The Second World War
Before the Second World War, Britain relied heavily on food imported from overseas. During the war German U-boats sank ships bringing food which led to massive shortages. In the cities, some shops were bombed and it could be dangerous to go shopping because of the air-raids. Shops also had problems recruiting staff.
Who worked in the shops?
Although women had started working in shops during the First World War, by the start of the Second World War in 1939 most shop workers were men. During the war young men had to join the armed forces and young, unmarried women were called up to do war work. Shops were therefore staffed by older men, young people under 18 and married women who often worked part-time.
How did air-raids affect shops?
During the war, London and other big cities were targeted by German bombers. Bombing was particularly severe in London during what was called The Blitz. Some shops had to close because of bomb damage. Emergency shops were set up in disused buildings, on trestle tables in the street and in vans. Many people decided it was safer to shop at their local corner shop rather than go into the city centres.
What did the government do about food shortages?
In 1940 the government started to ration certain foods so that everyone got a fair share. Everyone was issued with a ration book. This had coupons in to allow people a certain amount of each type of food each week. Children, pregnant women and those who were ill were allowed to have more of other foods that were in short supply, such as milk and eggs.
How did rationing affect people?
In spite of rationing, there were still food shortages. People often had to queue for hours to ensure that they got their fair share before the shops’ supplies ran out. Wartime recipes were designed to encourage people to make the most of available food. As a result, people ate less fat, sugar and meat and more vegetables and cereals. This meant that their diet was actually healthier than it had been before the war.
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