"Best WWII Mess Kit" Topic

Presumably the British Army's mess-tins must be regarded as a fairly successful design, as I believe the pattern first issued in the late 1930s is still used.

tuscaloosa wrote:

Wow, a P-38 can opener a security problem?

I always carry a compo ration tin-opener, very similar to the P-38, on my key ring. Mine is date-stamped 1979. When going through airport security at Cardiff in 2007, the can-opener attracted the attention of some over-attentive security people. I objected to their suggestion that I should hand it over, having had the thing since 1981, and it not conforming to any of the banned items listed on their security notices. They called their supervisor to deal with the matter. He asked what unit I had been in when I got the thing, so I told him, "6/7th Queen's(V)". He mentioned that he'd just finished a career in the regular army before taking this job. "What unit?" I asked. "Royal Welch Fusiliers", he said. "Ah, old flash and a dash -- I don't suppose you knew an officer called Sean Price?" "Sean Price? I was the PSI at BATUS when he had his artillery accident…", and with that we were off, I pulled up a sandbag while he swung the lamp. Having got to security before almost anyone else, I was pretty much last to board, because we must have chatted for a good half-hour. And I still have the can-opener.

All the best,

John.

As an aside I was going into the County Courthouse here and the County Sheriffs Deputies had a problem with my P-38 opener. But none at all with the fingernail clippers with a knife blade. Go figure. Robert

Spam is the go to food. High caloric count and vitamin intake. Spam and beans you can live forever.
VR
James Mattes

My 35 year old P38 was confiscated by the Security folks at the Marion County Office Building here in Indianapolis about two years ago. Even pleading with another vet who recognized it for what it was, did me no good. Fortunately I had another one at home. I was perturbed over the incident.

The Soviets sure loved it vojvoda :). Robert

I also carry the P38's big brother now the P51 LOL. Robert

Apparently the Italian ration meat can had the letters " A.M." stamped on it. The troops assumed that this meant Arabo Morto, or dead Arab.

I always liked the "Alter Mann" (Old Man) or "Alter Maulesel" (Old Mule) definitions LOL. Robert

On page 67 from "Personal perspectives: World War II, Volume 2" By Timothy C. Dowling its talk about "Alter Mann" and othe rations. It does mention it being called "Arabo Morto" too. Along with "Asinus Mussolini" LOL. Robert

link

Italian Army Rations of the Regio Esercito and RSI
link

Looks like most of the major Combatants in the war are covered in The Repro rations department. Robert

The Royal Navy's Mess kit is still in current use. It is very smart, whether Mess Dress, or Mess Undress, it is, to my mind, smarter than any of the Army versions of mess kit. All that red and the embroidered badges looks a bit flash to me.

Well It does look nice But I was really referring to were the Rations and items used to eat rations in the field in the OP :). Robert

I still have my RN Mess kit; can't fit into it any more though:(.

"In reality, this Italian officer's mess kit is more akin to a field kitchen equipped to feed three officers. Not only does it include plates and silverware, but the kit's Italian origins are reflected in the inclusion of a cheese grater, a pot with a built-in colander, and oil and vinegar bottles. Though not included in the Museum's example, officer's mess kits would also include a coffee pot and steel stove. The kit itself can be fitted with four legs to create a tabletop for mealtime."

link

Inside the Vault Episode 4 – Italian Officers Mess Kit
youtu.be/E1KfSEvcTmo

Mine was finally disposed of last year; lack of wardrobe space, apparently…..

That happens Chouan :(. Robert

Italian Enlisted mess kit

I like those cups as well. They're a nice size.

I was surprised at the size of the spoon Frontovik. LOL. Robert

Italian WWII Mess kit Standard Issue

Seems that this style was a standard for alot of the European forces. Robert

I cast "Raise Thread" on this defunct and long-dead exchange.

What kind of utensils (knife, fork, spoon) did the British & Commonwealth troops use during WW2? I can find US, German, Italian, etc, mess-kits and utensils, and British mess-kits (I have 3, one of which is of WW2 Indian make) but not a glimpse of the tools with which Tommy Atkins or his South Asian comrades placed the food in their mouths.

Very sensibly they used a knife, fork and spoon, such as these:

auction

Stored in the wash roll iirc. The clasp knife had a can opener on it.

Being a lazy cheapskate I use my German folding spoon/fork with my British mess tins.

You cant beat the British mess tins, they were used to pack stuff into usually "brew kit" in one and washing shaving kit in other, to reduce space and muffle noise.

Compo rations got slightly better when they went from tins to boil in the bag. However they did leave a strange silver residue on inside of mess tins after cooking..

I still hanker after the old "Cheese possessed" and mixed fruit pud(xmas cake in a tin).