Coupon Monday: Rationing is introduced in Britain on this day in 1940

On the 8th of January 1940 rationing was introduced in Britain. With over 70% of the food supply imported before WWII, the government decided to safeguard against any plots to starve Britain into submission by introducing the rationing scheme.

The Ministry of Food’s explanation for the scheme was published in a number of newspapers:

Daily Record – Monday 8 January 1940 © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

The new scheme was well documented across the newspapers…

Manchester Evening News – Monday 8 January 1940 © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Daily Mirror – Monday 8 January 1940 © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Lancashire Evening Post – Monday 8 January 1940 © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

But there was reassurance that even the royal family was doing their bit for the war effort:

Daily Mirror – Monday 8 January 1940 © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED