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This week we are going to look at shortages and rationing during
WW11. Naturally Australia wasn’t the only country to have shortages and
rationing.
After blackout rules became more enforced due to the submarine attacks
found and increase in the demand for torches and batteries. However, it was
next to impossible finding them.
At other times during the war there was shortages of a wide variety
of goods, including some items most people don’t think of such as flannel
underwear and woollen trousers, considered vital for men working in heavy
industries.
A chronic worldwide shortage of shipping meant many goods generally
imported were no longer available,
substitutes could be found for some things but often people just had to do
without.
Petrol was rationed and tyres
were hard to find as rubber was diverted to the war effort. Many cars were
converted to run on charcoal gas, these cars were hard to miss due to the big
gas bags on their roofs. Petrol rationing was introduced in 1940.
Also is short supply were
coins and by the end of 1942 pennies and half-pennies were almost unprocurable.
During 1942 rationing was introduced for food and clothing this meant having a ration book and coupons and in 1943 you needed a coupon for household furnishings.
Naturally this resulted in a
thriving black market especially in waterfront places like Newcastle.
Here in Newcastle, there was a housing problem as the house building was placed on hold during the war. Public transport was also in short supply due to funding and rationing of petrol.
As a result of the fuel issues
horse were brought back into service although fodder was also in short supply and
Newcastle businesses lobbied the government to provide rail wagons to carry
stock feed from country areas to keep freight moving.
I love those old housewives in the perfect dress and heels. 😄 It inspires me, but I am wearing sweatpants.
ReplyDeleteThey do look pretty but not at home comfy
DeleteThank you so much for reading my poems, leaving comments! It means the world to me. I remember at around age six how many things were rationed .. and my mother with ration cards and stamps.
ReplyDeleteFirst you are welcome and next I asked mum once if she remembered anything to do with the war but nope she didn't she was born in 1940 and at age four went to live with her grandmother in a small country town and maybe that's why she had no memories of the war
DeleteI was born after the war and don't remember rationing myself. But by 1950 my mother and grandmother were still not recklessly buying items that had been rationed before 1948.
ReplyDeleteI never thought to ask my grandmother about such things and now wish I had
DeleteA great lesson for those of us who were not alive during this period and take too much for granted.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah so many take so much for granted
DeleteWe were lucky ... we raised the beef that was rationed and used horses instead of tractors requiring fuel. I remember my mom talking about not having sugar.
ReplyDeleteThat is cool, my mum lived with her grandmother in a small country town, the grew their own veggies and had chickens and my had an uncle who had cows that supplied them with milk
DeleteThose were tough times for everyone all around the world. My mother and dad lived through all of that. Blessings, Jo-Anne!
ReplyDeleteTough times for sure
DeleteBefore my time, but my folks lived through it. Love the old pictures! :)
ReplyDeleteMy mom talked a lot about this time period--I found it fascinating! She came for a poor family so they really struggled.
ReplyDeleteInteresting read. In any shortage, Petrol rationing is always in the forefront.
ReplyDelete