Tag: Food

16 Sept 1918: POW Graudenz

Monday Sept 16     Got up at 6.45, as usual lately, ran round the square five times, which about equals a mile, came back and cooked breakfast, and then discovered that the clock had been put back to winter time, so that it was then only 7 oclock.  One of our mess, who shall be nameless, after breakfast went back to bed again.

All who escaped have been recaptured, except two, mostly on the Polish border, and by patrols, who are probably out for deserters.  The two who are still at large are two Flying Corps fellows, one an Australian.  Good luck to them!

14 Sept 1918: POW Graudenz

Saturday. Sept 13 [14].     In the last 3 days I’ve had 4 clothes parcels, the two sent off somewhen in May, and two sent off in August.  Everything is in beautiful condition.  Not a crease in the slacks or tunics, despite the length of time en route. Everything is marked and labelled jolly sensibly, so that, even had the parcels been smashed, the things would have arrived O.K.  Gee!  I feel 200% better.  Clean underclothes, slacks and light shoes and umpteen baths.  There has been very little pleasure in having baths lately when I’ve had to put on the same old filthy underclothes.

14 Aug 1918: POW Graudenz

RAB diary Wednesday August 14, 1918, Graudenz: “a dose of ‹clink›”
Wednesday, August 14, 1918: “a dose of ‹clink›”

Wednesday. August 14th.     Have it on fairly good authority that we, Duce, Gerson and I, are getting 3 days cells starting on Saturday, for being late on parade yesterday.  We have every intention of appealing, as we consider the sentence grossly unjust; but personally, I shan’t mind very much.  The one thing that you can get free and for nothing in this country is experience, and it would be a pity to leave without a dose of ‹clink› as we used to call it in the army.  Overate myself yesterday.  Feel the need of light diet today.  Had porridge for brekker; chicken marengo, spaghetti in tomato sauce, potatoes and baked rice pudding for lunch.  ’Elp!!

7 Aug 1918: POW Graudenz

RAB diary Wednesday August 7, 1918, Graudenz: "vegetables, chiefly turnips and mangels"
Wednesday, August 7, 1918: “vegetables, chiefly turnips and mangels”

Wednesday. August 7th.     Wrote home interesting facts [code] as to the abundance of food.  The varicose vein seems to be diminishing in size, happily.
We seem to be coming in lately for a large amount of vegetable soups; fresh vegetables, chiefly turnips and mangels; my particular abomination of course.  It is usually nick-named Fresh Fruit – amongst us.  Nowadays I only visit the dining hall for barley, semolina, and potatoes.

3 Aug 1918: POW Graudenz

RAB diary Saturday August 3, 1918, Graudenz: "Advanced French class"
Saturday, August 3, 1918: “Advanced French class”

Saturday. August 3.     First day of the advanced French class.  Our instructor, or teacher rather, a Second Lieut. named Ardagh, is an M.A. of England and France, and speaks English, French, German and Italian fluently.  He was born in France and invariably thinks in French.  A first class man for the job.  Gave us a dictation today, in which I was top with 4 mistakes, but some others had as many as 27.  I foresee some weeding out.  The rest of the day was chiefly remarkable for an omelette!! made from Cooks Farm Eggs and Golden Syrup.
I think I must have dropped in weight from nearly 13 stone to less than 10, but I’m getter fitter rapidly now.  Similarly, with our increased grub, we become more civilised again.  We have indulged in a small china cruet, more plates.  We put the jam on our plates, and don’t dip out of the pots.  No question about it, hunger drives man down to the level of beasts.  Wait till I tell you about Rastatt.

26 July 1918: POW Graudenz

RAB diary Friday July 26, 1918, Graudenz: "a most glorious hash"
Friday, July 26, 1918: “a most glorious hash”

Friday. July 26th.     Nothing worth mentioning except a midday meal, a most glorious hash of my composition.  Recipe:- 1 tin bully beef. 1 cooked big onion, 2 whipped up eggs (from Cooks Farm eggs), 2 French biscuits ground up, a little black bread, all minced together and heated in a slow oven for two hours.  Ambrosia!

25 July 1918: POW Graudenz

RAB diary Thursday July 18, 1918, Graudenz: "a letter from the Kid"
Thursday, July 25, 1918: “a letter from the Kid”

Thursday. July 25th.     Hurrah!  This is quite a red letter day.  Miller and I had for breakfast tea with milk and sugar in it; with bacon and eggs, thanks to Cooks Farm Eggs.  Jolly fine!  And to cap it, I got a letter from the Kid, dated June 22nd, directed to Landshut.  She started at Alton on July 8th at just twice the money I started on.  Good luck, Kid!  There was no other news in it.  All the news I’m waiting for must be wandering round the country.  Still it’s fine to know that everyone is well.

21 July 1918: POW Graudenz

RAB diary Sunday July 21, 1918, Graudenz: "absolutely satisfied"
Sunday, July 21, 1918: “absolutely satisfied”

Sunday. July 21st.      Saw the finish of my two parcels.  Today’s midday meal left me absolutely satisfied for the first time for a month.  Soup (issue).  Potatoes (issue).  Spiced beef.  Hot stewed pears.
Rumours of no potatoes at all this week.  Unless something turns up, this will be the leanest week I’ve had; especially by contrast.  No letters again.

20 July 1918: POW Graudenz

RAB diary Saturday July 20, 1918, Graudenz: "peace and quietness"
Saturday, July 20, 1918: “peace and quietness”

Saturday July 20th.     We take away our potatoes three or four times a week, when they are not cooked in the soups, but in their skins.  These we peel, and four of us mash ours all up together, wet them with salt water, and spread them out in a frying pan, which has been previously greased, if we can scrape up any grease from anywhere.  This we get cooked in the kitchen and have for tea, and, though the potatoes are inferior, in my present state, it tastes almost as good as Tootser’s concoctions. What wouldn’t I give now for one of Toot’s potato cakes.
This war has given some people the desire for travel, but in me and in many others it has instilled an even greater love of our homes and of peace and quietness.  Wild horses, after this war, would not drag me farther than France or Spain.