大象传媒

Chapter 21 Continued Food

This same old subject crops up again, one must realise that hunger comes before everything else, it is for ever on ones mind, one can think of nothing else or talk of anything else when you continually have the feeling of being unsatisfied. At first and in Italy I really could not understand those who were affected by it, but then I have never been a big eater, it took some time to affect me and now that it has I can readily understand it. I have watched the gradual deterioration and wander when it will stop and who will stop first. I first felt the strain during the early days in this camp; we had the winter to look forward to when one requires more food to keep themselves warm. There were no Red Cross parcels so that we were dependent on the Germans and whatever food we had brought with us, I fortunately had a small stock

The French had been in occupation of the camp; but it appeared that they in no way assist in the administration in such things as cooking, it having to be done by the Germans, who were quite naturally not interested in the job. In consequence the same procedure was carried on for the first few days that we were there, it was not at all good. Each morning we received a jug of German tea, which I might add takes a lot of getting used to, the majority used it as shaving water. For the midday and evening meals we were given tickets and had to hand this in before obtaining a meal, the French must have been a bunch of rogues. These meals consisted generally of potatoes cooked in skins and barley or dried vegetables all stewed up, sometimes we received the potatoes separately but generally the food during those early days was most unsatisfactory. In addition we received a bread ration of about 300 grams (10 ozs) but the bread could in no way be compared with English bread. This was far heavier and closer, in size it compared with a slice of bread, 10 ozs of English bread would be at least twice the size. The issue of margarine for a week varied but was generally about 2 陆 ozs, you must agree not very much, especially as it was made from coal. Jam and sugar were also issued weekly and each officer received 2-2 陆 desert spoons full of each commodity, sometimes we received a very small issue of cheese. On this we had to exist, no wonder we got hungry the bread ration was sufficient for one meal only and the rest never lasted more man two days. I can assure you that a man with an empty stomach loses his courage, he just gradually weakens, with a full stomach one can really face the future but not so empty. I decided there and then that with all my future dealings with men when requiring a good job of work done that I would ensure a good meal before starting.

We of course compared the Italian ration with the German, in commodities they could not be compared, but then the entire system of rationing was different The German commodities were the better and more solid but nothing else but the ration could be obtained by purchase or otherwise, although fruit trees abounded in the district no fruit was ever received by us during the whole time I was in Germany. The only addition we did get was some lettuce and spring onions for a short period but that was all. Now, in Italy we were officially permitted to purchase vegetable and fruit as much as we liked within reason, also nuts etc., this made up for the bad ration, we did not mind the exorbitant price they charged providing we could get the stuff. As I said before we did at one period receive some lettuce and spring onions and for a period some cabbage but apart from that the food has been potatoes, dried vegetable (what we do not know) swedes and swede turnips. Not a lot of fresh fruit has passed my lips since being in Germany. In the early days barley was a favourite issue but then we did not get dried vegetable, this increased when the barley was finished.

However fortune turned in our favour, after a lot of persuasion the Germans permitted us to take over our own administration duties such as cooking etc., this improved matters, although for a period the cooks had only the same rations to deal with. We were dreading the approach of winter, I was possibly more man others but thank goodness the Red Cross turned up trumps, we received an ample supply of food parcels and clothing, just in time we were able to have a parcel a week until September 1944. In this camp Red Cross food was used in the same way as at Bologna that is, the parcels were handed over to the mess who issued us weekly with biscuits, chocolate, jam, margarine or butter, sugar, soap, milk and a proportion of the tea, the rest was cooked in the mess being added to the German ration. The messing was thereby improved, but don't get the idea that we were able to live like lords, far from it. The powers that be worked out that with the two rations put together we were all receiving sufficient food to keep an invalid in bed, that is the exact truth. Take for example a Canadian parcel, which we generally received, meats contained in these are 1 tin bully, 1 tin meat roll, 1 tin of salmon, 1 tin of sardines and a packet of prunes and that has to be made to last over a week. But thank goodness we had them I dread to think what the situation would have been without them. The weather was very mild during the summer we were all able to save a lot of food, hoping of course that before winter we would be out of it all.

A great shock came in September 1944 when a letter was received that we were to go on 陆 a parcel a week, again winter was upon us. Immediately this came into force we felt the pinch, food once again became the chief topic, it turned out to be a severe winter, which is not yet finished. I personally dreaded the thought of it. The parcels were stretched as far as possible, but one could only honestly say that we had one good meal a week and that was on Sunday and then only because we only had one meal all day, it was two meals served in one to give the cooks the Sunday afternoon off, one felt satisfied for a couple of hours, when the pains would start again and it was a long wait until Monday midday.

Christmas 1944

I will try and describe Christmas, which I hope will be the last that I shall have to spend under these circumstances. In order to do this properly I must go back till the middle of December. About this time there were still the super optimists who expected to be home for Christmas. At one period practically the whole camp hoped to be home in time but that dream gradually faded, morale became very low. Red Cross food parcels were finished, things looked very grim, we had no reserve, a letter arrived saying that the Christmas food parcels could not be delivered in time, everybody was in low spirits, food was very short, mail from England was practically non-existent, coal issued was not sufficient to keep us warm. Weather was very cold and wet, 12 degrees below on the 14th. A supply of bulk Argentine food arrived, a good send, 9 weeks issue, but we made it 6 weeks of half issue, so we had at least something extra for Christmas, the morale of the camp went up considerably. So commenced the week Sunday 17th, then came the astounding news and things were going against us down went morale again, things looked black this week before Christmas. The weather although extremely cold was bright and sunny which we know was to our advantage, during the week we each received 陆 a Red Cross parcel, which helped out. So arrived Christmas Eve. I had kept a new suit ready for going home, but decided to clean it up and wear it on Christmas Eve, a Sunday, so I arrived on roll call parade 'poshed up' to the nines even down to wearing my medal and overcoat buttons polished. I had already been resigned to the fact that there was no mail for Christmas, there had been none through the week and it never was delivered on a Sunday, but this morning the postman arrived, should I be lucky, how I would like one from Kit. The names are being called out, the second one is Pocock, and I go out to collect. Yes! It is from Kit - good! Before I can get back to my place - it is called again, this time Mum, I turn to go back to my place it is called twice more, this time Rod and Bert, this time as I go back to my place there are cries of 'mail blocker' all in good humour, but I am far too excited to take any notice. I take them back to my room in grand spirits and read them in solitude; I am in grand form for the rest of the day. It is wonderful of you all to write and how I bless you. In the afternoon I am invited out to tea with Mo Rapheal, a very happy event, tea, biscuits, cheese, jam and margarine were the order of the day, 15 were invited. Sunday night I wrote Kit's letter and a card to Mum at Aldershot, that night I couldn't sleep, I was very homesick; and so arrived Christmas morning, I got up at 7.30 and helped to make some tea which we had scrounged by bartering some biscuits. So we had a very strong brew, at 8.45 we all attended roll call, after which I made the others go to Holy Communion while I swept the room and cleaned up. At 10 o'clock, off to breakfast with great expectation, the first cooked breakfast since Christmas 1943. It is a great feeling, extra food; the hall is tastefully decorated with the little we had at our disposal. Breakfast consists of porridge, egg batter, 陆 a sausage and extraordinarily good coffee, how very pleased we all are. After breakfast I walk until 11.30 up and down the compound for my daily exercise, on going to my room I find that I have got some Christmas presents, 25 cigarettes from Mick, 20 from Phil, 100 from John Stuart, 50 from Rex Ward, 30 from Jeff Jordan and 50 from Derek Slingsby, how can I thank them enough. At 12 o'clock the room make a brew of cocoa so that I can drink Kit's health. I sit down on my bed at a photo of her and the boys, I allow my mind to drift, how I am wishing, I sit for 20 minutes dreaming and feeling homesick, I must pull myself together and so I walk up and down the compound again till 1.40, when I go up to the theatre for a cup of coffee and cheese straw and listen to the band play; everyone is wishing each other a happy Christmas, surely this is the last. At 3 pm I go to lunch, how grand it all looks, a menu each of what to eat, the band is playing, there is a cake between 10 of us, how have the mess managed it? Also mince pies or what mince pies look like, my mouth waters. Lunch is served Creamed Potatoes, a real good helping; I serve them, a Steak and Onion Pie and Oh Boy! peas, this is simply terrific. There is no talking, just eating. Next a trifle is being issued out, it is delicious, goodness what a meal, everyone is beginning to smile. Father Christmas arrives and puts a table bomb on each table when it explodes it throws out paper hats, I put mine on, Phil gives me a cigar, I feel simply grand, for once I am satisfied. The cake is taken back to the room and cut up, some eat it I save mine for supper. At 4.45 roll call again, the chatter is about food, everyone is in good spirits. Before 5 pm we are locked up once again, now I am waiting for this, the last event of the day is about to happen, the mess are sending round Ovaltine and a cake for supper, I intend to supplement this with a bit of toast. But what a day it would have been without the Red Cross. With the exception of the potatoes and meal for the pastry the Germans have supplied nothing, the Mess committee and the cooks have done wonders. But give me my home and Kit, home is the place to spend Christmas, I hope and pray that I am with her and the boys for the next. In truth I finish Christmas day, as I started homesick and a miserable 26th. After consideration I conclude that although yesterday I felt full in my stomach I felt I could take no more, my hunger was not satisfied, we are all of the same opinion that our stomachs have contracted to such an extent that they will not hold a normal meal and therefore hunger still persists.

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