First world war Ration Cards including a child's dated January 1918 , by May 1917 German U-boats had sunk 2 million tons of shipping causing serious shortages of wheat, meat, tea and sugar, in October 1917 sugar ration cards were introduced and gradually from January 1918 to July 1918 full rationing started.

In WW11 every civilian had to carry a identity card at all times as proof of identity and address. These had to be produced on demand to the police, members of the Armed Forces on duty and national registration officers. Each card had a personal number of six or seven digits Early in 1943 registration and rationing was combined and, in May of that year, the opportunity was taken to issue a fresh set of identity cards at the same time as the new ration books. Civilian members of the population over 16 received a blue card to replace the previous buff card and under 16 year olds retained their existing buff card. A new type of buff card, which expired on the holder's sixteenth birthday, was issued to children under 16 on those occasions when a fresh card was necessary; on registration at birth; on registration upon entering the country; to replace a lost or damaged card; or on change of name. It was obligatory to carry them everywhere.

1957 Motor Fuel Ration Books Car and Motor Cycle Coupons. In 1957 Petrol rationing, which had been in force in Britain for five months following the Suez crisis, was abolished.

1973 Motor Fuel Ration Books Car and Motor Cycle Coupons. Petrol shortages during the 1973 Oil Crisis came about because the Organisation of Petroleum Producing Countries (OPEC) imposed an oil embargo on Western countries which had supported Israel during the Arab-Israeli Yom Kippur war.