Call to share memories of 1940s food aid packages

From Olde English plum pudding to tinned turkey and packs of raisins, people are being asked for their memories of American food aid packages in the 1940s.

The charity now known as CARE International was first set up in the aftermath of World War Two to help address the widespread food shortage in Europe.

Now, as the American charity celebrates its 70th birthday, Swansea Council is supporting its call for anyone with recollections of the food aid packages to share them online.

County Archivist Kim Collis said: “It’s relatively little known nowadays that the UK was the recipient of food aid within the living memory of some of the older members of our community, but that was the case in the years immediately after the Second World War when food was rationed and many foods we now take for granted were exotic and unknown in Britain. CARE packages of tinned and dried food sent by families in the USA to families in the UK provided a welcome relief from the limited range of rationed food available in the shops.

“A typical Christmas CARE package might have included tinned turkey, Olde English plum pudding, chocolate, corned beef, packs of raisins and tins of peaches, as well as the more staple items of coffee, tea and sugar.”

Visit www.careinternational.org.uk/showyouCARE/share-your-story or www.facebook.com/WestGlamorganArchives to share your memories.

Some of the memories to have been shared so far include those of Vera Howell, from Essex. She said: “The labels were missing on some tins so we weren’t sure what was in them, which I suppose made it all the more exciting, and we enjoyed them just the same. I remember some contained tinned fruit. There were always sweets, chocolate and peanut butter which I had not tasted before, but loved from that moment on and still do.”

Gillian Roberts, from Kent, said: “The parcels were full of fantastic surprises and we were always excited when we saw the Carter Paterson lorry. We were still rationed at that time, so anything from America was delicious, because it was so different from the usual bland food on offer. My memories from being a four-year-old seem to recall a very large tin of Cling brand sliced peaches, tins of peas, potatoes, evaporated milk and packs of cereal.”