126 FIELD BAKERY 1954-55

As Remembered By Arthur Watson

126 FIELD BAKEY CHRISTMAS EXTRA

Early December 1954 there was a whisper that a surprise admin inspection was to take place at the Supply Platoon (next door to the Bakery) and so a bit of a panic was in progress there. Next morning the REME man attached there came up to the bakery, after a visit by one of their sergeants, to fix extra bolts and padlocks to a small store no longer used in the bakery yard. One enquiring what was going on I got a blank look and no explanation, apart from he had been told to come and do the job. Anyway, at the end of our shift, the bakery lads went back to the billets leaving a couple of lads on fire piquet duty till the night shift came on at 1800 hrs. At about 1500 hrs a 15cwt came out of the back gate of the supply platoon, up to the yard gate of the bakery and, while the corporal kept the fire piquet talking out the front of the ovens, the truck was mysteriously unloaded into the store room and all was locked away.

It seems they had found a hiding place for whatever!! Only thing was – the door was well secured but there was a window quite high which was only wire netting as the building had previously been used as a salt store and required ventilation.

Back on night shift it was quite a discussion point as to what was going on but it was simply a case of looking through the netting. All that could be seen was a stack of tea chests and other boxes but, boys being boys, all were curious so a recky was in order.

Guess what! Goodies of all sorts. Tins of bacon, sausages, dried egg, milk powder, tinned fruit, marge, spam, condensed milk etc. you name it, it was there as well as packs from ‘K’ pack rations. I should think it was being gathered to supplement their rations and a little bit extra for Christmas – a couple of tins here, an odd package of whatever from there – who knows? But it certainly made a difference to our suppers and breakfasts on night and day shifts, as well as an improvised pre-Christmas party!

Anyway a day or two before Christmas the 15cwt truck pulled up at the yard gate and the sergeant, with a flourish of keys, unlocked the padlocks, drew back the bolts and swung the door open, only to step back in shock. The look on his face was prize. While we looked on all innocent whilst having our tea break between drawing the ovens – it couldn’t have been timed better.

There was some strange language between the Sgt and the lads with him before he dashed into our RSM’s office. There was a look of shock horror on Paddy Maires face as to what the problem was and he asked us if we knew anything. But all we could say was that we didn’t see or know what had been put in the store. There was no official complaint. I suppose that ‘officially there had been nothing put in it to start with’.

Sorry lads of the Supply Platoon but I can truly say “Thanks” – it was appreciated – unofficially. After all – one has to look after oneself and your mockers. – “Marsalam offendy”

BAKER GOES BANANAS

Fresh bread didn’t stay fresh for long in the climate, so it was a premium to get fresh bread. There was some discrimination by some of the storemen and in particular the allocation for the East African Pioneer Corps. They generally got what was left over from the day before. Quite often at Moascar we took it in turns to staff the bread store instead of working in the bakery. On nights we would stack the bread on the racks as it came out of the ovens – we had two teams, one RASC personnel and the other Egyptian workers, with ‘Busty’ Royce as Foreman. We had a fairly full night shift so with the squaddies doing one shift and then the Egyptians doing the next, there were quite a few breaks. Another duty we had to do was that of Fire Piquet now and again at weekends – Saturday lunchtime until Sunday evening when the night shift came on.

I was on Bread Store Duty one Saturday morning when a lad from the East African Pioneer Corp came in and asked if he could have a fresh loaf. No problem – their allocation was ready so I gave him a couple of loaves that were still warm. When he came back to return the carrier there was something on it. On looking under the cover there was a stalk of bananas. “For you” he said, so I replaced the cloth and put them out of sight. As I was one of the unlucky three detailed for Fire Piquet they would supplement our rations from the cook house. So when the rest of the lads had returned to their billets we got our supplements out. There was about 10-12 lbs of bananas so we roasted some in the still hot oven after lunch. Tea time sliced in a form of white sauce – mashed with evaporated milk for supper – have you ever tried fried bananas for breakfast – so many variations. We had them for every meal and even unzipped the odd one in between!

I wouldn’t say that I was pig-sick of them, but it was years before I could really say that I enjoyed eating a banana.

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