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BB,

That's some pretty remarkable photos; top notch on your part for finding them. I was really amazed at the 14 in 1 photo and how an original looked. I was very interested in the tobacco photo. I never knew the UK had a tobaccoa ration qouta for it's soldiers.

Now BB, maybe you can info me and the rest of the folks here in the US why did Canada produce most of the 14 in 1 rations for the UK? I'm assuming that the MoD had facilities back then but why "outsource" it to Canada?

Treesuit wrote:
Now BB, maybe you can info me and the rest of the folks here in the US why did Canada produce most of the 14 in 1 rations for the UK? I'm assuming that the MoD had facilities back then but why "outsource" it to Canada?

Maybe it came with all the liberty ships that sent supplies from USA and CAD to UK to keep them alive?

Olie is close.
Only about half of 14 in 1s were made in UK.

You got to remember, how tight food was in the UK then. At any time there was only 6 weeks stockpile of food for the whole population. Canadian supply and industry was crucial.

Remember we didnt get US lend lease food in big amounts till late 1941. Canada was our "America" before lend lease

Canada provided masses of our stuff in the war, most of our wheat for bread, lots of bacon, cheese, etc.

The Canadian ration was better too. Nicer chocolate, canned meat, bacon.

Just look at that Canack 24 hr ration and the UK ration upthread. The Canadian pack is much better.

Ts you notice how rough the 14 in 1 packaging is compared to 5, 10 in 1s. No flash cardbox box with instructions. UK one is just a wooden box roughly stencilled
The smoke ration was 7 a day, 50 a week. You could get more from NAAFI (like PX) but you had to pay.

The US forces had a 20 pack a day in 10 in 1s.

German forces I think were 5 a day.

BB,

Indeed I took a look at ration and had to wonder that the packaging was pretty ingenious. Can you tell me if most, if not all, of the contents were vaccum packed? I would guess if they weren't then somebody might get spoiled food in their kit. The trip alone across the Atlantic did take weeks and refridgeration was not the best back then.

Also on the late version 24 ration, does it mention how late; "late" was. Maybe 1944? 45? From reading your earlier posts we all know now that the UK (Mod) didn't keep good records of food development so I take that this was a final version and the 24 hour ration(s) stayed the same for a long time?

Yep Ts everything was either canned or dehydrated. Mostly canned. Powdered egg was in some of the menus.

I will post some menus up. 14 in 1 menus were listed A to G. 7 in total.

These came out in 1942 first. They were very influential on the development of the US 5 in 1 and 10 in 1. US troops used them in N Africa and Tunisia in late 42-43.

Reactions were mixed. The US troops were certainly impressed with the concept, if not with the contents always. Remember there were (not so much now) big differences in UK and US food preferences.

Until the first 5 in 1s came on line in the summer of 43, a hybrid 14 in 1 was developed for US forces. It was called the British American ration. It had a mix of UK and US components. It was just a short lived measure. It was externally the same packaging, but I assume markings were different.

I have some information on the British American 14 in 1, talking about this has reminded me. I will try to dig it out.

BB

Well done! I have to ask since Canada was your country's main supplier during the time did the British Forces have any good food reviews on the rations that were supplied? That and did Canada have any good records for their MoD? Did Canadian troops have very much say for their own food development and what were they issued back then? Same rations?

I have read that the Yanks prefered more meat, and the Brits prefered more bread...
But both ate the other's, when needs must!

dirtbag wrote:I have read that the Yanks prefered more meat, and the Brits prefered more bread...
But both ate the other's, when needs must!

It was the mains gave the trouble. It took guts to eat the menu E tinned oxtail. A Uk source described it as "unbelievably disgusting"

It took guts to eat the menu E tinned oxtail.

Dare I ask what that was??