大象传媒

I was born in the middle of the war so I have no real memory of that time.
My older sisters would tell me of how they had to queue for many fresh items when they appeared in the shops. It was amazing how quickly word got around this small village, and how the housewives would rush to the shops to try and be first to get the pick of what was available.
Even after the war, rationing went on for a number of years, for food, certain clothes and most of all sweets. To be able to buy 2 ounces of sweets you had to produce a coupon. I wonder if today鈥檚 generation would be able to cope with rationing especially of sweets.
My mother would swap some of her margarine with her neighbour for sugar. As a child I would knock on her door and tell her my mother sent this for her and we would exchange.
During and after the war essential food supplies were very scarce, so ration books were supplied for each family. Expectant mothers were allowed extra coupons during their pregnancies. The amount of rations allowed was dependent on the number in your family. These books entitled you to a certain amount of meat, eggs, fats, cheese, bacon, sugar and tea. The tokens in these books entitled the bearer to exchange with the right amount of money for the food required. They had no monetary value only food value.
Clothing also began to be rationed, which affected women more than men. It was known for a number of women to make their wedding dress out of the silk of an obsolete parachute. Nylon stockings also posed a problem, but women were very resilient in those days and would improvise with what they had. Many people would painstakingly undo old knitted garments and re knit them to make them usable again.
During the war years every person had to carry an identity card. This contained your name, address, number, where you were registered and also your signature.
People were asked to support the war effort, so children would save their half pennies, give them to their teachers in school, to be passed on to the relevant authorities. The children were given a certificate stating the person has helped to provide comfort and contentment to the sailors, soldiers and airmen of the British Commonwealth. The children were very proud at receiving these certificates. Many of these families were unable to afford the half pennies to give.

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