Ron's point about the Sally Ann, which incidentally I always give a small donation to.reminds me of the days past. During my RAF service many years ago we always had the Sally Ann and the NAFFI in competition in that they both turned up at the squadron hanger aprons in the days where tea making for mass catering was based on tinned condensed milk and the milk was already added. (Some thought that the Sally Ann girls were the best looking and I remember a friend of mine,an Instrument Mechanic who was always in raptures about a young lady when she served him....she came from a village close by which I know quite well..... I often think of how time has treated her.) Then while I was at Yatesbury on technical training, lectures used to finish on Saturday morning at about 1130,then the class used to slope off to the Sally Ann and have those large white cooling tower type cups of coffee with a Chelsea Bun...whenever I eat a Chelsea Bun it reminds me of those days.) Tea drinking habits have changed over the years when tea usually meant having a sugar laden cup.I was once on night flying and the only Radar Mech on duty from the Section,usually it meant that aircraft early returns on failed equipment were catered for by replacing the unit that had failed.On a particular night I was surprised in the early hours of the morning by the sudden presence of the Station Commander in the crewroom,,......John Searby of Peenemunde fame.He took a swig of tea from the urn,and was not pleased with it.. picked up the phone and rang the Airmen's Mess and instructed "Send a urn of hot sweet tea to No 97 Squadron immediately"....needless to say the urn was delivered in short time. Regarding tea,I have a sister who hardly drinks tea ....when she was younger my mother always bought Camp coffee for her...she now has a super coffee machine which she took on holiday, when as a group, we down to the Lot....quality coffee continually on stream.One of her sons has gone better and has a quality commercial coffee machine...he being no tea drinker. Diane.....Tommy Dorsey....we used have a good collection of 78s of the big bands...superb....favourite one being on "The Sunny side of the Street"
What about the thick navy cocoa (or Kia/Kye) served up in the middle watches. Made from shavings from a solid bar of chocolate (which came wrapped in waxed paper), evaporated milk and sugar. All heated up usually in the Boiler Room. Tim
Cocoa? A CARGO VESSEL JOINS A CONVOY. 24 JANUARY 1942, ON BOARD A CARGO VESSEL AT METHIL ANCHORAGE. THE CONVOY GATHERS AT METHIL AND WHEN ALL IS WELL THEY SAIL IN AN ESCORTED CONVOY. (A 7218) Catalogue number: A 7218 A quick cup of cocoa between watches. MEN WHO CLEAR THE WAY FOR THE NAVY: A MOTOR MINESWEEPER ON THE JOB. 27 JANUARY TO 1 FEBRUARY 1943, ON BOARD MOTOR MINESWEEPER 136, LIFE ON BOARD A LITTLE BOAT THAT GOES RIGHT INTO THE HEART OF KNOWN ZONES TO CLEAR THE WAY OF MINES FOR SHIPS OF THE NAVY AND MERCHANT NAVY. (A 14433) Catalogue number: A 14433 A cup of ship's cocoa: very welcome in cold weather. ROYAL NAVY PLANES ATTACK ENEMY CONVOY. 6 MAY 1944, ON BOARD HMS FURIOUS. IN THE EARLY HOURS OF 6 MAY 1944, CARRIER-BORNE FAIREY BARRACUDA AIRCRAFT OF THE FLEET AIR ARM MADE SUCCESSFUL ATTACKS ON TWO ENEMY SOUTHBOUND CONVOYS OFF KRISTIANSUND, NORWAY. (A 23163) Catalogue number: A 23163 Members of the crew of the FURIOUS have an early breakfast of ham sandwiches and cocoa during the operation. BRITISH NAVY RESCUES NORWEGIAN ISLANDERS. 1 MARCH 1945, GOUROCK. 525 NORWEGIANS OF THE ISLAND OF SOROY, WHO HAD BEEN LIVING IN CAVES IN THE MOUNTAINS OF THEIR ISLAND TO AVOID GERMAN PATROLS, WERE RESCUED BY FOUR DESTROYERS OF THE HOME FLEET. THE DESTROYERS WENT IN 60 MILES BEHIND ENEMY LINES TO PICK THEM UP. HMS ZEALOUS RETURNING TO BRITAIN WITH SOME OF THE NORWEGIANS ABOARD. (A 27541) Catalogue number: A 27541 An 82 year old Norwegian woman enjoying a cup of Navy cocoa on arrival.
I love that last story dbf - I think Norway was the last country to be liberated at the end of the war.
And when you were cold and wet and the temperature fell below zero , what better than your rum ration served straight into a mug of Rosy Lee ! Friday 27th. October 1944 Still raining & roads must be murder. The Div is getting a bit of a hammering especially the Irish Brigade. Kit inspection. Rum issue & film show in the billets, "San Demetrio- London" . Ron
My Dad said the same. I remember being in some rough pubs in Glasgow (sounds bad!) but everyone would put something in their tin. They were greatly respected by all religions.
My Dad says the same. Always gives to the Sally Ann as they were the first ones up there with a tea wagon.
John Searby showing his good upbringing, but then I'm totally biased: my maternal grandmother was his nanny when the Searby family lived in Spalding. Small World.
At one point in the war bomb disposal officers used sugar in a solution to literally 'jam up the works' on clockwork time delay fuzes. The men used to pinch this sugar for their tea, so the boffins came up with a less palatable 'solution'.
How about this one. Somewhere in India some N.C.Os of the 9th Btn. Royal Sussex enjoy their refreshing chai. The man in the beret is Sgt "Jack" Fogden whose son kindly sent me this photo. Love the notices
Published on 7 Aug 2014 Red White & Blue Day: Making a cup of tea Historian Andrew Robertshaw explains how the British soldier fighting in World War Two managed to brew a cup of tea for himself and his fellow soldiers. Filmed at Rendcomb College, Gloucestershire. ----------- Something I transcribed recently from a letter my grandfather wrote whilst serving with the Sherwood Rangers nr. the German Border in late September 1944: "As for drink we never get enough, we did get some beer, light ale and larger beer, both poor stuff, but that’s finished, we got some Whiskey and Gin but apart from a spot captured from Jerries we are quite dry. But there’s enough cigarettes. Oh! We had some Jerry tea, we’ve burnt it, it’s foul, dried leaves, pour boiling water on it and it's just dried leaves in water, after boiling for five minutes there is, to the discerning eye, a slight colouring of the water, it is then thrown away in disgust and the bloke who made it is cursed for wasting time. Frank Gillard of the BBC has just been telling the world that the regiment was first over the Border. I don’t suppose our wives will throw their chests out about that, anyway let’s hope we are first to get leave too! Your letter dated 26th has just arrived, it must have been flown to Brussels, it couldn’t possibly have got here in so short a time otherwise." I assume this was probably Ersatz tea: Ersatz good - Wikipedia - tea composed of ground raspberry leaves or catnip -
My British mother taught me to love tea, and I dislike coffee. I drink at least 6 cups of tea a day, but now it has to be decaf or I levitate. I love these photographs - thanks for posting them
Just a had a look at the nice piece of film in #34. Giving away that I am a bit of a nitpicker, I must comment however that the adding of sugar at the end of it is not being completely historically correct. As the tea ration tin below shows, sugar and milk powder were already added. And I have understood especially sugar was added in generous quantities.
My mother sometimes added rum, probably not regulation. Very interesting to see the tea ration tin. I wondered how tea, sugar, powdered milk were distributed to troops. Thanks.
Both types of tins (tall and flat, see #38) were held and provided in compo ration crates, providing food and drinks for 14 men (1 section of infantry?) for 1 day.
Just read this (I've translated it from the Italian) regarding Campo PG 52: On a monthly basis, as part of its humanitarian remit, the International Red Cross distributed a parcel containing food, items related to personal hygiene "and the inevitable tea". (My speech marks) Vitellino
