catering corps

Not me Guv

Back in the early 70's there was still a regimental cook in the Coldstreams Guards. Gillie, had the knack ,especially on exercise, of turning out great meals. He made a pie that was loved by all.

There is nothing substantive on the web regarding the phasing out of Regimental cooks but Gallahad's remarks about the Coldstream Guards confirm my thoughts that the final changeover begain in the mid 60s and that former Regimental Cooks on transfer to the ACC had reserved rights if they wished to stay with their former units. Certainly Gillie or another member of the Coldstreams team was a legend throughout the entire Loddenheide complex (I was based in Waterloo Barracks at the time

Another such individual was the Welsh Guards Serjeants Mess chef who was most reluctant to let anyone else in HIS kitchen and had to be ordered to go on leave from time to time

I too have known some superb ACC cooks bothe regular and TA , we are all human, there was the odd bad un but it was amazing what a few words of thanks would do (think about the hours many of them put in providing hot food with often very basic facilities round the clock on exercises as back up to crew cooking)L

Oh I think the ACC were fine on the whole, it was Regimental cooks I was on about. I do remember eating 'tatties and mince one lunch time on Ex with some Highlanders though.

alan8376 wrote:

There are always good ones and bad ones in all trades in the Army. The trouble is the ACC were always on 'test'!

No one can remember the rubbish Clericals or Regimental role or maybe the Reme Fitters who bodged your transport.

When was the last time you Quality Controlled day in and out a persons work. Because thats what we do when eating our food!

Your are right in what you say. In my days of National Service I could never understand why anyone would want to be in the ACC. It was virtually impossible for them ever to satisfy such an ungracious mob.

Was speaking to my brother last night who is ex ACC and TAWO Catering Support Regt (v) RLC at Grantham

He says the Brigade of Guards were the last regiments to have Regimentaly Cap Badged Cooks up to around 1975 but they were still trained and upgraded etc by the Army School of Catering at Aldershot so were [supposed] to be to the same standard as a B3, B2 or B1 Cook ACC.

The idea of 'Regimental Cooks' still persisted in the TA becouse they joined the local TA unit, and were then mustered into a support roll such as AGC Clerk, REME Fitter or ACC Chef and dislike wearing the Corps Cap Badges other than when on courses (or so I am told) today the act of rebellion is normally restricted to the wearing of the Regimental TRF.

Must admit that I saw some strange idea's of food preperation in my time. These were quickly stamped out before they became habit. Examples are were, " Cooking steaks 2 hours before meal time so as to save time on clean up and cooking to order", that was jumped on from great heights. Another was to heat up vegatables on the steam table. But generaly most people I worked with took pride in their food prep. and presentation. There will always be some one who thinks they can short cut food prep. When I pensioned off I was approached on my last month of re-hab leave and asked to stay in. So I must have been doing something right. Felt good to be asked, but still I enjoyed being a civilian.

Just as a matter of interest, here in Peachland BC we have a pub-style restaurant named "The Two Chefs" run by a married couple who are ex-ACC. He was last posted to an RA regiment in Lippstadt (can't remember the specifics). Don't know where he met his wife, but it was during their army time.

Anyway, the menu and quality are excellent. The beer's good as well. If you get up this way, don't miss it.

I posted this on the RAOC Forum, but no one seems to know the answer. I recall as a very young child going with my Mum to the cookhouse and her drawing rations for us. This would have been in Berlin I think. Does any one know if that's true?

Don`t know if true or not but sounds feasable if it was during the blockade.

Hmmm, That was '48 - '49 Gordon, I think I must have been about 3 so we're looking '51 or '52 I think.

Not as old as i thought then lol

it might well be you remember quite well,dont forget rationing in britain offfically ended in 1955.

Being a butcher in Composite Pln I had no work unless on exercise,so was employed in the Married Families Ration Store.This was in Bielefeld 51-52,we drew the rations from 85 Su-ply Depot I think three times a week,broke them down according to family size and delivered them to the front door.This was only for Catterick Barracks people.

jim wrote:

I posted this on the RAOC Forum, but no one seems to know the answer. I recall as a very young child going with my Mum to the cookhouse and her drawing rations for us. This would have been in Berlin I think. Does any one know if that's true?

Jim, I Don't know the answer to that one,but it does sound feasible. I was in Berlin 1976-1978 and we submitted weekly food orders (FRIS), I believe it was called. These orders were delivered to the door. Maybe an improvement to the system?

While at SEME one wintry morning there was a power cut at Havannah Bks, and the Cooks were serving by dim torch lights. The power was soon restored and a few bugs were seen among the food. A witty spark, shouted,......"for f*** sake Sarge, turn the lights back off again."

AH, Thank you guys, I didn't mis remember it then. We lived on the Barracks so maybe that's why we collected it ourselves.

LOL, why do I feel so happy now.

Jim, I have spoken to the Oracle,(The Wife), she seems to think that there were three delivery days a week if needed. Everything from meat to bread and dairy products. The best value she ever saw.

hi my name is john moore
served acc 80-82 anyone out there remember doing a bbq for variety club at chessington zoo while we were still in basic back in 81 lot of screaming kids that day as i remember
HAPPY DAYS

Hi John and welcome mate.

thanks for the welcome Jim
they were good days and some bad days back then but they were proud days, learnt a lot to
still cooking 29 yrs on
cant beat the Andy Cap Commandos
john

anyone out there know why an egg buttie is known as an EGG BANJO? my old mum has always called them that ever since i can remember

Jonathon, I was once told that the Egg sarnie was called an Egg Banjo because, on taking the first bite you held in at the sides with both hands to control the flow off egg yolk but, almost invariably, the yolk ran out the back of the said sarnie and down the front of whatever you were wearing so, you held the sarnie in the air, parallel with your shoulder and brushed the offending mess from your front, in a strumming motion - hence the Egg Banjo. If anyone out there is ever on "Who wants to be a Millionaire" and is looking for a 'phone a friend, give me a ring - I am full of useless information!

Shelldrake wrote:

Jonathon, I was once told that the Egg sarnie was called an Egg Banjo because, on taking the first bite you held in at the sides with both hands to control the flow off egg yolk but, almost invariably, the yolk ran out the back of the said sarnie and down the front of whatever you were wearing so, you held the sarnie in the air, parallel with your shoulder and brushed the offending mess from your front, in a strumming motion - hence the Egg Banjo. If anyone out there is ever on "Who wants to be a Millionaire" and is looking for a 'phone a friend, give me a ring - I am full of useless information!

Quite agree. Someone once called a bacon butty a bacon banjo. Not so said Mr Know it all me.

I remember being on my trade training course at Catterick and our course were stuck into the back of a four tonner, taken off into the woods somewhere at the back of Vimy lines. Our job was to eat the food that the cooks had prepared in the field for some kind of competition.

I remember lots of brass there sampling a bit here and a bit there and giving out marks. There was a whole three course meal prepared on No 1 Burners and it was delicious.

Best cookhouse. sorry restaurant, RAF Wildenrath in my humble.

Aye,,The RAF were a cut above when it came to food.