What Did Soldiers Eat in the Trenches of World War One?

Life in the trenches during World War One would have been extremely tough. Long periods of boredom were mixed with brief moments of terror. The threat of death kept soldiers on edge, while poor living conditions and a lack of sleep wore away their health and stamina.

One element of trench life that was particularly grim, according to British soldiers, was the food. Fresh fruit, vegetables and meat were hard to come by so Tommy’s had to make do with tinned rations and hard biscuits.

In this video, Dan Snow experiences some of the food options that would have been on the menu for a soldier in the trenches of the ‘Great War’.

First, he tries trench stew or maconochie which was made with beef or gristle and sliced vegetables like turnips and carrots.

Next, he tastes some hardtack biscuits. These were very common during World War One because they didn’t go off and provided a substantial meal for soldiers, who badly needed the calories.

Dan washes his biscuits down with a mug of tea and a bite of chocolate. These familiar treats were used to boost soldiers morale and provide much-needed comfort to those on the front line.

Finally, Dan rolls a cigarette. Tobacco was a staple of army life and cigarettes were even used as currency within the British army. Dan also reveals that drugs were common in the trenches, with soldiers relying on substances to keep them going.

Do you think you could have got by on the diet of a soldier in the First World War? Let us know in the comments.

And keep your eyes peeled for the next episode of ‘History Feasts’ where Dan will be eating like a member of the Victorian working-class.

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[donnahays]

Friend, if you were cold and damp, tired and hungry, any food you could get hard or cold would have been a blessing.

[ljdasilva]

The point that he has missed is that many soldiers, especially from the mining areas of the North, put on weight and even grew a couple of inches due to an improved diet. This was the first time in their lives that many of them had been able to eat three (usually) meals a day - many had existed on dripping on bread and tea and jam sandwiches - meat and vegetables, despite Mr Snows picky appetite, were luxuries - It's a cruel world.

[anthonygerace]

One of the most memorable parts of the great novel "All Quiet on the Western Front" is the part when the protagonist goes on leave for a few days to visit his family in Germany. From an American perspective, one would expect his parents to fatten him up with home-cooked food. Instead, he brings some of his rations home to give to his parents and siblings. Apparently, due to the British blockade of Germany, the German soldiers had more food than the civilians.

[cinbellextratempus]

Dan snow is the most British officer looking man on earth 😂

[bigbrowntau]

5:29 Jerry cans are a World War Two German invention. Yes, water was brought up to the trenches in old fuel cans, but not Jerry cans. When British forces captured some Jerry cans in the Western Desert, they realised they were much better than the British "flimsy" cans, so the Allies simply copied them.

[Pemmont]

I think the idea of these biscuits is the same as "hardtack": A way to make bread without moisture, so it wouldn't go rotten. Apparently soldiers and sailors used to smash them up and use the crumbs to thicken stew, or leave them in a drink to absorb all the moisture before eating - like you showed! Trying to eat these biscuits by themselves isn't ideal :D

[rflameng]

It is important to remember that the population from which the troops of WW1 were drawn were not at all used to luxuries. So their experience would have been quite different.

[AnnaAnna-ucff]

No one ever ate hard tack by biting on it.
No one.
Ever.

[ronschramm]

IIRC, the biscuits were generally soaked in a beverage whether that was coffee, tea, or water. Additionally, it was added to the soups that were put together to thicken them. Finally, the trtench soldiers made a ersatz pastry by soaking the biscuit in condensed, sweetened milk, sprinkled sugar on top, and added raisins or other desiccated fruit.

[jessehayes]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the taste of corned beef with some vegetables like that seems exactly like Dinty Moore beef stew here in the US

[SweeturKraut]

Clearly Dan has never been truly hungry. There are a few ways to make that a very nice meal. You can soften the biscuits, flavor the meat, and enjoy a tasty meal in a muddy hole if you’re resourceful enough.

[b.critical]

But for some of the troops it was the first time in their lives that they had regular meals, a similar situation happened in the 2nd world war, when conscription was introduced some of the new recruits had to be fed up for a few weeks before they could start training due to malnutrition.

[coldlakealta]

my grandfather served in the 38th (Ottawa) Battalion of the First Canadian Expeditionary Force in Europe. How he returned a sweet and loving man having gone through the things I have come to learn about staggers me. God's love, Pops.

[janerkenbrack]

Add some water to that stew, break the hardtack into chunks, and soak it for an hour, with heat if possible. The hardtack becomes edible, the the stew becomes lobscouse.

[TooLooze]

Even if you don't appreciate waking to a unheated corned beef stew with vegetables, you don't have to be arrogant and melodramatic.

[acerrubrum]

The huge logistical challenge faced when attempting to keep millions of troops fed and watered is revealed in Hannah Holman's book The Trench Cookbook 1917.
The book includes recipes compiled from books supplied by the War Office and the Red Cross
National Army Museum,
By the First World War (1914-18), Army food was basic, but filling. Each soldier could expect around 4, 000 calories a day, with tinned rations and hard biscuits staples once again. But their diet also included vegetables,  bread and jam, and boiled plum puddings. This was all washed down by copious amounts of tea.
The mostly static nature of the war meant food supplies were generally reliable. And soldiers were able to supplement their rations with food parcels from home, with hot meals served behind the lines in canteens and kitchens,  and with food obtained from local people.

[DilipS]

Machonochie's was a brand of tinned stew, and was said to be the best thing they were issued by the troops themselves, most of whom liked it. See "Old Soldiers Never Die" by Frank Richards of the RWF. By the way, it's not pronounced "Macca-Knocky". It was s tinned beef stew, not bully beef and turnip. Some of the other manufacturers were not so good, though: sometimes a soldier would open a tin to find it contained just rice and a solitary lump of poor-quality meat. It was very obvious to the front-line troops that some firms back home were making a fortune off government contracts, to the detriment of the soldiers. Richards also mentions bacon being issued at breakfast time by field kitchens. A man was given the choice between a small square of bacon, not even a full rasher, or a dip of his bread in the fat. Ricahrds says he always chose a dip in the fat, and thought he had the better part of the deal.

[themysteriousone]

People need to remember too, peoples tastes were far more simple back then. People could afford salt as a spice, but not much else. A simple stew or pottage was what they lived on and it was just added to as they had it. Tastewise...I don't think they missed much and were just grateful to have something in their stomach

[lindagates]

My Canadian grandfather brought his love of Bully Beef home that corned beef was used in hash with potatoes and onions when I was growing up it was in sandwiches with chopped pickles and mustard too. I buy the South American Hereford cans a bit more expensive but well worth it to have the taste of my childhood . as I prefer fresh meat I do it once a year 😂❤🎉❤🎉❤🎉😊

[ebla]

I actually still make that stew, given it is with modern canned corn beef, potatoes, and carrots. I have never eaten it cold, but warm I like it.