Ration book belonging to A. H. Stocks, No. BB 977791 showing the coupons or tokens. Documents or books such as these were carried as personal possessions in the regulated economy during and after the Second World War. Everybody had to have a National Registration identity card. Food and clothes were rationed, as was petrol until 1950. All males between 18 and 26 were obliged to do two years national service up to 1960.