BBC News - Britain's original 'Austerity' Christmas Archive footage shows how British people experienced the run up to Christmas in 1947, one of the toughest of the post-War 'Austerity' years. Bread became rationed, joining other staple items like meat, butter and potatoes, and queues in shops were common. Sterling was also experiencing a currency crisis, resulting from the UK's post-War debt to America. It was a difficult year for Clement Attlee's Labour government, and in particular his Chancellor Stafford Cripps. Clips courtesy of British Pathe
Funny enough my father was only talking about that the other day. He'd just returned home from India so it was quite a culture shock in every respect!
It was a very cold winter. A former workmate told me there were no toilet seats left in the barracks - firewood!