Milsurp After Hours

Friend of mine and I were talking about Army food from way back when. I thought C rations eggs and ham were the least liked....in the field. He said the worst he ever had was at breakfast on TDY in England. Seems he was served powdered eggs...not all that unusual.. and kidney beans for breakfast in a British mess hall. Could he have imagined it? Kidney beams for breakfast? And...no meat like bacon or sausage.

Kidney beans on rice is ok. Kidney beans in chili is ok, if you are not from Texas....but for breakfast?

Speaking from memories of the 1980's, both OR's and Sergeants Mess breakfast was usually Bacon, Egg,Sausage,Fried Bread, Baked Beans, Plumb Tomatoes, Bread, Spread and Jam. Tea (or dishwater as it was also known!)

Never came across Kidney Beans - EVER - only in a mess chilli

Let me know what year this was and I will ask around.

Duncan

PS

One day when I was Orderly Sergeant I went into the OR's dining room at breakfast and asked if there were any problems. One private said that the plates were cold and wet. I checked and this was true, the plate warmer had not been switched on. I gave the cooks a bollocking in front of the dining room and told them to pull their finger out for the evening meal (lunch was on the ranges).

At tea I returned to the dining room and asked again if there were any complaints. Same private said that the plates were too hot to hold! I went to the plate warmer which had been swithched on and was set to 'HELL' and I picked up a plate. It was bloody hot but I kept hold of it and turning to the complainant said "What's your problem, you wanted warm plates!"

After thinking for a second he replied, "Trouble with you Sarge is you aint got any feelings!"

Duncan

The time he was in England was in early 1971. It was with a track unit from Ft. Hood Texas. It was a short stay as a British unit changed places with his unit at Ft. Hood for some military exercises.

Sounds to my like the Q.M. was taking the piss!

Duncan

In 1976, we were on a field problem near Alfeld and were on British rations. We were served canned kidney "pie" for breakfast. My tank crew walked into town and ate at the gastehaus.

Dave

Steak & Kidney pie in suet......'Babies Brains' Yum Yum!

Fray Bento's, Uraguay's best offal, you cannae beat it beakfast dinner or tea.

I remember once in the field, Korea, and about to set out laying lines and setting up a W/T relay station.

The platoon Sgt came around with breakfast, a pastie and a boiled egg.

Came back about 15 mins later and one Sig said "Hey, Ralph, you got any more boiled eggs?"

'Youse diden' eat yer egg, did yers? That was yer lunch.".

Was he joking? No, not our Ralph.

Always carried a big bottle of Tobasco Sauce with me, only way to make those green eggs edible! Here is a site that supplies repop rations from WW2. English, American, Italian, German and Japanese.

http://17thdivision.tripod.com/charlott ... index.html

Oneshooter

Livin in Texas

Sent a soldier a care package with a small bottle of tabasco not long ago. The tobasco was probably the least thing in the package of value, but he particularly remarked on it. Some things don't change much.