could be used to purchase sugar. What is the value of world war 2 ration books with. An eager school boy gets his first experience in using war ration book two. 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.
Our ww2 ration packages are sold empty and ready for your choice of food. Canadian meat ration token tales from the supply depot. See all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. During the second world war, each country had its own version of a field ration. On august 15, 1945, world war ii gas rationing was ended on the west coast of the united states.
Bayonet training canadian army the war years i have tons of tales about those exciting times the world war two years. World war ii canadian food ration book paperback 1943. The value of a war ration book 3 is usually somewhere. War ii, canadian households had to fill out an application form for the ration book and. I write fiction with a focus on womens experiences during the second world war and the early 20th century canadian west. Such work was laborious but considered an essential war service. Of great educational value to those who have never lived through such times. Rationing became common during the second world war.
The most common war ration book material is cotton. We always have some small idea of what our grandparents and more. Canadas government was quick to realize in world war ii that a wellfed. Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 1942. At some point during the second world war, my mothers mother.
The war service records, 1939 1945 was published in 1947. The ration books contained removable stamps good for certain rationed items, like sugar, meat, cooking oil, and canned goods. The government introduced rationing because certain things were in short supply, and to ensure that everyone got their fair share. Rations for a soldier on leave soldiers on leave were issued with ration books so that they did not have to consume the rations of their civilian hosts. It wasnt until january 1942 when sugar was restricted to 12 ounces 340 grams per person per week as the war continued on. Find great deals on ebay for world war 2 ration books. Civilians first received ration bookswar ration book number one, or the sugar bookon 4 may 1942, through more than 100,000 schoolteachers, pta groups, and other volunteers 7. Make it do rationing of canned goods in world war ii. Homefront during the second world war, you couldnt just walk into a shop and buy as much sugar or butter or meat as you wanted, nor could you fill up your car with gasoline whenever you liked. Vintage wwii ww2 world war ration book stamps sugar flyer. Pearl harbor and americas subsequent entrance into world war ii, it became apparent that voluntary conservation on the home front was not going to suffice.
Meat rationing in world war ii the british columbia food. This is a reproduction of the standard biscuits and beverage powder tin from the mid to late war ration, composite compo ration. Jun 24, 2019 interesting question, since i have some as family heirlooms, meaning they are not for sale. During the second world war, canadians became accustomed to carrying coupons for most commodities, such as this temporary ration card. Dec 11, 20 11 awesome pages from world war ii ration cookbooks. This book of food ration coupons was issued to a canadian. This led to rationing in the soviet union, in communist romania, in north korea and in cuba, and austerity in israel. World war ii postcard comic a little behind on by paperofyesterday by catherine world war ii postcard comic a little behind on my mail 1942 vintage canadian rationing on. Canadian children and the second world war the canadian.
Common world war ii donations the national wwii museum. Canada was one of the first noneuropean ally countries to enter the second world war, however we were spared rationing for a time. These were redeemable stamps or coupons, and every family was issued a set number of each kind of stamp based on the size of the family, ages of children and income. Make offer vintage wwii estate lot ration holder enarco oil calendar army navy service book. Are world war 2 stamp ration books worth anything answers. 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. Palmer for office of war information, february 1943. These war brides were mostly from britain, but a few thousand were also from other areas of europe. Meat rationing in world war ii the british columbia food history. 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.
People who lived through the war years in the 1940s will be familiar with these ration tokens. Unlike great britain, canada didnt need to ration food due to shortages in production and imports, but rather because she was prioritising her output for the allied war effort and sending beef and grain across the atlantic to the uk. Our newest from the vault item is a meat ration token from world war ii produced by the canadian government for the second round of meat rationing that occurred between 9 september 1945 and 26 march 1947. While efforts were made to keep canadian troops supplied with fresh rations while in the field each company, battery or squadron had its own cookhouse, in the field, and especially when in contact with the enemy, this was not always possible. Dedicated to the canadian homemaker whose time is so generously devoted to the war effort, this book offered hints on keeping the family fit, how to stretch the meat ration, wartime ingredient substitutions, colourful salads in wartime menus, and desserts under rationing.
They were used in conjunction with ration books and coupons. It has my age, height and weight listed on the cover. During the second world war, canadians became accustomed to rationing, which forced them to submit coupons in order to. World war ii ration book three stamps these are the world war ii ration stamp books of young william walton smith jr. Rationing was introduced in the us during the second world war when the country was appealed to by the british to cut their. A look back at the canadian ration coupon books of ww2. Monday, february 26, 2018 by sarah sundin rationing of processed foods was an important part of life on the us home front. A woman flips through a rationing stamp book reserved for sugar purchases 1943. It was a difficult period for the united states of america as the resources were not as abundant as she has now. As it did after world war i, the canadian bank of commerce published a book after world war ii to commemorate those who served. No sugar could legally be bought without stamps, and sugar rationing would. Vintage world war ii era canadian food ration book. Records from war ration books for genealogy world war. Their book mccance and widdowson became known as the.
Canada ration book with ration stamps duringwwii, the canadian government felt it was necessary to ration certain staple goods. Curatorial has many ration booklets and stamps, but our education department is still looking for ration books. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Beginning of a dialog window, including tabbed navigation to register an account or sign in to an existing account. This is an original world war ii united states ration book, printed in 1943. We are seeking ration book covers manufactured by private companies such as banks and others. Ration book 6, issued to john douglas smith, 268 jackson street west, hamilton, ontario. Items accompanied by a world war iiera photograph of the person who collected the item, a personal account of any length andor copies of available service documents are more likely to influence an items acceptance. Young boy with war ration book two at supermarket, as children are being taught the facts of point rationing during war, washington dc, usa, alfred t.
What you need to know about rationing in the second world war. Wartime canada is a window into the canadian experience during the first and second world wars. World war ii 2 ration book no 3 family set partially used coupon stamp wwii us. Adolescents while younger children were preoccupied with many projects, there was a fear that teenagers might be corrupted by the lack of supervision during the war. Food was seen as a weapon of war so, as in britain, the canadian government took control of. Food rationing during world war 2 primary homework help. Army field ration type c bunit was one of the main mre components for the war effort. Each stamp authorized a purchase of rationed goods in the quantity and time designated, and the book guaranteed each family its fair share of goods made scarce, thanks to the war. Rationing was a form of price control often carried out to prevent inflation and extreme shortage of everyday commodities during a war. A difficult time for the united states war history online. It was introduced to avoid public anger with shortages and not to allow only the. Unfollow world war 2 ration books to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. During the second world war, canadians became accustomed to rationing, which forced them to submit coupons in order to purchase commodities that the government had designated as scarce.
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. Not knowing what it was, i had to do a little research. Not much, they have limited value as so many were issued. Jun 10, 2011 even though the war officially came to an end in 1945, rationing continued in canada late in the 1940s due in part to the fact that canada was shipping a lot of food and other goods to help out in post war europe, with the last ration book being issued in september 1946. The stiff navy blue cardboard token was issued later. It turns out that it is a meat ration token from world war ii produced by the canadian government. Shortly after the commencement of world war two, rationing was introduced in canada on january 24, 1942, to limit the use of imported food and to free up supplies for the military and their allies.
These were required before rationed goods could be purchased. During war, rationing was the only way to make sure everyone, including the rich, got their fair share. Good condition with most stamps still present in each book. Ration stamps became a kind of currency with each family being issued a war ration book. A person could not buy a rationed item without also giving the grocer the right ration stamp. The ministry of foods carefully formulated diet is generally believed to have impro.
Mar 27, 2017 this incredibly well preserved world war 2 u. They usually contain patriotic messages about their part in the war effort. The office of price administration opa was in charge of rationing consumer goods such as sugar, coffee, shoes, household appliances, and other goods during world war ii. Examples include the united kingdom for almost a decade after the end of world war ii, north korea, china during the 1970s and 1980s, communist romania during the 1980s, the soviet union in 19901991, and cuba today. Interesting question, since i have some as family heirlooms, meaning they are not for sale. Pricing depends on rarity, and they get more value, the more provenance you can document tying it to particular families, particular persons, and so on. Food and rationing summersides war effort during wwii. Four world war ii ration books for the patton children of halifax, nova scotia. Ask anyone who remembers life on the home front during world war ii about their strongest memories and chances are they will tell you about rationing. 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. Apr 12, 2016 the world was coming to canadian communities across a nation festooned with 107 air training schools and 184 ancillary units at 231 sites.
During the second world war, canadians became accustomed to rationing. I do not know anything else about this young man, or what became of him. Men, women and children stand in line for potatoes outside a grocery store in. This was done to ensure t was a large enough supply to meet both military and civilan needs. Instead, i checked out this great site which has a lot of information on rationing in canada during world war two. Ww2 war gas ration book canadian rations home front gasoline. But it was the shortages of various types of food that affected just about everyone on a daily basis. You see, the war caused shortages of all sorts of things. Learn more about rationing for the war effort during world war ii with research starters at the national wwii museum. Every man, woman and child was given a ration book with coupons. Shortly after the commencement of world war two, rationing was introduced in. Oct 27, 2017 not knowing what it was, i had to do a little research.
War brides also came to canada after the first world war. The term war bride refers to the estimated 48,000 young women who met and married canadian servicemen during the second world war. Did you scroll all this way to get facts about war ration book. Here i was all cleaned up with the new short pants and. On average, the canadian bank of commerce alone handled 20 million coupons a month. Make offer world war ii ephemera wwii war ration books acorn signal enemy equipment form. The war ration stamps are very common and the demand for them in the collectors circle is not very high. The ration guide was produced because of the need to control the distribution of staple food products during world war ii. Jun 11, 2012 ww2 war gas ration book canadian rations home front gasoline license. Ww2 war gas ration book canadian rations home front gasoline license. Jan 14, 20 the nations supply of sugar was quickly reduced by more than a third. As with such items as tea, coffee, sugar and butter, there was the necessity to ration meat. Part of an estate sale and war veterans belongings only one book like this is available.
Each tin contains a pack of salt biscuits and a packet of beverage powder. Between 1942 1947, the government issued four different series of ration books. Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 19421947. Toronto physician norman harris joined the canadian army medical corps in 1916. Childs ration book, used during the second world war. No matter the country, the contents of ww2 rations were similar, including some kind of crackers or biscuits, sweets or chocolates, and cigarettes.
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