For King and Country: Blackmore During the First World War (Part 7): Rationing

Food Shortages and Rationing During the First World War

In times of shortages government announcements were made in church advising people to be sparing in the use of flour; police officers made door-to-door enquiries about the number of domestic and farm animals kept in order to “prevent unnecessary consumption by animals of grain and stores in any way suitable for human food”.

Rising Prices and Shortages

Reeve noted that the price of ‘The Times’ had increased to twopence in April 1917, and other newspapers previously sold at halfpenny now cost one penny each. “Mr Punch” from his long familiar threepence per week, had been raised to sixpence. This was due to the scarcity of paper.

In April 1917 the sugar ration was reduced from ¾lb to ½lb per person per week. In times before domestic refrigeration sugar was an important preservative.

Reeve informs his reader that (in September 1917):

“The scarcity of sugar is much felt by housekeepers, and large quantities of fruit must, it is feared, be lost through lack of sugar for preserving purposes.

The Government has now taken control, and by appointing agents in each district offices the public who make application within a given time a limited supply up to 28lbs for preserving fruit guaranteed to have been grown on their own premises.

Each application must be countersigned by a Minister of Religion, a Justice of Peace or a householder of standing”.

24th September 1917

“Fruit of all kinds has been abundant this summer owing to the genial and uninterrupted Spring. In other years the blossom would have been withered by successive frosts and perhaps only a tithe of the crop promised would be gathered. We have has more pears, and peaches than we could eat.

Numerous presents have been made to friends and we have today sent down a heavy consignment to Ongar, for use of the convalescent soldiers at the Budworth Hall Hospital.

Our apples are stored, and we have in the house as much jam from currants etc as the limited supply of sugar has rendered possible.

20th October 1917

“There is a marked shortage of certain necessary articles for the present. Tea and sugar, bacon and butter and lucifer matches are quite at a premium, but a system of tickets is in the process of arrangement.

19th December 1917

“Supplies of Horse-Chestnuts have been collected this autumn and sent to London, it being discovered that certain chemicals may be extracted from them for the manufacture of munitions which have hitherto been obtained from flour. The food-supply may be saved.

A ton of Chestnuts is found to equal half a ton of grain. We have lately sent some 5 bushels to the “Director of Propellant Supplies” at Westminster.

25th February 1918

Today ushers in the “Rationing” System for London and the Home Counties in respect of Meat and of Butter and a compound known as “Margarine” a substitute for butter.

These articles are only to be obtained from today on production of a coupon. The total allowed per week is 1lb of meat for adults and half the amount for children under ten years. Four ounces of butter is the limited allowance for such.

A little allowance of dilution of honey was served to me yesterday at Chelmsford in lieu of sugar with a cup of Coffee.

25th April 1918

More Potatoes than ever are to be grown this year and the Government are perfecting plant for the production of Potato-flour.

Coals are shortly to be “rationed” on account of the difficulty of raising and circulating coal. The public will have to “register” with a merchant, as in the case of meat or grocery.”

The Search for Marmalade

In June 1918 he tells of his quest to find a pot of marmalade.

“At Chelmsford this week I was unable to procure a single pot of Orange Marmalade at any of the Grocers, and there was an absence of jam, cheese and salad oil.

But the shopkeepers look quite as disappointed as their customers as they re-iterate time after time their entire lack of these coveted commodities”.