Zulu War Biscuits and Beef Tins

Subject: Zulu War Biscuits and Beef Tins Wed Mar 06, 2013 6:40 am

I had a look at the RDVC Forum and saw a question I'd like answered , does anyone know
what the actual biscuits looked like during the AZW , please DONT post the boxes they were in , but the biscuit itself ?.
Also does someone know what the Tins of Beef looked like ?. I think the tin of beef may have been posted previously but I didnt find it . Very Happy

. Thanks in advance .
Cheers 90th Salute

Subject: Re: Zulu War Biscuits and Beef Tins Thu Mar 07, 2013 12:09 am

90th I would imagine this is as near as we will get.
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"Hardtack was a simple flour biscuit issued throughout the war. Hardtack crackers made up a large portion of a daily ration. It was square or sometimes rectangular in shape with small holes baked into it, and similar to a large soda cracker and baked in northern factories. If the hardtack was received soon after leaving the factory, they were quite tasty and satisfying. Usually, the hardtack did not get to the men until months after it had been made. By that time, they were very hard, so hard that they called them "tooth dullers" and "sheet iron crackers". Sometimes they were infested with small bugs the men called weevils, so they referred to the hardtack as "worm castles" because of the many holes bored through the crackers by these pests. Packed into large wooden crates, the boxes were stacked outside of wharf warehouses until it was time to issue them. Men were usually allowed six to eight crackers for a three-day ration. There were a number of ways to eat them - plain or prepared with other ration items. Sea-going swabbies would crumble them into coffee or soften them in water and fry the hardtack with some bacon grease. One favorite soldier dish was salted pork fried with hardtack crumbled into the mixture. Soldiers called this "skillygallee", and it was a common and easily prepared meal."

Subject: Re: Zulu War Biscuits and Beef Tins Thu Mar 07, 2013 4:27 am

Thanks Littlehand .
Thats how I imagined them to look ! . Wouldnt fancy any after a couple of weeks or so , be like chewing on a slab of rock ! . Lol.
Cheers 90th. Salute

Subject: Re: Zulu War Biscuits and Beef Tins Thu Mar 07, 2013 12:22 pm

In reply to 90th question, with regards to "Tins of Beef " and it's contents.
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Post on behalf of forum member springbok, photo by springbok. Very Happy

90th. Don't shoot the messenger !!

Subject: Re: Zulu War Biscuits and Beef Tins Thu Mar 07, 2013 12:54 pm

Hi Admin.
Ahhhhhhh some of our friends from SA can be a little slow at times , more so the one's from the west coast ! . This obviously doesnt include Barry or Brett , I didnt ask what was in them but wanting to see what the can looked like , ie the company etc etc . My learned friend from the Cape obviously hasnt much to do at the moment during his little sojourn Very Happy

. Hopefully he may find the correct picture in time ! Lol x many . I'll bet he's sitting back there having a chuckle at the current English Test Score , and no doubt bent over in agony ( laughing ) with tears in his eyes after seeing our two woeful attempts in the first 2 tests in India ! . Me Not Lol ' ing Mad

Cheers Admin / Springbok ! Very Happy

Subject: Re: Zulu War Biscuits and Beef Tins Thu Mar 07, 2013 1:47 pm

90th
Sorry mate, that is the can, the edible stuffs inside Very Happy

its listed under ordinance stores as, Container/beef/mobile/self propelled.
Me gloat over cricket scores????? Alas and alack he doth me wrong.

Ps did tell you not to watch any sports channels though. Shocked

cheers

( And nerry a sound was heard through the cold winter fog of Romania either )

Not getting involved

Posts : 2558 Join date : 2009-04-06 Age : 62 Location : UK

Nothing like a bit of payback Very Happy

Subject: Re: Zulu War Biscuits and Beef Tins Thu Mar 07, 2013 7:36 pm

Seems rations haven't improved a whole lot over the past 134 years. Neutral

Subject: Re: Zulu War Biscuits and Beef Tins Thu Mar 07, 2013 9:54 pm

150 year old hard tack!!! Still edible.

Subject: Re: Zulu War Biscuits and Beef Tins Thu Mar 07, 2013 10:04 pm

"Since the colonial wars in Africa and elsewhere of the 1870's and 1880's, where many actions were fought by smaller units not generally equipped with a mess section, British military planners, troop commanders and explorers began to recommend portable rations. These were to be different from the standard fare of loose issues of food items that would spoil or be pilfered by animals, such as fresh meat, flour, vegetables or dairy products. Initially, a "secure ration" was designed consisting of nothing more than ½ pound (225gr) of "Good quality Naval Biscuit" and a half-ounce of salt. This was placed in a waxed paper wrapper, but proved quite unsuitable and insufficient to theater commanders and troops alike.

During the early 1880's, with the support of popular explorers such as Burton and Stanley, the British Army began casting about for a more portable "standard" ration, which could be counted on to sustain troops on campaign when cut off from regular sources of supply.

The first such product obtained was through the Bovril Company of London. It consisted of a metal or waxed fiberboard tube, which was partitioned in the middle. The metal versions of these generally had a soldered-on cap in place at both ends which was removed via a peel-away metal strip (similar to turn-key ham tins). The fiber board or waxed cardboard versions had glued-in-place caps with a piece of canvas tape protruding to facilitate opening.

One end held 'Bovril Paste', also known as 'Johnston's Fluid Beef', or what is known today as instant bullion (the pasty stuff mum uses to make kidney soup with). This portion of the container was normally marked 'Dinner'.

The other end held either a temperature resistant chocolate bar or cocoa powder. The portion of the container holding the chocolate was either marked 'Chocolate Ration', or 'Cocoa', regardless whether actual chocolate or cocoa powder was inside.

There were a variety of these rations produced clear into the early part of the 20th century, and many Bovril emergency rations made for the Boer war found their way into Royal navy emergency supplies during World War I, nearly 20 years after they had been made!

It is unclear whether the quality was high enough to warrant this, or if British thriftiness had gotten the better of the bluejacket's planners...

This was supplemented by one or more packs of biscuit. The emergency ration was meant to only be consumed when no other rations were available, and became a standard item carried by all soldiers of the empire in one form or another. Even though a standard issue was made, slightly better versions were offered for purchase by individual soldiers. These included tinned dry beef, biscuits and tea, tubes with a compartment for tobacco, and even some that combined all features in a tapered tin similar to the ones used to can fish, which was manufactured in Canada and prized above others. When these metallic tapered tins were purchased, a clasp knife with built-in tin opener was generally sold right along with them, which became a standard gift of commander's to troops, and eventually led to the general issue of such knives.

During the Boer war, many new innovations came into play, including rapid-fire volleys from repeating rifles, machineguns, general issue of camouflage clothing, (albeit limited) motorized transport, and a greater availability of tinned goods.

Even though the Commissariat and Transport Department did supply a certain amount of tinned goods to the unit, much was either obtained via private purchase or, in the case of volunteer units, at the expense of the unit commander. Generally, tin cans were of a commercial quality, and sported labels as would be found in stores. There was a great variety of tinned goods available, but on campaign, the following would normally encountered in the packs of troops:

1. Tinned meats, fowl and fish (both issue and private purchase varieties)--Corned Beef, Pork Loaf, Liver Paste, Sardines (in Cylindrical tins rather than the current flat ones), Chicken Meats and Turkey Bits.

2. Tinned Milk. Both the evaporated and the sweetened condensed varieties were in use, and were greatly prized by a nation of tea drinkers. The most common size was the 12 ounce tin, and many a Pattern 88 bayonet still bears nicks near the tip from frequent use as a milk tin opener!

3. Tinned 'Hash' and other ready-to-eat items such as the various stews were also encountered quite frequently, with sizes ranging from 12 ounce tins right up to 48 ounce tins.

4. Tinned Beans (in a variety of sauces) were also quite frequently encountered.

When touring Boer War battle fields today, you know that you have found the general vicinity when you come across large quantities of ancient seeming tin cans, flattened by time and by the soldiers themselves!

As an aside...

During the Boer war, British soldiers were issued with coffee and coffee grinders, as coffee was considered an important part of the evening meal! Of course, the troops were very likely to promptly use the coffee mills to grind mealie meal (African Cornmeal, which was issued rather coarsely ground as part of the portable ration) into cereal for stewing, rather than using them for their intended purpose.

Equipped with the knowledge from lessons learned during the Boer War and the Boxer Rebellion, British military planners realized the shortcomings of the emergency ration, and began planning for a more substantial standard 'Iron' ration troops could subsist on for days at a time. Even though the Bovril packs had been popular on campaign, the essentially liquid diet they provided had been found wanting by troops and commanders alike.

During the Boxer Rebellion troops mocked this ration when dead Boxers were unceremoniously transported on carts that had brought rations during the rebellion, by changing the cargo marker signs on the carts from 'Bovril' to 'Boxvril', as the dead Boxers were "as packed and as unappetizing as the rations what rode the carts before 'em..."

By 1903, changes appeared not only in the equipment of the British soldier, with the introduction of the so-called "Pattern 03" web gear that allowed for lower care pan-climatic use, but also in the supply system for these soldiers. Where previously a soldier was thought well to be equipped with 100 cartridges, campaigns against fanatical enemies in remote areas help revise that estimate. The Pattern '03 not only provided for 100 rounds of .303 ball ammunition in pouches on the webbing, but also for the standard carry of two additional bandoleers of 50 rounds each on campaign, which was at times bumped up to 4 bandoleers. To feed the soldier through the protracted engagements envisioned, the iron ration was expanded to include:

Preserved Meat (1 Tin). These were initially designed to be 1lb tins, but were soon replaced by 14-ounce tins of such 'greats' as pork loaf and tinned corned beef (aka 'Bully Beef).;

Biscuit (12 ounces). This normally was issued in either two 6-ounce packs or four 3-ounce packs. Both varieties were contained in an inner wrapper of waxed paper or the Swiss chemist Jacques Edwin Brandenberger's new invention---Cellophane! This packet was then wrapped in a paper outer wrapper, bearing a label identifying the contents.

Tea (5/8 ounce) in either a rolled-up envelope with a paper label, or a neat little waxed box.

Sugar (2 ounces) This was issued in small sugar boxes of loose sugar, or blocks of wrapped sugar tablets.

Salt (1/2 ounce) was issued in small boxes which either held the salt directly, or a small cellophane or tin-foil envelope containing salt

Meat Extract (1 ounce). This initially came in a brown paper wrapper containing two or three flat tablets of bouillon, but later was issued in a variety of ways, such as the classic "OXO" brand cubes.

In addition, a 3-ounce ration of Cheese would be provided where possible.

This iron ration was reserved for periods where troops were cut off from supply channels. Where such delays in resupply could be anticipated, and where regular resupply through the mess services could not be guaranteed, the British issued durable rations which troops could prepare in the trenches. Especially later in the war, it was considered safer to cook in the trenches than bringing food up from the rear.

Many British soldiers died from enemy action (artillery, plunging machinegun fire, aeroplanes and snipers) not attacking German lines, but carrying food carriers forward to their own troops. 'Death by Dixie' (the name of the mess-food carriers and cooking gear in general) became an all too frequent event.

These Daily Rations consisted of :

Preserved meat--(1 pound, which often just turned out to be an additional tin of Bully Beef)

Bread--(1.25lbs, but generally replaced by a lesser quantity of additional biscuits). This was often partially substituted (and on rare occasions supplemented) with either 4 ounces of oatmeal or rice.

Cheese--(3 ounces, supplied in 6-ounce tins). These often came painted with a drab or khaki protective coating, not for reasons of camouflage, but because of the potential for metal fouling, as many of these tins came from far-off Australia and New Zealand.

Bacon--(4 ounces, but often in the form of canned pork or beef) Butter, Lard or cooking oil were sometimes issued in lieu of.

Tea--(5/8 ounce; either in loose form from a large box or tin, or in the familiar small wax-packs). At times, this was replaced by 1/3 ounce of chocolate powder in small envelopes.

Salt--(1/2 ounce) was issued either by the pinch from boxes, or by the small individual box.

Jam-(4 ounces). This came in 13.2-ounce tins to be shared out by sections. Contrary to the much repeated "the only jam was Ticklers Plum and Apple", a variety of 13.2-ounce tins of jam were available, which included marmalade and assorted berry flavours which, alas, all seemed to taste more of "sugar and colour" than of any fruit. The squat tins were saved and put to a myriad of uses, from trench art, over cups to more tactical uses, such as alarm systems in the wire and the manufacture of jam-tin bombs.

Sugar--(3 Ounces) either dished out from boxes or tins/fiber containers, or, fairly late in the war, provided in 3-ounce boxes.

Vegetables--Either 8 ounces fresh or 2 ounces dried varieties were provided, but often times instead of the regular meat and vegetable rations, stewed and tinned combinations were provided instead

M&V (generally in 20 to 24 ounce tins) was provided from various manufacturers. This was what today would pass for Beef or Meat stew, but often was of poor quality and featured chunks of lard floating atop thin soup with low-grade meat and potatoes or beets. Maconochie Brothers brand was said to be one of the more edible varieties, and both commercially labeled and plain buff-colour labeled tins are encountered.

Tinned Beans became a standard issue item between 1916 and 1917, when meat supplies were at their lowest. These were the standard varieties, which normally were eaten either right out of the tin, or used on biscuits or bread as a topping.

Additionally, there were rations (based on availability) of pepper, tobacco, and mustard.

On special occasions (such as Christmas), troops were issued with gift packages (such as the famous Princess Mary Christmas Gift of 1914) which contained anything from writing implements, to chocolates and tobacco items."

Subject: zulu war biscuits and beef tins Thu Mar 07, 2013 10:06 pm

Looks like it was baked the day before , What the ............................... !!! , I knew it lasted a long time but 150 years . Rolling Eyes

.
I would've liked to have seen him have a bite . Lol. Salute

Cheers 90th

Subject: Re: Zulu War Biscuits and Beef Tins Thu Mar 07, 2013 10:14 pm

Thanks Littlehand , certainly very interesting reading thats for sure ! . Salute

90th.

Posts : 2308 Join date : 2010-07-02 Age : 44

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This chap's been eating hard tack for the past 20 years, problem is it's the same one.

Subject: Re: Zulu War Biscuits and Beef Tins Sat Mar 09, 2013 12:53 am

Hhahahahahahhahaahaha , Good one Impi . Very Happy

Cheers 90th.

Guest

Zulu War Biscuits and Beef Tins

miam ,miamThere are still selling in shops? (only if they are genuine ...)

Cheers

Pascal

Subject: Re: Zulu War Biscuits and Beef Tins Wed Jul 17, 2013 4:38 pm

"Hardtack was a simple flour biscuit issued throughout the war. Hardtack crackers made up a large portion of a daily ration. It was square or sometimes rectangular in shape with small holes baked into it, and similar to a large soda cracker and baked in northern factories. If the hardtack was received soon after leaving the factory, they were quite tasty and satisfying. Usually, the hardtack did not get to the men until months after it had been made. By that time, they were very hard, so hard that they called them "tooth dullers" and "sheet iron crackers". Sometimes they were infested with small bugs the men called weevils, so they referred to the hardtack as "worm castles" because of the many holes bored through the crackers by these pests. Packed into large wooden crates, the boxes were stacked outside of wharf warehouses until it was time to issue them. Men were usually allowed six to eight crackers for a three-day ration. There were a number of ways to eat them - plain or prepared with other ration items. Sea-going swabbies would crumble them into coffee or soften them in water and fry the hardtack with some bacon grease. One favorite soldier dish was salted pork fried with hardtack crumbled into the mixture. Soldiers called this "skillygallee", and it was a common and easily prepared meal.

Would you like to try some hardtack? It's very easy to make and here's the recipe:

2 cups of flour
1/2 to 3/4 cup water
1 tablespoon of Crisco or vegetable fat
6 pinches of salt

Mix the ingredients together into a stiff batter, knead several times, and spread the dough out flat to a thickness of 1/2 inch on a non-greased cookie sheet. Bake for one-half an hour at 400 degrees. Remove from oven, cut dough into 3-inch squares, and punch four rows of holes, four holes per row into the dough. Turn dough over, return to the oven and bake another one-half hour. Turn oven off and leave the door closed. Leave the hardtack in the oven until cool. Remove and enjoy!

Does your taste lean more to the southern side? Then try a "johnnie cake" that the Confederate soldiers enjoyed with their meals. The recipe is also very simple:

two cups of cornmeal
2/3 cup of milk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of salt

Mix ingredients into a stiff batter and form eight biscuit-sized "dodgers". Bake on a lightly greased sheet at 350 degrees for twenty to twenty five minutes or until brown. Or spoon the batter into hot cooking oil in a frying pan over a low flame. Remove the corn dodgers and let cool on a paper towel, spread with a little butter or molasses, and you have a real southern treat"!

Guest

Beurk!

Subject: Re: Zulu War Biscuits and Beef Tins Fri Jun 27, 2014 8:48 pm

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Royal Engineers Museum Chatham.

Subject: Zulu War Biscuits and Beef Tins Sat Jun 28, 2014 12:55 am

I think it'd be harder to get a bite out of them than opening an Ammunition box ! , looks like our man Bayoneted it , or attempted it on the top left corner ! Salute

Cheers 90th Very Happy

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