World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- Turkey -- Gallipoli Peninsula; World War, 1914-1918 -- New Zealand
"BREAD AND JAM."
Two Signallers outside the Divisional Signal Office.]
Fresh beef was also tried, but, considering the heat and flies,
there is little wonder that the soldier suspected it of causing not
a little of his internal disturbances. An article in great request
was "Maconochies," a line of meat goods packed with a few slices of
potatoes, carrots and beans. The tins were boiled in a petrol tin of
sea water, and when turned out made a steaming mess considered far
superior to the traditional "dainty dish" that was set before the
king. Tinned meat is very good picnic fare, but when the meat is not
a New Zealand brand but comes from somewhere in the Argentine; when
it is served up for breakfast, dinner, and tea; curried or "hashed
with broken biscuits"--it is apt to lose its savour, and the nominal
pound (really 12 ounces) becomes more than the constitution of a New
Zealander can stand.
[Illustration: A SIKH WATER CARRIER.]
Vegetables were always scarce--here the tinned concoction known as
"Julienne" filled a gap. The mixture seemed to be all manner of
vegetables flaked and dried so that they resembled multi-coloured
shavings. On the principle that what does not fatten will fill, large
quantities of this dried vegetable were consumed in the early days when
men were strong enough to stand it.
Newcomers from Egypt sometimes brought a little fruit, while scouts
were always out among the sailors to induce them to bring back
delicacies from the canteens of the warships off the coast. Any excuse
was better than none to get alongside a hospital ship, not only for
the meal that the insinuating soldier was bound to get, but for the
chance of buying a loaf or a tin of milk from the canteen or the
commercial-minded baker! People going to Mudros or Imbros were loaded
with commissions and made the Greek traders rich by buying tinned figs,
pineapples, and milk at fabulous prices, and paradoxically, fowls'
eggs that were fresh and only one shilling a dozen. It was about this
time that the soldier, living as frugally as any ascetic, was solemnly
warned that "over-ripe fruit, such as bananas, tomatoes, oranges, and
grapes should be avoided" as likely to encourage cholera! The army,
weakened by dysentery, shrieked with delight!
Cheese and bacon were two popular variants in the ration. It always
amused the Colonial to see the Russian Jews of the Zion Mule Corps
struggling up to their cook-houses with their little bags of bacon. "It
is the ration!" was the stereotyped retort to the gibes of the ribald
ones. The hot sun affected the cheese somewhat. Perhaps two of the most
characteristic smells of Anzac were chloride of lime and the pungent
aroma of over-heated Cheddar.
[Illustration:
[_Lent by Sergt. P. Tite, N.Z.E._
MULES DUG IN UNDER THE CLIFFS IN MULE GULLY.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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