'While the wives left at home carry on courageously with the problems of war-time housekeeping and ration books', 1940-1945 (c)

Photograph, World War Two, Home front,1940-1945 (c).

A general store with a post office in England,1940-1945 (c).

Food rationing began on 8 January 1940 (petrol had been rationed from 1939). Initially only bacon, butter and sugar were rationed. By 1942 all meat, milk, cheese eggs and cooking fat were also rationed. The only exemptions were fruit and vegetables, but were often in short supply. Clothes rationing began in June 1941 and soap in February 1942. All rationing ended in 1954.

One of 58 British official photographs.