Ration quantities and quality In the early stages of the war, British soldiers were given 10 ounces (approx. 284g) of meat and 8 ounces (approx. 227g) of vegetables a day. However, as the army grew in size and German enemy blockades increased, these rations were cut to 6 ounces (approx. 170g) of meat a day. The logistics of feeding such a large army had never been faced before World War One. Nutritious and tasty food became incredibly rare. The large number of troops scattered across France and Belgium, proved to be a logistical nightmare. It is safe to say rations varied hugely due to the supply infrastructure, however military rank was also a factor in how much you had to eat. When the British Government proudly boasted that soldiers in the field received two hot meals a day, 200 000 outraged soldiers wrote letters saying this was not the case. All food rations, including bread, decreased as the war dragged on. Food in the trenches was often scarce, far from fresh and as a result stomach illnesses were commonplace. Adding to the staple rations Alongside the staple iron rations, soldiers were fed watery tea, stews or soups consisting of vegetables and occasionally lumps of meat. For example, "Maconochie", a tinned food often consumed, was an unappetising thin soup with sliced turnips and carrots. Cooking and supplying food in the field Providing freshly prepared food was very difficult. Whenever possible, food was cooked in field kitchens located safely behind the lines. Then catering staff put the food in "dixies", lidded cooking pots, and carried it to the trenches. Soldiers rarely received this food hot, as it was difficult to carry during shelling and because of the distances involved. If the enemy shelled the vital supply lines, soldiers often didn't get anything to eat for days on end. Tobacco and cigarettes Besides food, soldiers were given a ration of tobacco and cigarettes which may not have helped nutritionally, but may have helped distract from the immediate hunger, cold and horror of the trenches. The images in this Pathfinder This Pathfinder contains many images showing the extreme difficulties faced by the catering corps to deliver food in unhygienic, exposed and dangerous conditions." />

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