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French ration coupons [property of an Australian soldier, November 1918]

25 March 2022 · Leave a Comment

[Editor: These French ration coupons were found inside an Australian military ration book, which was issued to Charles Fell for use during January 1919, just after the end of the First World War (1914-1918). On that basis it is reasonable to assume (although not definite) that the French ration coupons, marked “Novembre” (November), were issued for use during November 1918.]

French ration coupons

French ration coupons (issued to an Australian soldier, November 1918)
French ration coupons (front)



French ration coupons (issued to an Australian soldier, November 1918)
French ration coupons (reverse)

[Front of ration coupons]

24 Novembre: 100 grammes de pain
23 Novembre: 100 grammes de pain
22 Novembre: 100 grammes de pain
21 Novembre: 100 grammes de pain
20 Novembre: 100 grammes de pain
19 Novembre: 100 grammes de pain
18 Novembre: 100 grammes de pain
17 Novembre: 100 grammes de pain

[Text is in French.]

[Reverse of ration coupons]

Les circonstances ont change,
et faut que l’esprit public se conforme
a ce changement. Ce qui pouvait ne
pas paraitre très grave avant la guerre
l’est devenu depuis, et chacun de nous
doit savoir qu’en essayant de se sous.

[Text is in French.]



Source:
Original document

Editor’s notes:
Dimensions (approximate): 112 mm. (width), 37 mm. (height).

Each of the coupons are for “100 grammes de pain” (100 grams of bread).

A rough translation of the text (from Google Translate) is as follows:

Les circonstances ont change,
et faut que l’esprit public se conforme
a ce changement. Ce qui pouvait ne
pas paraitre très grave avant la guerre
l’est devenu depuis, et chacun de nous
doit savoir qu’en essayant de se sous.

Circumstances have changed
and the public spirit must conform
to this change. What could
not seem very serious before the war
has since become one, and each of us
must know that by trying to get under.

Filed Under: ephemera Tagged With: Charles Fell (1890-1975), ESU funding, foreign language translation, HTML tables (side) div style, IAC Ephemera Collection, ration books, SourceIACLibrary, World War One (1914-1918), year1918

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