In World War One, the life of British soldiers in the trenches was incredibly challenging, not only due to constant danger but also because of their bleak diets. Their staple food was trench stew or “Maconochie,” mostly eaten cold since cooking in trenches was difficult.
If lucky, they could use a small stove called the Tommy cooker. The stew consisted of canned bully beef with chopped turnips and carrots, alongside rock-hard biscuits that soldiers would dip in water or tea to make them slightly more palatable. These biscuits were like bread and were produced in large quantities by a biscuit company, vital for the war effort.
Tea played a crucial role in providing comfort and disguising the taste of sometimes contaminated water. Soldiers received a ration of rum, which was especially valued during the morning “stand to” when they awaited potential attacks. Chocolate was also sent to the trenches to boost morale and remind the soldiers of home.
Cigarettes were widespread and used as currency. Additionally, drugs like cocaine-based Force March were provided to cope with hunger and fatigue. Some historians believe that the soldiers were supplied with these substances to help them endure the extreme conditions of trench life.
- Sir Adrian Carton de Wiart: The Unkillable Soldier?
- The Poison Squad Trials: Do You Know What’s In Your Food?
Top image: Soldier eating on the frontlines of the Battle of the Somme, 1916 (National Library of Scotland / Public Domain)
