Tommies, Food, and Drink: A Microhistory, 1914–18

Abstract

This article uses a diary kept by a First World War soldier, Vince Schürhoff, to explore the British Army’s food culture. It examines his journey through seven food contexts, the evolution of his cooking and consumption, and interaction with French food culture. This microhistory of everyday life demonstrates the centrality of food in the men’s lives both emotionally and socially as well as physiologically. Additionally, it provides valuable insights into the relationships that formed around eating between the soldiers themselves and also with civilian providers. His rich account confirms the role of food as a key factor in the men’s expression of the sometimes-shocking differences between military and civilian worlds.