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World War II ended in Europe during May 1945 and in the Pacific during September 1945. But austerity mnndated by rationing did not end. In fact rationing haf to be expanbded. The winter of 1946-47 was brutal, affecting hatvests. Bread and potatoes had not been rarioned during the War. Bread rationing began (1946) and potatoes added (1947). The de-rationing process began (1948), but only slowly. The rationing of bread ended (1948), r, clothing (1949), and petrol (1950). Britain was so weakened by the War, that food and clothes continued to be rationed for such a long period after the War. Faced with postwar shortages and the problems of reconstruction, Attlee's government encountered severe financial difficulties, despite American assistance. Rationing continued to be a necessity, economic recovery was slow, and the cost of rearmament increased the strains on the economy.
Rationing was still in effect when Elizabeth II came to the throne. In one village, where every Coronation since perhaps the 13th Century had been celebrated with a community Ox Roast, special dispensation had to be obtained for the 1953 event! Here we see children in front of a 'ration free' candy shop in 1949 (figure 1). This we do not understand because sugar rationing was bot ended until much later (1953). Meat was the last item to remain rationed. It only became freely available until the following year (July 1954). Actually, rationing was resumed (late-1956). Petrol rationing was re-introduced during the Suez Crisis. It finally ended (May 1957).
One author who has written on the English rationing program wonders if it was necessary to continue rationing into the 1950s, but does not provide any sophisticated economic assessment to answer the question. A major issue was why did the Btitish have to continue rationing. Several factors were involved. It is difficult to assess the reltive importance of these fctors. First, was Britain's continued imperial commitments and desire to maintain the Empire. Second was a desire to maintain continue its big power status. Continuing commitments in Cyprus, Greece, Malaysia, Palestine, and other places proved very costly to adminster. Many of these commitments were a part of Britain's role in the Cold War. Unlike many colonies, these commitments did not involve any offsetting income. Third, the occupation of Germany was very expensive. Germany had to be fed. Fourth is an issue that many historians because of their liberal orientation do not like to duscuss is the failure of the Labour Party's economomic management. The post-war rationing was much more unpopular than during the War when people saw a need for it. In the end, rationing was a major factor in the falling populatity of the Labour Government (1950) and then its electoral defeat (1951). [Zweiniger-Bargielowska] Clothes rationing in England ended in 1949. Food continued to be rationed until 1954 when meat at last came off the ration--9 years after the end of World War II. What was difficult for the British public to accept is that rationing ended in defeated Germany 4 years earlier (1950).
World War II ended in Europe during May 1945 and in the Pacific during September 1945. But austerity mandated by rationing did not end. Everything that Brutins wanted contunued to be rationedd: Bacon and meat, dairy (butter, cheesem, eggs, amd margerine), and cooking fat. And perhaps most irritaging of all--tea. The British were never kacking in calories, it was the food items that made the food appetising that had to be ratiined. All of this was available on the black market conducted by 'spivs', but very exoensive. In fact rationing haf to be expanbded. The winter of 1946-47 was brutal, affecting hatvests. Bread and potatoes had not been rarioned during the War. Bread rationing began (1946) and potatoes added (1947).
The de-rationing process began (1948), but only slowly. The rationing of bread ended (1948), r, clothing (1949), and petrol (1950). Britain was so weakened by the War, that food and clothes continued to be rationed for such a long period after the War. Faced with postwar shortages and the problems of reconstruction, Attlee's government encountered severe financial difficulties, despite American assistance. Rationing continued to be a necessity, economic recovery was slow, and the cost of rearmament increased the strains on the economy. Rationing was still in effect when Elizabeth II came to the throne. In one village, where every Coronation since perhaps the 13th Century had been celebrated with a community Ox Roast, special dispensation had to be obtained for the 1953 event! Here we see children in front of a 'ration free' candy shop in 1949 (figure 1). This was was an sbirted effort to de-ration sugar (1949). It only lasted for 4 months. Demand swamped supply. Manufacturers were allocated an increased quantities of sugar –- which remained rationed – to meet the expected demand Thedy still had only half of their pre-war sugar supply. Sugar rationing was not finally ended until (1953). Meat was the last item to remain rationed. It only became freely available until the following year (July 1954). Actually, rationing was resumed (late-1956). Petrol rationing was re-introduced during the Suez Crisis. It finally ended (May 1957).
here were various sources of non-rationed food. The most important for children was school feeding programs. A Brotish contributor after the war recalls, "Infants (meaning kinsrgaten and eraly primary) had a spoon of codliver oil each day. Infants also had a sleep after lunch on camp beds. I recall staying at school for school lunch but at some point I also returned to my child minder's home for dinner (lunch). I was between 7 and 8 years old at the time. We had a mid morning bottle of milk. School did not always have kitchens. School dinner (lunch) arrived in large thermos canisters which kept the food hot. Food delivery arrived about 11:30. There was nothing in the afternoon other than the water fountain. When I moved to another school it was too far to return home for lunch so I stayed at school for lunch. Period 1950 to 1963. Here are a few photographs about rationing in WW2. These are high resolution so when you open them they will be quite large. I thought this size would enable you to zoom in and read the labels by each item.
I liked my school dinner. It was a two course meal. A mains and a dessert.
Of the 5 lunches I had each week Friday was the most difficult. It was the meatless day. It was fish on week and cheese pie another. The fish I can still see in my mind and taste it. This was ok but it was the cheese pie I did not like. To this day I will not make cheese pie or buy it ready to eat. Dessert was often liked but not prunes ( despite their goodness) even now I do not think of making a prune dessert.
some times there was still food not served so if you wanted a second helping you could have it. This was often the main course but not the dessert.
I hit on a plan to have extra dessert if there was a few servings left. The dinner ladies were busy washing up and they let me take the bucket of waste food to the pig bin ( a local farmer collected it to feed his pigs) in return I was given a sweet or a pie to eat. Another way to have a bigger helping was to be the table captain. This meant that one collected the food for those on your table as well as keeping discipline. I got a bigger helping for having this duty.
You took dinner money to school on Monday morning. It was 2'6 ( now 16p decimal) It would then be 25Cents in your currency. There were children on free meals but we did not isolate and we played together in harmony.
I had my culinary knowledge widened when potatoes were expensive so other food items were introduced. I was shocked on lunch time to see rice in the main course. Rice was used to make rice pudding and not something served with meat. I was a reluctant eater of this new food and found I liked it. Grumbled at the time!
We complained because chips were not served. We had what was called a proper dinner of nourishing food." [Ferguson]
One author who has written on the English rationing program wonders if it was necessary to continue rationing into the 1950s, but does not provide any sophisticated economic assessment to answer the question.
A major issue was why did the Btitish have to continue rationing. Several factors were involved. It is difficult to assess the reltive importance of these fctors. First, was Britain's continued imperial commitments and desire to maintain the Empire. Second was a desire to maintain continue its big power status. Continuing commitments in Cyprus, Greece, Malaysia, Palestine, and other places proved very costly to adminster. Many of these commitments were a part of Britain's role in the Cold War. Unlike many colonies, these commitments did not involve any offsetting income. Third, the occupation of Germany was very expensive. Germany had to be fed. Fourth is an issue that many historians because of their liberal orientation do not like to duscuss is the failure of the Labour Party's economomic management.
The post-war rationing was much more unpopular than during the War when people saw a need for it. In the end, rationing was a major factor in the falling populatity of the Labour Government (1950) and then its electoral defeat (1951). [Zweiniger-Bargielowska] Clothes rationing in England ended in 1949. Food continued to be rationed until 1954 when meat at last came off the ration--9 years after the end of World War II. What was difficult for the British public to accept is that rationing ended in defeated Germany 4 years earlier (1950). The Conservatives seized on this and campsigned on quick end to rationing in the 1951 campaign. Minister for Food Major Gwilym Lloyd-George was assugned to carry out the whole process.
Ferguson, William. E-Mail message (January 27, 2023).
Guppy, Alice. Children's Clothes 1939-1970 (Blandford Press: Poole, Dorset, 197?) There is a good description of the regulations and the advent of common sense in Guppy's book.
Zweiniger-Bargielowska, Ina. Austerity in Britain: Rationing, Controls, and Consumption 1939-1955 (Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 2000), 286 p.
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