Rationing

I have been posting on one of my history forums – Birmingham History Forum – they discuss all sorts there but I just loooorve looking at the old photos.  Someone came on to discuss Rationing during WWII and, not that I was alive at this time, I do have some Ration Books from just after the war had finished.  I have been scanning and posting and having a lovely time.  Here's a few photos.

 

Apparently the coupons were cut out by the grocer and exchanged for commodities. 

I remember seeing on the web a cookery book from those times, issued to help out I suppose. 

My Mother came back to Birmingham at the outbreak of war, she was sent home to England from Gibraltar where the family were living at the time.  She had nowhere to go so had to move back with Grandad and Nanna, who lived in a two up two down house so I don't know how they coped.

I heard stories of course, hiding in the pantry when the siren sounded and one time sitting under the table!!

My Grandad told me that the hole in his left arm was from the war.  He was sitting in the back room when a bomb hit the house on the hill and a piece of shrapnel went in his arm.  They lived at the bottom of the hill in a very quiet road, as I have described.  I don't know how this metal could have travelled so far but I have never known my Grandad to lie.

Yesterday, while on the Forum, someone had posted a link to bombing raids and so I entered Grandad's surname and, lo and behold! up came his name with a detailed report on the night's bombings.

Amazing to find his name just like that!!

John French (Civilian)

Injured during an attack on

70 Blythesford Road, Hall Green,  19 November 1940

Selly Oak Hospital West Midlands Police Records

Raid 43 -19th /20th November 1940

Air Raid Warning Red was received at 6.50 p.m. on Tuesday 19th November and White at 4.29 a.m. on Wednesday 20th November. During this period an intense raid was made on all districts of the City. (C District - Gerrard Street, George Street Garage, ICI Witton;, D-Division - Nechells Gas Company, GEC, Hughes, BBC, Queen Street, Aston Hall Road; E-Division - Coventry Road, Stratford Road) The areas least affected were Kingstanding, Harborne, Northfield, Kings Norton, Stechford, Kings Heath. 18 Parachute mines (4 unexploded), 677 High Explosive, including about 42 Delayed Action type, 243 Incendiary Bomb incidents have been reported. 17 of the incendiary bombs were of the oil type. The first report of a bomb being dropped was at 7.25 p.m. Extensive damage to property was caused by exploding parachute mines, High Explosive bombs and fires. About 100 factories were damaged, including 25 important places. 8 large and 50 subsidiary water mains were broken or damaged, and approximately 150 gas mains were damaged during the raid. Casualties (approximately) 400 fatal, 540 seriously wounded and 540 slightly injured. The following police stations were damaged: Lozell’s Road - Inspectors House was damaged by blast from a High Explosive bomb exploding in the carriageway. Duke Street - garage damaged by incendiary bomb. Hay Mills -damage to windows and roof by incendiaries. In addition to this the Police Social Club premises, Tally Ho, Pershore Road, were seriously damaged by fire from incendiary bombs. New Street Railway Station was damaged by High Explosive bombs and was closed for a short period owing to the presence of a Delayed Action bomb. Snow Hill Railway Station was damaged when a parachute mine exploded in Colmore Row. Other notable places damaged were: St. Phillip’s Cathedral, 3 hospitals (slight damage), a number of bank premises, large store (Grey’s, Bull Street) and other shopping and business premises. Many roads were temporarily blocked by debris and the streets in the centre of the City were covered with plate glass. Birmingham Fire Services Air Raid Action -12.00 a.m. Wednesday, November 20th 1940 Summary No. 81 Air Raid Warning - Yellow at 13.01 p.m. and 18.42 p.m. Purple at 18.46 p.m. Red at 18.51 p.m. and White at 13.19 p.m. and 04.31 a.m. Number of incidents dealt with 378; Number of fires caused by enemy action 338; Number of fires caused not by enemy action 3; Number of A.F.S. Appliances engaged 381; Number of R.B. Appliances engaged 60; Number of Jets 472. General Report: The air raid warning in Birmingham on this night was given at 1842 hours and from 1855 hours when the first fire call was received, the raid quickly developed in an intensive form and was widespread. A turntable had already been sent to West Bromwich from Birmingham where air raids fires had been caused and the Birmingham Services were soon fully engaged. The fires were spread over a large area of the City, including Bordesley Green, Small Heath, and the south side of the City, but these were all under control by dawn. This raid was probably the heaviest so far experienced in Birmingham and several Fire Stations had to be evacuated during the raid as a result of unexploded bombs or mines in the vicinity. Water conditions were not good owing to fractured mains, and water in some instances had to be relayed over long distances. Regional Report: Three stages of the Regional Scheme were operated and a total of 107 Pumps and 2 Turntable Escapes came into the City to assist. The details are as follows: Solihull 1 pump, Sutton1, Dudley 4, Leamington 2, Burton on Trent 3, Shrewsbury 2, Wolverhampton 7 and 1 turntable, Stoke on Trent 5 and 1 turntable, Nottingham 15, Manchester 10, Bristol 25, Reading 23, Coleshill 1, Walsall 4, Bromsgrove 1, Redditch 1. Injuries to personnel: Fatal: Division 4 Auxiliary H.V. Lugg B.12760; Division 6 Auxiliary E. Carless B.12454.

There were 31 other injuries.