Embedded Files
If you're interested in Stoves, or would like to ask any questions about any stove - do visit this very helpful and informative forum.
Page quick jumps
Quick list of Field cooking item developments
A work in progress
To open the following table in a new window, for better viewing, hold your mouse over the table, and click this icon in the top right corner.
Mess tins
The first mess tins are said to have been introduced in 1813, and were D shaped. This due to issues with the camp kettles arriving some hours after the unit arrived at that day's encampment. Still looking for evidence, but am sure that there will be something amongst Wellington's papers. They came with a dedicated pouch, which was worn on their Accoutrements (webbing) , worn in the small of the back.
The next development was a circular design for horse mounted troops - cavalry, Dragoons, etc. Again this had a dedicated pouch.
The first version had slots in the lid, so that the folding handle could be left out, and the lid placed on the tin whilst cooking.
A second version did away for the slots in the lid.
This circular design was issued to RAF members during WW2.
This IWM image shows two mounted troops cooking in their circular Mess tins.
The 1939 patern Mess tins are rectangular, with the smaller one fitting inside the larger one. When brewing up, the larger one can be placed over the smaller one to act as a lid.
Electric vehicle cooking
POT cooking electrical
The HWR, or HW&R stands for Heater, Water and Rations.
The first British vehicle to feature the HWR was the Centurion tank, which dates the HWR to around 1945. The Centurion was in development in 1943. The HWR allowed tank crews to produce hot food and drink whilst within the protection of the tank, and allowed to prepare the food whilst on the move.
Commonly called the BV, for Boiling Vessel, it is felt by troops to be the most important piece of equipment.
Electric Boiling Vessel No 2 Mark 1
Circular, metal with detachable lid. Main body of vessel has hinged handle and electrical element inside. Manufactured by the Cannon Company. Label on lid states 'VESSEL, BOILING, NO.2. MK.1. FV 159910 H.E.A. LID ASSY. ONLY FV 159912'
The original BV had an exposed element, and loose lid. Pouring lip on one side of vessel. The cable connector is by the handle hinge.
28 volt boiling vessel. 7210-99-811-6909
As fitted to certain vehicles to boil water or cook rations.
Whilst many vehicles still use the BV type above, a more modern version was released.
There is now a third option, which will cool items - to offer cold drinks in hot climates.
RAK 15 7310-99-991-1710
The new RAK15HC can chill or heat liquids and food in 20 minutes, depending on power rating.
Note the body is taller, with the air intake grill at the bottom for the cooling of the unit.
Sold fuel cookers
Note - Boiler means any container, with a sit on lid, which is placed on a fire to heat water or cook food, such as soup within it.
Count Rumford - Stove and Field cooker
American Loyalist, Benjamin Thompson, (1753 – 1814) fought for the English army during the American war of independence. He forded a regiment of Dragoons, and gained the provincial rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He moved to England at the end of the war, in 1781, and was knighted by the King soon after. But in the 1890s, he stopped off in Bavaria on his way to Austria, where he offered to improve the army, corruption, and improvement in the poor. He ended up being made a Count in 1794, and chose the name of Count Rumford, Rumford being the town in America where he had taught for a while. He ended up as a Lieutenant General of the Bavarian Army, and Minister of War. He spent many years researching and carrying out experiments. Some of those include of the properties of heat, of fire places and chimneys, and the economy of fuel. He was instrumental in setting up a building, by subscription, for the British Royal Society.
Things that he recorded in his 10th essay of 1796 included this Portable Furnace. The key features includes that the top of the pot sits in a double groove, to seal the heat in, and also the chimney is lower than the boiler pot, so that heat was retained around the boiler pot, and a low chimney.
Another invention was a field kitchen. The attached image is based on Count Rumford's description in his 6th essay, "Of the Management of Fire and the Economy of Fuel." It consists of 4 boilers, that each nests inside another one - so that the largest boiler is placed in the crate for transporting, with the other three housed inside the largest, and the chimney stowed inside of them all.
The field kitchen was invented by Count Rumford by necessity. Whilst on leave in the UK, Count Rumford was called back to Bavaria. He played a pivotal role in the defence of Munich in 1796 during the War of the First Coalition. The Elector's court had abandoned Munich, due to French and Austrian forces vying for position in Bavaria. Count Rumford built up a small army of Militia and civilian volunteers, , closed the city gates, and called the bluff of the French and Austrian forces. With so many militia housed in the city, it was necessary to find a way to feed them all. With his previous experiments with Soup, and fire places, he invented his Field kitchen, and succeeded in feeding everyone and saving Munich. This act resulted in Count Rumford being a respected folk hero.
The following 4 pages are from Count Rumford's 6th Essay of 1796, which was put into his Complete works - which is available to download for free off the internet. It records his Field kitchen, as supplied to the Sussex Militia in 1796.
From Google
"The Sussex Militia adopted a "scientific way of cooking" in 1796 by implementing Sir Benjamin Thompson's (Count Rumford's) portable field kitchen and special boilers to improve the diet of soldiers and save fuel. This system involved using stacked copper boilers within a brick chimney to cook efficiently, providing well-fed troops with a standardized method of cooking soups and stews, as opposed to the more wasteful practice of frying. "
From John Randle Western's "The English Militia in the Eighteenth Century"
"The Sussex militia fed its men in camp in 1796 on a scientific plan. Grates and some special boilers devised by Count Rumford (7) were bought and the regiment was divided into two groups of three companies, each with a boiler. Some of the men were trained as cooks and served in rotation, receiving 1s. for eight days' service, less fines for justified complaints. The pay sergeants of the companies took it in turns to have charge of the boiler and buy whatever the season would furnish in the way of vegetables. "
The Canada Stove
The Canada stove was made by a number of companies, and appears to have been designed by the Falkirk Iron Works.
As shown in this image from the Falkirk Iron works catalogue, the Canada stove came in two versions ; the Parlour and the Common stove. The Common stove came in various size from 18 to 36 inches long, and also came as a single, and double height stove.
This newspaper advert shows us that the Canada stove existed in 1789.
Newspaper articles show us that hundreds of Canada stoves were shipped to the Crimea at the start of the war. Unfortunately, the stores ship carrying the stoves sank in a storm, which resulted in feeding issues in Crimea. The newspapers show us that a new order of 1,200 stoves was ordered and shipped.
Captain John Grant
Captain John Grant, formerly of the Royal Artillery, is accredited to the invention of a couple of items connected with military cooking equipment. One is the field Cooking trench, which developed into the Broad Arrow trench. The other is the permanent kitchen, where Grant added 4 ovens with the chimney above them, and cooking hobs either side - with 2 fires.
A 1912 photo of two kettle trenches at the School of Cookery.
Captain Grant's Kitchen cooker, with bread oven - of 1858
The ovens can be fuelled from just one side, or just one hob can be used - by the use of a sliding hatch, to close the other side's hob off.
The Broad Arrow Trench
The Broad arrow design of cooking trenches was demonstrated at Cobham Camp, in 1863. The Royal Engineers showed units how to construct and use the broad arrow.
Basically a trench is dug, deeper at the fire end, and shallower where the chimney is built. Kettles and Dixies are put on sticks that cross the trench. The first revision saw mud and clay packed around the dixies, so that heat could only escape where the dixies were located, with the smoke and heat being drawn along the trench and up the chimney. Further trenches can be dug, all joining in a fan shape to utilise the single chimney.
The next revision was to use short iron bars and sheet metal plate across the trench, for the kettles to sit on. The photos from IWM below show that the chimney is of brick, with each trench having it's own metal chimney. The first version used sods of turf or peat to construct a single trench.
The concept of heat following a passage to the chimney - people having forgotten Count Rumford's works, lead to various ideas based on the trench. Here, an oven has been placed in line between the kettles, making a Camp Kitchen.
The design principle allows for various designs to be constructed, above ground, so long as the product of the fire has a route to follow to reach the chimney.
Amongst the improvisations of the trench, included the use of oil and water as the cooking heat source.
Soyer Stove
French chef, Alexis Soyer (pronounced ah-lehk-SEE and SOY-ehr) demonstrated his cooker to the British Army during the Crimean war (1853-1856). The Soyer stove revolutionised catering provision in the British Army.
Their simple and economical design proved so successful that variants remained in use for more than 135 years.
It is claimed that they have been used continually until the 1980s, when the vast majority of the British Army stock was lost in the sinking of the Atlantic Conveyor - during the Falklands War.
How ever, I have found Soyer stoves made in 1983 (RLC catering school) and 1985 (Bovington Tank Museum).
Capable of boiling 12 gallons of liquid using any available solid fuel, they are simple and efficient. The original specification was that two, together with wood for fuel could be carried by a mule.
One sealed unit could provide food for 50 men in all weathers, using a fraction of the fuel required by open fires. The stoves also served as space heaters.
The Soyer stove was adopted as standard by the Civil Defence organisation during WW2. Examples staffed by the Woman’s Voluntary Service were used to provide emergency food in the bombed areas during the Blitz. After WW2, large numbers were put into storage in event of a nuclear attack.
The Civil Defence versions have rectangular doors, directly next to each other.
The Civil Defence example shown below is a Soy stove, made by J Stott & co, Oldham.
Soyer stoves are 12 gallon cookers. They consist of
Body.
Boiler (a 12 gallon pot).
2 handles (to lift the Boiler pot out).
Elbow, piping, and hood of the chimney.
Pot, fire.
Rake.
The other brand of Civil defence Soyer type is Esse, who called theirs the Ludgate stove. Esse are still based in Falkirk, but had a showroom at Ludgate Hill in London.
This wonderful display with the Ludgate stove is at the RLC Museum.
It would appear that in 1941, Lieutenant J. B. Sabin, of the Royal Army Medical Corps designed a Steamer, to fit into the top of the Soyer Inner Pan.
John James Mcloughlin
In 1909, John James Mcloughlin (Former Infantry soldier) and Peter Shaw Grant patented a new Portable field cooker. It included folding metal frames for mounting Dixies into, and an oven with a cavity for heat transfer. This is the forerunner of the Number 1 burner stand idea. Not all ground is suitable for digging trenches, as discovered in the Crimea.
Deane Iron stove - Ed Deane and Beal Iron Stove
Deane were at No. 1 London Bridge, apparently from 1700. They were taken over by Simon Beal around 1907, and it appears that Beal was possibly working for Deane before buying the company. The company went Limited in 1911.
The military manuals record Dean boilers and stoves, but there is no trace yet found of a company called Dean making kitchen equipment in the 1890s and early 1900s.
Tomkins Portable Cooking Stove - 1895
Tomkins, a former Captain of the Victoria Rifles, is connected to a number of cooking item inventions around the turn of the century, including the inspiring design that later became the Bluff range. Tomkins is linked with or worked for The Military Equipment Company Limited.
This small cooker from 1896, collapsed down into a small transportable box, with everything fitting into the largest of the two ovens. The Cooker is shown in many editions of the RAMC manuals, from 1899 right through WW2.
George Fowler's Field cooker
George Fowler (1855 - 1923) served 30 years in the army. Initially joining the Infantry, he later switched to the RAMC. Whilst in the RAMC he researched preserving food by bottling, and designed the Fowler Field cooker.
George's First patent for a field oven is a joint venture, dated 1890. The patent isn't finalised, and the next patent date is 1895. The Australian Forces used the Fowler No.1 during WW2 and Korea.
Do see the Australian copies section later on.
Portable cooker No. 3
The Portable cooker Number 3 appears to be a solid fuel hot plate. More research is required, as it may have recesses for Dixies in the top plate.
No. 4 Triplex
The No. 4 has been seen in use in photographs prior to WW2, and continued in service until the late 1980s. It is a solid fuel burner, which heats pot stands and the oven. The fire gases are drawn along the hob area, through the passageways around the oven and up the chimney. Baffles deflect the heat under and around the oven as it enters from the hob section.
The main difference between the Fowler and the Triplex, is the adjustable dampner in the base of the Triplex chimney.
Instructions for the No. 4 (Triplex) field cooker.
No 4 Triplex Field Cooker instructions.pdfIn Paul S Shaw's book, A Military Chef's Journey - we're advised that the Triplex was still in use during the 1980s.
Improved Triplex stove
These Triplex Field cookers have been "Improved" by raising the entire cooker on bricks, insulating the oven and grate with bricks and/or fuel cans. Four shelves have been created behind the Hob, and the bottom one will be hot enough to heat food, and the top shelf hot enough to keep food warm. The top of the oven now works as another cooking hob, due to the protection from the wind.
Note that the Deane iron stove has also been raised up on bricks
Bluff portable oven Range
The Bluff Range came in two sizes, with either 3 or 5 ovens.
The 3 ovens Range was used to cook for 250 - 300 men.
The 5 ovens Range was used to cook for 500 men.
B L U F F R A N G E
(a) Always choose a level piece o f ground.
(b) Erect the cooker so that the firebox is into the wind.
(c) Do not forget the Baffle plate and keep the fire small. Heat is required, not flame.
(d) Make use o f dam per in the chimney flue and the draught regulator in the plate below the firebox.
(e) Use the hot cupboards in the bottom section, not only for drying wood, but for warming plates, etc.
Travelling Kitchen
Operation Ration Heater
The Operational Ration Heater (ORH) is designed for individual use in field conditions, and consists of a folding stove.
Hurlock WW2 Stove, & file
Hurlock stoves for the UK were made under licence by Townson and Coxson, of Birmingham
Hurlock WW2 instructions PDF
Hurlock WW2 stove instructions 2023.pdfNewscaven Stove
"This simple petrol vapour stove was first drawn and produced by Capt. Scarisbrick, A.C.C., and Major R.R. Newton and Major R. Venning, both of the R.A.S.C. It is made from used 25 lb shell cases, which can be used for its production. The case is cut into three portions. The top piece is cast aside. The centre portion is used for the windshield and the rest for a mess tin. The base, which is inverted, is the container for the spirit; and the primer contains the twisted copper pipes used in vapourising the petrol. A mess-tin of water heats up to boiling point in seven minutes."
This story corresponds to all photographs within the numerical series B 13205 - B 13216, each of which are digitised via the IWM Collections Online website.
Tommy Stove
These are from the 1960s
The Hexi stove 7310-99-883-3123
Apparently, the law changed in 2023.
Hexamine tablets are now a controlled substance, and possession can lead to 2 years in prison.
The modern Fire Dragon tablets are of course safe, they being made from a different product
HEXAMETHYLENETETRAMINE also known as Hexamine and Hexi.
This produces toxic and corrosive gases including formaldehyde, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide and nitrogen oxides
The Hexi stove is a small folding cooker, that fits inside the mess tins for transporting.
The Hexi fuel gives off toxic fumes, including cyanide - and must be used outdoors.
BCB Firedragon 7310-99-587-4226
The Hexi stove has been superseded by the BCB Firedragon.
The Operational Ration Heater (ORH) is designed for individual use in field conditions and consists of a folding stove and a detachable windshield. In terms of fuel source the ORH is not supplied with fuel tablets, however each 24 hour fuel pack contains 6 fuel tablets, additional fuel tablets can be demanded separately.
Inside the folded, closed cooker, 3 fixed FireDragon blocks can be stored. A windshield included in the scope of delivery also finds a place inside the cooker for compact Transport.
Foldable multi-fuel cooker with windbreak
Stainless steel - Reusable and durable
Many liquid, gel and solid fuels can be used (no petrol)
3 FireDragon blocks and the windscreen can be stored / transported inside the cooker
Size: 11.5 x 7.3 x 2.6 cm
Weight: approx. 110 grams
Cooker is supplied without fuel (please order separately)
BCB Firedragon fuel 9110-99-426-2694
Unlike other fuels, Firedragon fuel burns with virtually no harmful or toxic fumes, and is odourless.
100% natural, sustainable fuel (bio-ethanol)
Use in all weather conditions
Easy to ignite
High performance and efficiency
500 ml of water boils in about 5 minutes
Burn time per block: 8 - 10 minutes
Constant flame temperature
Odourless - Non-toxic for the environment and food
Low smoke and soot development
For indoor and outdoor use
Blocks can be portioned
Can be used as waterless hand cleaner
Long and safe storage
Weight per block: 26 grams
Size per block: approx. 5.5 x 2.5 x 2.5 cm
Fun facts from BCB
Blocks can be extinguished with water to save fuel, and then relite later without drying.
Blocks float. They can be put in water, and whilst floating, lit. They will float and burn.
Some information on bio-ethanol can be read here.
Due to the design of the BCB Firedragon stove, it can be used with some liquids and gels - but never petrol.
One example of fuel being Firedragon's Gel firelighter.
Petroleum spirit Stoves
Benghazi Burner
An improvised stove created by punching holes into a metal box or similar. The petrol being mixed with sand or similar to reduce the speed of burning of the petrol.
No. 1 burner 7310-99-125-1847
Lewis Motley started to patent the petrol burning apparatus in the 1920s. The farm burner went through 12 years of trials and development with the army, before becoming the No. 1 Hydra burner and main cooking heating device of the British army.
Basic User instructions for the No. 1 burner.
No 1 Burner.pdf1945 Operation and Maintenance manual for Nos. 1, 2 and 3 portable cookers.
No 1 2 and 3 1945 Portable Cookers Operation and Maintenance S-W-O.pdf1962 Operation and Maintenance manual for Nos. 1, 2 and 3 portable cookers.
Retyped for easier reading.
No 1, 2 and 3 1962 Portable Cookers Operation and Maintenance-S-W.pdfThe Hydra No. 1 performed well with the Fowler/Triplex Camp stoves and the Soyer Field Stoves.
No. 2 Portable 7330-99-125-1802
A single burner stove.
Service card for No. 2
See Manual for burner No. 1.
The stove safety card is reproduced below.
No 2 Portable stove.pdfNo. 3 stove 7310-99-125-1750
A double burner stove.
No. 2 & 3 User instructions off No. 2 case
See Manual for burner No. 1.
The stove label is reproduced below.
No 2 and 3 stoves.pdfUnnumbered Cookers, Trailer of the 1930s. Item number JA 7039
In the 1939 edition of the British Army's Vocabulary of Army Ordnance Stores - it lists a Cookers, Trailer, Hydra type.
The entry on the VAOS of 1939 states:-
Consisting of 2 Ranges, each with 3 Burners and an Oven with 1 Burner; Cabinet tank and control, and the accessories, etc.,
This suggests to me that the ovens had their own fuel supply, similar to the American M1937 ovens
The spreadsheet below shows that at least 20 Kitchen trailers were made in the early 1930s.
I believe the images below show an example of JA 7039, Cookers, Trailer, Hydra type - with one range as listed above on each side of the trailer.
No. 4, (Mk. 1) Gasoline trailer
7360-99-209-9498
No images or documents yet. But the Mk. 1 is very similar to the Mk. 2 trailer.
This small sample from MERLIN shows some of the NSN, Asset codes and Contract numbers associated with cooking trailers of the British Army.
It should be remembered that MERLIN computer program wasn't started until 1986, and back dated to anything that was in service in January 1984. So anything cast (disposed of) before 31st December 1983 does not appear in MERLIN
The Documents before AESPs included:-
Army Code 40197 - Cooking Equipment Complete Equipment Schedule.
Army Code 31224 - Complete Equipment Schedule.
Army Code 14510
This appears to be the Hydra No. 1 fuel source for the Cookers, Trailer, Hydra Type listed in the 1939 VAOS.
An image from 7360-J-100-201, showing the Hydra 4 outlet burner. So an early AESP.
It had a Hydra burner stored on both sides of the trailer. Giving a total of 8 outlets.
No. 4, Mk. 2 Gasoline & LPG trailer 7360-99-130-5642
Apparently, the H gas burners were made by Arunfab Ltd, who have ceased trading.
No. 5 stove 7360-99-132-2518
A 4 burner stove.
The Cooking Outfit Field No 5 is designed at a portable cooking equipment capable of producing meals with multi choice menus for small groups of men, up to 35 strong, using fresh, frozen, ambient or operational rations or a combination of one or more of these ration types. In austere conditions and utilising a simplified menu the kitchen is capable of producing meals for up to 100 personnel.
The outfit comes with sufficient equipment to enable the following cooking techniques to be adopted: Baking, Braising, Roasting, Shallow Frying, Deep Frying, Boiling, Stewing, and Poaching.
No. 5 cooking outfit
No 5 Cookset Mk5 document 7360-G-100-S-W.pdfNo. 6 stove 7310-99-138-3660
A single burner stove
No military documents yet.
The stove label is reproduced below.
No 6 stove Label J&F P.pdfNo. 7 stove 7310-99-139-1623
A single burner stove
No military documents yet.
The stove label is reproduced below.
No 7 stove label.pdfThe No 7 appears to be a Optimus 80 petrol burner.
No-7-stove-Optimus-80-1971.pdfThere doesn't appear to be a Number 8 to Number 11 cooking item.
Diesel and Paraffin stoves
No. 12 burner 7310-99-252-7439
A single burner stove, which came into service in 1989 with a 10 year planned life.
No 12 7310-B-100-S-W.pdfOperational Field Catering System (OFCS)
The Operational Field Catering System (OFCS) came into service with the British Forces from 2006, having been trialled since 2004. It can run on diesel or paraffin. It was brought in to remove the dependency of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG), which caused supply issues in some theatres of conflict.
Elements of the OFCS System Solution are considered proprietary to Kaercher, it is also recognised that certain elements (e.g. Power Supply Units and Oven Units) are of third party (G3 Systems and Arunfabs) manufacture/supply.
The OFCS System Solution encompasses 40 Man Catering Modules, Burner Units and Transit Cases, Slave Start Distribution Boxes, Power Supply Assemblies (PSA), Water Boilers, Ovens and associated storage racking and serving solution. The system meets BS EN361-2 Materials and Articles in Contact with Foodstuffs.
The OFCS system consists of a Support stand, and Cookset body. A burner unit is placed inside the Cookset body. There is then a choice of placing an oven, hotplate or water heater onto the stand. The oven opens to the side, allowing the use of a half hotplate in front of the oven.
Workspace limitations are overcome by different system components being used on top of the basic Support stand and burner.
OFCS Cookset unit
BFK burner, that slides into Cookset
Image shows a wheeled Support stand, with the Cookset placed on top. The black control panel is the front of the BFK-FC burner unit, which is slid into the front of the Cookset, A full length Hob plate is on top of the Cookset.
Cooking on the Cookset can be carried out using pans placed on the Hotplate, or food directly on the Hotplate surface, controlling the temperature using the Cook set Burner as described above. When cooking directly on the Hotplate with a correctly set up Cook set and Support Stand, excess oil and cooking residue will drain into the peripheral channel and collect in the Grease Tray.
Kärcher BFK-FC
The Kärcher (also spelt Käercher) BFK-FC refers to the flame tube and housing, that forms the Burner unit (heat source) for Kärcher's professional field kitchen cooking modules. The burner unit (BFK) is used for large-scale catering and military applications, allowing for efficient frying, baking. It's a robust, high-quality component designed for heavy-duty, hygienic cooking environments. It is designed to cook for 40, but can cook for more. It can be fuelled by diesel, kerosene, and petrol.
Kaercher also make the Travelling kitchen trailer, or TFK
The OFCS Cookset with oven. The half hotplate has been removed to show the burner. The oven door is on the left side.
OFCS_7310-B-105-201_20230720_ REDACTED.PDFHawkmoor double burners
Hawkmoor had a number of contracts with the British Army. They are said to have invented the 13 and 18 litre Norwegian insulated containers, along with the Field Water Heater.
These two Hawkmoor stoves appeared on a sales website. The first is LPG gas fuelled, and the other is liquid fuel fuelled, complete with pressure tank.
Townson and Coxson
Townson and Coxson had a long list of spirit stoves under their belt, sold under the Burmos brand name. They also made the Hurlock stove under licence. But they also made these two double burner stoves for military appraisal. The first is the "Cooker, small detachment", and is clearly a prototype. The second unit has the date of 1953 stamped on it.
Australian copies
Evidence of items purchased from Canadian military surplus suggests that most of Canada's British type of Field cookers was made in the UK. This is especially true of the Soyer stoves.
But in 1939, Australia ordered a number of items from Australian companies.
We know that at a number of Australian companies won contracts to make cooking equipment. With regards to the Australian Soyer, the list includes; A. F. Cowan, Crown Stoves & Foundry, S. W. Hart, John Holloway, F. G. Kerr, McIlworth, Metters, Rheem Manufacturing, S. P. Q. R. Manufacturing, Simpson, West Footscary Eng Works, A. G. Way, Wiles Manufacturing. The difference with the Australian Soyer Field stoves is the square door, and opening in the case so that ashes can be raked out from underneath the fire. The Australian versions do not have fire baskets, but the fire is directly on the bottom plate of the stove.
Thanks to the website Trove, we are able to check the Australian Commonwealth Gazette, and examine contracts issued. It reveals that Australian companies were also making such items as Soyer stoves for the U.S. army during WW2.
Australia took a shine to the Fowler Number 1 Camp stove. Makers of the Fowler included Fowler Vacola, Simpson of adelaide, and possibly either Wiles or Metters. Sadly, only the Simpson ones have the maker's on them, which is on the door. The obvious difference to the other two brands is two bolts and three bolts holding the door to the outer casing, and one doesn't have any carrying handles.
The differences between makes of the Fowler Camp stoves
Has lifting handles and two bolt hinges
Simpson of Adelaide
3 bolt hinges and no carrying handles
Water heating
Having a readily available supply of hot water whilst preparing and serving food is paramount, especially when there are hundreds of soldiers being fed. Below is a couple of methods used to heat volumes of water in the field.
The Holdaway Boiler -
No. 1 burner and dustbin.
A number 1 burner is seen heating a dustbin full of water.
Note the double No. 1 burners and stands behind, with a wall of sandbags to keep the wind off the cooking equipment.
M67 Puffing Billy
A development of 1943, during WW2. This remained in service from the 1960s until replaced in 2011 by the Field Water Heater (FWH) System.
Field Water Heater (FWWH)
Brought into service in 2013, to replace the M67. The Hawkmoor unit is diesel fuelled.
It has a 60 litre water capacity, and comes with a basket for heating wet pouched meals in it. But it's main use is hot water for washing up, making drinks, etc.
Operational Field Catering System
The OFCS comes with a 79 litre water heater. This image shows the OFCS Support stand, and cookset with the water module on top of the cookset. The burner, located inside the Cookset is fuelled by the jerrycan.
The burner heat and exhaust is vented up the chimney and out of the OFCS tent roof. A dedicated tent is provided for the OFCS, with suitably located apertures in the tent roof.
Associated items
This image shows the following being used together with a No. 1 burner.
Yellow - Pans, Frying, Large Mk. 2
Blue - Dixie - 3 gallon.
Red - Container, Cooking - 6 gallon.
White - 2 gallon Water container.
Pans, Frying, Large.
Mark 1
The Mark 1 Pans, frying had folding handles
Mark 2
3 Gallon dixie
Heavy Duty Aluminium Dixie 3 gallon / 13.5 litre cooking pot. They can be suspended above an open fire with the bucket type handle. They are great for stews, currys and soups etc.
The lid is robust enough to be used as a frying pan.
Dimensions
• Length 34cms
• Width 23cms
• Height 25cm
• Weight
6 Gallon cooking / transport pot
6 gallon rectangular Stainless Steel cooking pot with splash lid
• Length 35.3cm (15")
• Width 25.3cm (10")
• Depth 26.4cm (10 3/8")
• Weight 6.5kg
6 gallon containers in 1917
Field Kitchen No. 2 Field oven
Field Kitchen No. 3 Field Oven
Field Kitchen No. 5 Field Oven
Hydra cooking stands for Number 1 burner
Typical use of the Number 1 portable cooker when in the field, was to dig a trench for the No. 1 burner
No. 1 Portable cooker being used on hard standing. It is in position for heating five 6-gallon pots.
Below - a 2-container cooking stand and a 3-container Cooking stand.
Water container 7240-99-120-7251
• Captive tops - one breather one to pour
• Capacity 20 litre approximately
• Length 13”
• Width 6“
• Height 18.5”
Insulated containers
A bit of history
According to the Swedish newspaper, Gothenburg Post, on 31st October 1867, Julius Dahler, Lieutenant of the Norwegian infantry demonstrated his Patented "Self cooking apparatus" at the 1867 Paris Exposition. He showed that food brought to the boil on a stove, and placed in a box insulated with felt allowed the food to continue to cook.
These insulated containers were actually repurposed Ice transport boxes (designed by Frederic Tudor's Ice Trade business by 1806), with a food container placed in the middle.
Russia was working on felt insulated containers, to keep food warm around the same time.
In the Portuguese magazine, Revista Militar, nº 4, April 1908, on page 237, it says "At that time (circa 1860), the Russian garrison troops in Turkestan, by order of Colonel Alexeiev, experimented with devices which, being lined internally with felt, allowed food cooked prior to departure to be kept hot during the march. The results obtained from the use of these devices were very satisfactory, even during the harshest periods of winter."
Still looking for evidence of Russian trials using felt.
Norwegian Mark 1 - 13 litre insulated liquids container.
NSN 7330 99 122 8825.
Insulated, and ideal for transporting hot or cold drinks, or liquid food.
• Captive tops - one breather, one to pour
• Length
• Width
• Height
• Capacity 13 litres
I've been told by the design company that :-
The bracket section on these 13 litre containers were used with carrying straps along with a back-pack cage effect structure in which Soldiers were meant to carry on their backs.
Norwegian - Mark 2 - 18 litre insulated liquids container
NSN 7330-99-300-7605
Insulated, and ideal for transporting hot or cold drinks, or liquid food soup, stew, porridge, etc.
• Captive tops - one breather one to pour
• Length 38.5cm
• Width 23cm
• Height 47cm
• Capacity 18 litres
Haybox - transport box
Hay boxes (wooden boxes literally packed with hay) are first mentioned in the British Army's Manual of Military Cooking and Dietary of 1918. That's 50 years after Julius Dahler demonstrated his invention.
BRITISH MILITARY " HAYBOX " THERMAL SLOW COOKER.
These were used for keeping food warm or slow cooking and are heavily insulated, which makes them useful for all sorts of things.
NSN 7330-99-120-3466
6 Gallon 7330-99-125-1784
They were designed to hold the 6 Gallon cooking container. The spring strips were to keep the hot or cold container away from the sides of the Haybox.
Dimensions
• Length 54cms (21 inches)
• Width 38cms (15 inches)
• Height 46cms (18 inches)
• Weight Heavy box, 35kg
Hotlocks
Hotlocks used Hot charcoal briquettes, charcoal, or coal to keep the unit warm. They were often used for Meals On Wheels.
Light the charcoal in a metal tray, and allow it to reach the white stage - then its ready for use.
Put this charcoal into the Hotlock tray, and close the box about 20 minutes before putting the food in.
Hotlock 6 7330-99-127-7356
Dimensions - Approximately
• Length 48cms (19 inches)
• Width 21cms (8.5 inches)
• Height 30cms (12 inches)
• 12 aluminium meal containers
• Weight Heavy box, kg
Hotlock 12 7330-99-127-7357
Dimensions - Approximately
• Length 56cms (22 inches)
• Width 30cms (12 inches)
• Height 42cms (16.5 inches)
• 24 aluminium meal containers
• Weight Heavy box, kg
Cambro food storage
Cambro is an American company, who specialise in plastic equipment for catering. They make numerous items including; thermal food storage boxes (the haybox replacement), beverage dispensers, and more. They have 3 manufacturing factories in America, 4 across Europe, and 1 in China.
Sturdy and durable, seamless polyethylene or polypropylene with thick foam insulation. So much lighter than the Haybox that they replaced.
DISTRIBUTION Food
Hot meals and cold dishes may be maintained at safe temperatures during distribution using insulated containers. Two types of container are available for the distribution of meals to the troops, one of 57 litre capacity and one of 23 litre. Both types incorporate vent caps which should be operated to equalise internal and external pressure prior to opening.
The 57 litre Container may be loaded via its front opening door and has an interior constructed to receive Insert trays as shelves. Once sealed, temperature loss of both types is restricted to an average of 2°C per hour. The 57 litre Containers may be stacked (up to two high) for the insertion and extraction of Insert trays.
The interior of the 23 litre Containers is accessed via their removable lid and they accept 1/1 and 1/3 stainless steel Insert trays with spill proof lids. There is space below and around the insets for approximately six litres of hot water, which assists in maintaining food temperature during serving. It also assists in maintenance of temperature during distribution to detached bodies of men and provides for their utensil sanitation requirements. The 23 litre containers are not leak proof and if containing water should be kept upright to avoid spillage. Meals are served in the field from the inserts held in these 23 litre containers.
Beverages
CAUTION EQUIPMENT DAMAGE. The 9.5 litre Beverage Container must not be used for soups containing solids as blockage of the outlet and tap will occur.
Beverages may be mixed and served directly into the purpose designed 9.5 litre Containers which have removable lids with integral vent cap for the equalisation of pressure prior to their removal.
The Containers have a recess and tap to permit direct dispensing into mugs and are stackable. Once sealed, temperature loss is restricted to approximately 1.8°C per hour.
Military Catering Cook set utensils :-
Utensils include:-
7330-99-129-0311 Large Ladle
7330-99-129-0803 Perforated Spoon
7330-99-129-0805 Small Serving Spoon
7330-99-129-0997 Small Ladle
7330-99-129-1016 Serving Spoon
7330-99-129-1469 Fish Slice
7330-99-129-8350 Small Perforated Spoon
7330-99-943-8738 Small Balloon Whisk
Ladle, 7330-99-129-0311
Length 40cm (16 inches)
Spoons, 7340-99-129-1016
Length 40cm (16 inches)
Aluminium Mess Plate 7350-99-129-0956
8 Inch plate/bowl
Serving tray
Possibly 7350-99-129-8311 or 7350-99-129-8312
• Length 47cms (18.5 inches)
• Width 34cms (13.5 inches)
List of NATO stock numbers (NSN) for British Military Catering items
Catering NSN numbers 7310-99 7330-99 7340-99 7350-99.pdfSome bits about equipment used from WW2 onwards.
A rough guide to British Military field cooking stoves.
A work in progress of the British Military portable stoves and cooking equipment.
British Military Stoves.pdfI've made a growing playlist of other people's videos on the stoves listed on this page.
Click on the link below.
This video shows the individual cooking stove of WW2.
This VAOS from 1939 is like a parts price list and C.E.S. for Nos 1, 2 and 3 stoves, the Soyer Stove, along with the Cooking trailer and accessories.
Vocabulary of Army Ordnance Stores 1939 section J2 Portable Cookers S.pdfThis wonderful Pathé News film from 1934 shows a range of Field kitchen stoves.
I think that the steaming equipment behind the judge, at 1 min 25 is a Warren cooking apparatus steamer stove.
Kitchen Equipment listed in manuals
This is a list of items recorded in the various British Military manuals on Catering, Royal Army Medical Corps, and RE instructions on Encampments. I've tried to find drawings of each item, but there is much that has gone unrecorded.
Quick list of fixed kitchen cooking items
These dates are the dates that they are first mentioned in various manuals
1856 - Soyer designed a number of sizes of his Field stove, with larger ones being used in military hospitals.
1858 - Soyer opens a modern kitchen at Wellington Barracks, Birdcage Walk, London. This kitchen has gas fuelled cookers for more efficiency, and Soyer stoves. Sadly dies before able to cook for 700 people from this kitchen.
1878 - Warren cooking apparatus, patented 1866
1878 - Feetham's Stove comprises an oven and hot-plate
1878 - Dean's Boilers
1878 - Dean's (or Galton's) Iron Ovens
1895 - Fowler’s Camp stove
1895 - The Brick Oven
1903 - Treble Boilers. These boilers have been constructed with a view to their adoption in small forts, where, in addition to the cooking, hot water is always required.
1903 - Benham's Apparatus 1. A ventilated Brick Roasting Oven. 2. A Steam and Hot Water Boiler. 3. Tin Boilers for meat, soup, &c. 4. A Hot Plate. 5. An Iron Chamber for steaming potatoes. 6. A Furnace to heat the whole.
1910 - Dean’s Combined Cooking Apparatus.
1910 - Richmond Cooking Apparatus. Is comprised of two distinct parts.
(A) consisting of oven and steam chambers, hot plate and boiler for generating steam, also providing water for tea or coffee.
(B) portion consists of soup or vegetable boiler and stock pot. There are two sizes in use. The small apparatus will cook for 50 men. The larger cooker will cook for 150 men.
1933 - Hot-Air Ovens
Soyer's Barrack kitchen. This drawing from the Illustrated London News shows Soyer, at Wellington Barracks, explaining his new Barrack kitchen to senior army and government officials.
The Warren cooking apparatus - Image from the manual
Feetham. This is a Feetham stove in the National Trust property of Osterley Park. I have no idea if this is the same as the military one, but it gives an idea
Dean Boiler. No drawings, so could be Dean or Deane
This is a Dean, Gas fuelled boiler
This is a Deane solid fuelled boiler
Dean (or Galton's) Iron Ovens - which I think is actually Edward Deane.
Not sure of design, but this is a typical layout of the time.
Benham made a number of cast iron items for the kitchen
Richmond Cooking apparatus - images from the manual
Other unidentified equipment shown in manuals and photos
Ovens were made with a 40 gallon drum placed centrally inside a 45 gallon drum.
Eight 25 litre drums in an improvised oven, with a hob for two Dixies on top. The oil drums are the right size for the lid of the Dixies.
Four water boilers. Possibly Deane
Canadian troops with an unknown Field kitchen
Two Soyer, A Deane No 1, an Unknown stove, and a Triplex Field cooker at the far end
Another view of the Soyer, Deane, Unknown and Triplex. With an Aldershot oven in the foreground.
Unknown cast iron stove between two Soyer Field stoves
Two Triplex, three Soyer, and a demounted Traveling kitchen
Ingredients ready to go into the Soyer Field stoves
A corrugated sheet, placed over a dug fire trench. The chimney is made of petrol cans. The fire is fuelled by oil and water dripping in from the can in the foreground.
Possibly a Deane or a Galton iron oven, taken from a manual
RAF crew at a Light house
RAF chefs with cast iron stoves
A Russian field stove
Museums and archives contacted
Australian Army Museum Victoria - Bandiana
Australian Army Museum WA - Freemantle
Birmingham Libraries Archives and Collections
Cheshire Archives and Local Studies
Companies House
Darwin Military Museum - Australia
Deal Museum
Devon Archives and Local Studies Service
Directorate of Defence Library Service & Service Centres - Australia
Dover Fort - National Trust
Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry Regimental Museum - Cornwall
Esse (stoves) Archive and Marketing
Falkirk Archives
Fusilier Museum Warwick
Geraldine Military Museum - New Zealand
Glamorgan Archives - Cardiff
Kent History & Library Centre
Library & Archives - Quakers in Britain
Light Horse Museum - Australia
Maidstone Museum & Bentlif Art Gallery
Martyn Edwards Ltd / Frank Ford
Museum of Military Medicine
Museum Wales
National Army Museum
National Army Museum - New Zealand
National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
National Museum of the Royal Navy
National Archives of Australia
Nothe Fort - Weymouth
Nungarin Military Museum Australia
Rotherham Archives and Local Studies Service
Royal Logistic Corps Museum
Science Museum Group
Surrey Heath Museum
The Museum of English Rural Life
The RAF Museum
Weymouth Museum
Google Sites
Report abuse