Christmas At War

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		Luxuries of the Christmas season, which we now take for granted, were especially hard to come by - even basic foods were scarce. Those away fighting lived on basic rations, such as biscuits and tinned meat and prisoners of war were often on the verge of starvation.
		Click on image for larger version Q 26292. First World War - soldiers with Christmas turkeys. © IWM
		John Albert Luxford A British NCO who served with 1st Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps in North Africa (1941-1943); Italy (1943-1945) and Austria (1945). Here he recalls Christmas 1944, Italy, where the scarcity of turkeys for Christmas dinner called for drastic measures. Read transcript Peter Roylance Noakes British Officer served with 1st Bn Northamptonshire Regt in India, Ceylon and Burma (1941 - 1945). Christmas 1943 was spent in the jungle at Dimapur where he received a surprisingly tasty gift from nearby Gurkahs. Listen to sound extract \| Read transcript James Michael Symes A Channel Islands Officer who served with the 2nd Bn Hampshire Regt and who was a prisoner of war in Jersey, France and Germany (1940 - 1945). While in a French prison the food ration was very meagre, making his mother's gift of a tin of sardines all the more touching. Listen to sound extract \| Read transcript
		Second World War - 'Making Do' Basic foodstuffs such as sugar, meat, tea and cheese were rationed from 1940. From 1942 sweets were also rationed. People had to be resourceful, finding substitutes for ingredients - there are many recipes from the time for Christmas Puddings without sugar or Christmas Cakes without fat and the Ministry of Food and Good Housekeeping gave out handy hints such as adding cold tea to fruit cakes to make them appear richer. Good Housekeeping also suggested making a topical Christmas Cake in the shape of an Anderson Shelter! Icing sugar for Christmas cakes was a luxury and decorative cardboard covers were often used instead. Few people would have had a turkey on Christmas Day - other meats such as chicken, pork or mutton were more likely eaten. More information about food rationing and conditions during the Second World War can be found here
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Click on image for larger version

Edward Bawden RA, Cesena: Cooks of
Basuto Pioneer Company preparing the
midday dinner on Christmas Day, 1944
(IWM:ART LD 4962)
© IWM

Rum ration for the Navy's Christmas pudding.
The commander of a destroyer depot ship
in the Home Fleet stirring the Christmas
pudding, while the First Lieutenant adds
a tot of rum.
A 13317. © IWM