Logistics/Eating

[pete]

Forget about tactics, armoury .. what I've often wondered about in warfare is the necessity of keeping - as much as is possible - energised & capable soldiers on the front line.

So they had to eat!  How were the front line WW1/ WW2 soldiers fed? Is there a general approach to this - no matter what the war?

[Felix/FFDS]

Before the 19th century, most armies lived off the land, and the generals bought provisions from the area they were in.  Each soldier had certain rations, but large canning was developed by the French in the Napoleonic era.

During WW2, Coca-COla scored a coup by sending two complete bottling factories on skids to the combat theatres, promoting the morale of the troops, as well.

Individual rations, of course, have always been supplemented by locally obtained produce, poultry and livestock...

The following links, while US oriented, give a general outlook.

http://www.qmfound.com/army_subsistence_history.htm

http://www.qmfound.com/army_subsistence_history.htm

[pete]

Great help! Thanks!

[Hagar]

During WW2, Coca-COla scored a coup by sending two complete bottling factories on skids to the combat theatres, promoting the morale of the troops, as well.

Meanwhile poor old Tommy Atkins existed on corned beef & hard tack. In the Western Desert & other hot climates this would often be in liquid form. The different ways they found to serve this up is an education in itself.

[Hagar]

This was the situation in WWI.

RATIONS

Britain sent a total of 3,240,948 tons of food to the soldiers fighting in France and Belgium during the First World War. 300 000 field workers to cook and supply the food were employed by the British Army. At the start of the war the troops were provided with 10 ounces of meat and 8 ounces of vegetables a day. As the army grew these rations had to be reduced to 6 ounces of meat a day. But later on those soldiers not in the front line only had meat 9 days out of 30.

On the Western Front there was a lot of criticism of the quantity and the quality of food given to the troops, their main intake being canned corned beef, bread and biscuits. Due to a shortage of flour in the winter of 1916 the bread was made using dried ground turnips. By this stage the main food was pea soup with some lumps of horsemeat. Not only were vegetables used in the soup but weeds such as nettles.

With it taking up to eight days for the bread to reach the front line it was usually stale on arrival so the soldiers solved this problem by crushing it and adding whatever else was available. The food was also always cold as it had to be carried in a container up the communication trenches. The Army attempted to keep the food shortage from the enemy and announced that the soldiers were provided with two hot meals a day. They received 200 000 letters from furious soldiers pointing out the truth. They claimed that the men in the trenches were treated appallingly but the officers were well fed.

When the advance came food became a bigger problem. The men all carried emergency food called iron rations. This consisted of a can of corned beef, a few biscuits and a tin of tea and sugar. These iron rations were not to be opened without the permission of an officer.

Shortage of food and the poor condition of what was available caused a lot of ill health among the soldiers in the trenches and left them weak and vulnerable to disease.

Conditions in the trenches were so awful that some soldiers went to extreme lengths to escape them. Some were so desperate to get home and hoped for a 'blighty' wound which would mean that they would be sent home. Some inflicted wounds on themselves in a desperate attempt to be relieved of their front-line period of duty. To inflict a wound on oneself was a capital offence and if a man was found guilty he could face execution by a firing squad. In the British Army a total of 3,894 men were found guilty of self-inflicting wounds - however none were actually executed.

Others simply killed themselves, their lives in the trenches simply too awful to bear. The most commonly used method of suicide was to place the barrel of their rifle against the head and press the trigger with their toe. Some unable to endure any more, stood on the firing step so as they could be shot by an enemy sniper.

[pete]

mmm .. ... if only they knew that in a generation or 2 the 'weed' - 'nettle soup' would be considered a great delicacy & served in fine restaurants! One of the most delicious soups I have ever tasted - great chilled too - with fresh cream & coriander - but I suppose that little minor detail may have been left out ..  :) !

I wonder what the french soldiers were fed? - given that until recently food in britland has been a 'get it down ya' 'tummy filler' thing of every day life. I should imagine fresh meat, fresh bread & cheese? Or maybe not ...  :-X

[Hagar]

The British troops always seem to come off 2nd best in food & equipment. My late father-in-law was posted alongside a US unit for a while some time after D-Day. While they were there they ate with the GIs. His lads thought they had died & gone to heaven. From what I hear it's not that different now.

[Woodlouse2002]

The British troops always seem to come off 2nd best in food & equipment. My late father-in-law was posted alongside a US unit for a while some time after D-Day. While they were there they ate with the GIs. His lads thought they had died & gone to heaven. From what I hear it's not that different now.

Remember Hagar, the worse an armies food the more powerful the army is. Or so the saying goes...

[Hagar]

Remember Hagar, the worse an armies food the more powerful the army is. Or so the saying goes...

I never heard that one Woody. Are you sure you didn't make it up?
There is another old saying. "An army marches on its stomach". This is attributed to Napolean Bonaparte although I don't know how true that is.

I know which one I would prefer to serve in.

[Woodlouse2002]

I never heard that one Woody. Are you sure you didn't make it up?
There is another old saying. "An army marches on its stomach". This is attributed to Napolean Bonaparte although I don't know how true that is.

I know which one I would prefer to serve in.

I believe I got the saying from an Asterix book. But it rings strangely true all the same.

Napolean might have said "An army marches on its stomach". But look where it got him? He and his now seemingly overweight and over fed army got hammered by a lean, mean, grit eating British army.

So there you go. Feeding your soldiers lobster thermador will get you no where.

[Hagar]

So there you go. Feeding your soldiers lobster thermador will get you no where.

Maybe so but they would die happy.

I found this site with quotations by famous people. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/n/napoleon_bonaparte.html
I never realised that Napoleon was reponsible for so many sayings I use every day. For example: If you want a thing done well, do it yourself.

PS. I like this one. "In politics stupidity is not a handicap."

[Felix/FFDS]

Napolean might have said "An army marches on its stomach". But look where it got him? He and his now seemingly overweight and over fed army got hammered by a lean, mean, grit eating British army.

Not to belittle, but the Prussians attack on the scene sealed their fate.  It wasn't a Brit only fight.

[Woodlouse2002]

[quote]
Not to belittle, but the Prussians attack on the scene sealed their fate.

[Felix/FFDS]

I know. I was joking. But it kinda proves my point... Maybe...

You also do well with a good selection of sausages, honey mead, and sauerkraut...

[Professor Brensec]

The Australian troops in WWI, I know were pretty poorly fed, once they got to where the fighting was at. Supply lines, of course, always being the problem.

But 'necessity is the mother of invention' (Is that one of Boney's?...... ), they managed to come up with a winner anyway..........the Anzac bikkie. Beautiful!!  ;D

I understand the US army is extremely well fed these days. I recall seeing a CNN report during 'that war' ( ) (they seem to have found any number of things to report about in order to keep it in the News.....

Anyway, the report went through an average 'grunt's' meal day. Looked pretty good to me!!  :D