As well as the UKs efforts fighting on the frontline during the second world war, one of the biggest threats to the UK was food security. Emily Ashworth looks at the ways the country came together to tackle a national crisis.
Still seen as some of the most iconic phrases in modern history are Dig for victory and Grow your own.
And by simply saying them out loud you are immediately transported back to the exact era of origin; back to the depths of World War II, when the country was faced with what was known as the battle from the fields.
Or as the paraphernalia read: Whatever your frontline job, this is your second line job. Lend a hand on the land.
It is hard to ignore the parallels of then and now, as we are once again in a time of uncertainty, with food banks, the cost of living crisis and food security issues post-Brexit.
Before the war, 60 per cent of food was imported, but those who took to the land alongside farmers, such as prisoners of war and land girls, helped to practically reverse that figure by the end of the war, in a stoic U-turn in self-sufficiency.
How self-sufficient is the UK?
According to the UK Governments Food Security Report 2021, about 54 per cent of the food on our plates is produced in this country, including most grains, meat, dairy and eggs.
For fresh vegetables, self-sufficiency sits at about 54 per cent and 16 per cent in fruit these were actually two things which, although were in short supply, were not rationed during the war.
But many are now harking back to the days of seasonality and encouraging people to buy local in response to trade worries and rising prices.
A huge supporter of this is Patrick Holden, founder of the Sustainable Food Trust.
He says: During World War II we had to rely on our home-produced resources, because of the U boats sinking the north Atlantic convey.
Our primary production had to come from the natural capital of our own farms.
Nitrogen fertiliser was around, but was not widely available. We had to align our diets in relation to our staple foods, which came from that farming system.
But the wartime spirit also saw rural people come together in other ways too.
Take the war pig clubs for example. Many who lived through the war have said that people would keep their own pig to fatten as rationing took hold.
The Government encouraged people to form clubs some had more than 30 members - where they would buy and rear pigs.
When the time came to slaughter, apparently this was a big occasion for the clubs, and half of the carcases would be given to the Government with the rest given to members as pork or bacon.
Home-grown and the old adage of waste not want not was heavily pushed too, both of which are coming back into play in todays society, especially as food waste hits an all-time high.
Wartime food - waste less, use every bit
One memorable poster from the time said that every available piece of land must be cultivated, whether in your home or on-farm.
TV historian and author Paul Reed says: The two big Government initiatives were Dig for victory and Reduce waste. In a time when food was short, the Government encouraged people to grow their own and make use of everything they had.
This led to a lot of books and pamphlets showing people how not to waste a scrap of food and guides to making an allotment in the smallest of gardens.
We have seen the revival of allotments and growing in small spaces even before now, but I am sure a drive to minimise food waste will be a sad reality of times to come.
The war showed people that food could be good when different and that diet and nutrition was important. There is no doubt that people were healthier as a consequence.
We often talk about how the second world war overshadows our lives, but this to me is one of the more positive and helpful aspects of that.
