Hi Folks.
recently some german diggers searching for battlefield relicts found these cans and i wonder if they are us rations or commonwealth. Anyone?
Regards Gerd
origin of "pacific 24 hour rations" wwII
origin of "pacific 24 hour rations" wwII
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Das Leben gelebt, Die Sünde geküsst, Das Herz den Frauen gegeben-
Und dann nicht gebebt wenn der Tod uns grüßt, das ist ein Jadgfliegerleben!
Und dann nicht gebebt wenn der Tod uns grüßt, das ist ein Jadgfliegerleben!
Re: origin of "pacific 24 hour rations" wwII
British...
A special meal item in the Pacific Compo Ration was the "Midday Snack". This was an individual box, roughly 2.1x2.25x4.8 inches, which contained crackers, boiled sweets, a beverage powder (lemon crystals and sugar packs, sweetened orangeade or sweetened lemonade and/or Bovril Brand Broth) and sometimes chocolate. Along with these snacks, this meal pack included either cheese (early: tinned later: foil pouched) or jam (early: pressed jam, later foil pouched) and occasionally hot climate chocolate.
This meal was intended to be taken on patrol, and was meant as a food supplement when the section was in operations that were not conducive to sit-down food preparation. As the Pacific ration generally provided a good calorie count, these packs were often stashed in Tommys "brew kit" against contingencies.
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donaldjcheek
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Re: origin of "pacific 24 hour rations" wwII
This was one-third of the "Pacific 24-hour Ration, (Individual)" developed by the British during 1943-44. There were breakfast and dinner tins as well, each of the same size and with the same paint scheme.
Each square tin was scored along the top edge and troops were instructed to use a jack knife or coin to break the scoring at the corner and peel back the lid - no can opener required. Three, banded together with a thin metal band, were issued as one day's ration.
The Breakfast tin contained hardtack, two oatmeal blocks, tea and sugar, vitamin tablets, hard candy ("boiled sweets") and matches. The Dinner tin had more hardtack, chocolate, tea, condensed milk in a foil tube, and sugar. Both European and "I.T." (Indian Troops) varieties were issued, differing in the type of meat issued with the dinner. IT varieties contained no beef, used rice & sardines, and included packets of curry seasonings.
Issued separately were small 4 to 5 oz cans of meat products: Fish & Egg, Breakfast Pork, Ham & Egg or chopped Liver & Bacon for breakfast; or Preserved Meat, Meat & Kidney, chopped Ham & Beef or Stewed Steak for dinner. Also issued separately were packs of cigarettes (20 cigarettes for 2 days).
The Brits also issued a 24-hour Pacific Compo ration pack, which provided essentially the same stuff, but packed in a 4-gallon tin for 8 to 6 troops.
Each square tin was scored along the top edge and troops were instructed to use a jack knife or coin to break the scoring at the corner and peel back the lid - no can opener required. Three, banded together with a thin metal band, were issued as one day's ration.
The Breakfast tin contained hardtack, two oatmeal blocks, tea and sugar, vitamin tablets, hard candy ("boiled sweets") and matches. The Dinner tin had more hardtack, chocolate, tea, condensed milk in a foil tube, and sugar. Both European and "I.T." (Indian Troops) varieties were issued, differing in the type of meat issued with the dinner. IT varieties contained no beef, used rice & sardines, and included packets of curry seasonings.
Issued separately were small 4 to 5 oz cans of meat products: Fish & Egg, Breakfast Pork, Ham & Egg or chopped Liver & Bacon for breakfast; or Preserved Meat, Meat & Kidney, chopped Ham & Beef or Stewed Steak for dinner. Also issued separately were packs of cigarettes (20 cigarettes for 2 days).
The Brits also issued a 24-hour Pacific Compo ration pack, which provided essentially the same stuff, but packed in a 4-gallon tin for 8 to 6 troops.
"I think," said Christopher Robin, "that we ought to eat all our Provisions now, so that we shan't have so much to carry."