I lived in Warminster in Wiltshire from 1938-52. Keeping chickens was one way of having a supply of precious eggs to add to the strictly rationed ones.
 | | Ian Keil aged eight in 1941 |
A few neighbours even kept rabbits to increase their meat supply. Householders with sufficient garden space to keep hens gladly took food scraps to increase the feed for the chickens. In return the donors were given the reward of some eggs from time to time. The official ration sometimes allocated each person one or even two fresh eggs a week. At other times the ration substituted tins of dried egg - a yellow powder that could be reconstituted by mixing it with milk or water. This would be used to make omelettes, scrambled eggs or, as an occasional treat, a cake. I remember the omelettes having an oddly leathery consistency. | "Thanks to the rationing system obesity was almost unknown!" | | Ian Keil |
Gardens were devoted to vegetables. My parents grew potatoes, carrots, onions and various greens such as cabbages, broad beans, runner beans and peas. They even found a little space for some salad crops and herbs. Thanks to the rationing system obesity was almost unknown! The exhibition 'Growing up During World War Two' can be seen at Charnwood Museum, Loughborough from 15 June-17 July. Click on the audio link at the top right hand side of this page to hear more about the show or try the weblink to read Ian's wife's wartime story. | 
