Genealogy Chat

Just a long shot here but have you looked on E-bay? I bet there will be someone on there selling ration cards (and more than likely the spam that goes with it!) Janet

Yes Janet, you are right, whilst I am only in the early stages of putting my project together, it is very satisfying, just knowing that I have it underway, and I am amazed at the information I have been able to collect. I still have a long way to go though, and I have taken you up on your kind offer, you should have a 'message' waiting for you. Many thanks, Sue

Susan I go around schools giving talks on "Evacuation during Second World War" as this is what happened to the children from the Blitzed Cities. They were sent off on long journeys to the country for their own safety but many ended up in later years not knowing exactly where they went, so I work with the Evacuees Reunion Association to try to help these people come to terms with their own past and to inform young children of their own history. There is a website for this and I have collected a lot of material for my talks, none of it sadly are the collectable copies, but I could try to send some to you over the airways if you let me have your E Mail address. I am rather overcommitted to promise this before the New Year but would gladly help you with items I have. I do have picture copies of I D cards, gas masks, rationing cards barrage balloons etc. I also have a number of books which I can browse and pick out the Coventry pieces. I am glad you have managed to find some items over the net, yes it is a wonderful medium. You should enjoy the books. Good luck with this project. I found it very worthwhile to complete mine. No, it is not a cheap hobby but the satisfaction it gives is quite undescribable, especially when you do complete a project that is so important to you. Janet

I have just ordered copies of "Moonlight Sonata - Coventry Blitz' and 'Living through the Blitz' - through Amazon. Thanks Janet......Thought I would buy myself some very heavy reading for the Christmas break. This reading will help with a better understanding of my heritage and also with my ongoing research project. I also bought some beautiful heritage vellum paper today (another christmas prezzy for me). This is not a cheap hobby by a long shot <s> Thanks again.....Sue

I have found a good black and white photograph of a Ration Book and a 1942-43 Clothing Book. I'm a happy camper.

Thanks Janet for your info. I will try Google. I am trying to piece this together from Australia, I am just so grateful for the Internet.

Susan There is a lot of info around on Coventry. I know what you mean. I went through the Blitz of Plymouth and the words used to describe Plymouth devastation was that Plymouth was "Coventrated". The following book has much useful Info on Coventry. "Living Through the Blitz" Tom Harrison First Published 1976. I have the reprint of 1990/ Penguin Books. One of the reasons why I have just completed a project on my own blitz experience is to make sure that the next generation know what happened. Because we moved around a lot I have had difficulty in piecing it all together and I was there! You may have difficulty acquiring the actual ration, clothing books and ID cards as they are now collectors items, but you can get copies, as I said earlier at the Imperial War Museum London and Manchester. Google the Imperial War Museum London because you can buy many items from their bookshop online. I have my own copies that I have bought Good luck. Janet

Thankyou for all of your help. I would like to get an actual Ration Book and ID card, or a copy of same. What I am planning on doing is putting a book together relating to my parents lives. I am gradually collating information, but its a bit like a jigsaw puzzle with many missing pieces. I'm sure many people here would be able to relate to this. My parents lived in Coventry at the time of the blitz and I'm sorry now that I didnt ask them '20 questions'. Its suprising just how much help I have been able to get though, by asking questions on this board. Thankyou !!

Everybody who had an Identity Card during the war had their number transferred to their National Health Service Card in 1948, when the NHS came into being. About 2 years ago this was changed and new numbers were issued. Janet

Yes, mine is my NH number although the NHS was not formed until the following year.

When first introduced the National Identity card was issued numerically firstly to the Head of the Household, then the wife, and then the children in age order. This was how we found the National Identity Number of person we were looking for. The Office of National Statistics were able to do a trace and found the person was still alive. Was told it equates to Medical Number whereas I thought it was National Insurance Number.

Susan I am at a meeting of the Evacuees Reunion Association shortly and I will try to find out more about the meanings of the letters. This has been talked about in the group in the past but I did not make a note. The replica Indentity Cards are grey, the replica Ration Books are buff and the replica Clothing Cards are pink. The clothing and ration books have many pages with coupons and the identity card is just 4 sides. Outside states National Registration Identity Card. Inside front has many boxes to fill in to include Number which is a mix of letters and words then Surname, Christian names, Class Code, Full Postal adress, Holders Signature, Changes of Adress of which there are 5 of these C/A boxes. Back of card States: 1 Always carry your identity Card. You must produce it on demand by a police officer in uniform or a member of HM Armed forces in uniform on duty. 2. You are responsible for this card, and must not part with it to any other person. You must report at once to the Local National Registration Office if it is lost, destoyed, damaged or defaced. 3 If you find a lost Identity Card or have in your possession a card not belonging to yourself or anyone in your charge you musy hand it in at once at a Police Station or National Registration Office. 4 Any breach of these requirements is an offence punishable by a fine or imprisonment or both. If I find out any more I will get back in touch. Janet

I must have had my own Ration card then. I was born in Coventry in 1945 and came to Australia in 1954. The only recollection I have of the Ration cards is from memory, shopping with my mother using Rations. I am still searching the net to see what the card actually looked like. Also with the ID numbers, surely there must be a data base on these somewhere. I'm just a bit puzzled !!

Geoff I am not a member of the Evacuees Reunion Association for nothing!! Plug! Janet

TRY, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/electronicrecords and do a search on say 'Identity Cards' & 'Ration Books' you mayyyy find some thing of interest WALTER

Re the numbers: My mother's last number (issued 1940) was 3 which seems right by Janet's theory. My father's card was issued on his demob day in 1946 and is a seven figure number. Mine was issued in 1947 and is my NHS number.

There will be no register as such. Everybody in the country had to have an ID card, children as well, and everybody including children had to have a ration card for food and a clothes ration card for clothes. ID cards had a mix of Letters and numbers and the last number denoted the place you were in the family/1and 2 always being parents and 3 eldest child. The letters do have a meaning but I cannot put my hand on the meanings at present. The ID card had to be carried with you at all times, children as well, and that is why so many of us still remember our ID card numbers. You can buy copies of these docs at the Imperial War Museums London and Manchester. Janet

Does anyone know where I would be able to find the 'register' for National Identity Cards issued about 1940 and also Ration Books. Thanks !!