A SOLDIER'S LIFE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 255, 8 January 1941, Page 8

A SOLDIER'S LIFE

TRENTHAM—YESTERDAY AND TO-T>AY

CHANGES IN CAMP

"Times have changed," say veterans of the last war when visiting New Zealand's training camps today. Commenting on this observation, Mr C.- E. Wheeler mentions that while looking over Trcntham recently, in a reminiscent mood, he found much to confirm their views.

Trcntham of old, according to Mr Wheeler, was a bleak dust 3- show. The thousands of men who trained there soon kicked off the grass in the surrounding fields with the result that fine clouds of dust rose daily under the feet of the marching troops. Then the rain would come, and with it the mud. But to-day all the streets are paved, and parade grounds are no longer dusty. The old Camp Road, once a dusty dreary route stretching away into the range, is now a good treelined higlnvaj'. The camp entrance is set amid flower beds and lawns. The administrative quarters, controlling a population of up to 5000 men, are worthy of those of average boroughs.

In the Army.

The young soldier entering camp loses the individuality pertaining to civilian life—lie becomes a name and number on a company roll; but this loss is compensated by the development of a new perspective. He takes pride in his unit whose reputation is enhanced by his own efficiency and smartness. Food, clothing and living conditions loom large for the soldier. All three are better to-day than in the last Avar. "Calories"—heat-<giv-ing" properties in the food—influenced the former digger's menu. The Avord "vitamin" did not appear in the Royal Army Corps Manual.

It was assumed that 3000 calories were necessary for a soldier doing hard muscular work, and rather more —rising to over 4000—when he was on active service. Concentrated nourishment, such as meat, peas and beans were always on the menu while Trentharn stew became a byword for its monotonous repetition.

Such is not the case now. For fhe week ended December 15 the diet sheet in a Trentham cookhouse had no stew. The midday meal —- the Army "dry rations," not the principal meal of the day—had soup on five occasions, four varieties. The rest of the meal was made up of bread and butter, jam, cheese, fresh fruit and tea. Cheese and' fresh fruit appeared every day of the week and a footnote "lettuce and spring onions" suggested that they would be on the menu w T henever thev could be obtained.

The notorious "Plum and apple jam" has practically disappeared. "It is peach to-day," observed a quartermaster; "I am not sure whether plum and apple come nowadays. If it does it is bj' way of novelty." On one day honey was substituted for jam.

After the day's work comes dinner, the principal meal of the day. The diet for the five full working days shows that the menu always included roast meat' —beef, mutton or veal —with two vegetables. Lemon sago, rhubarb custard, steamed pudding, creamed rice, steamed pud-ding—-these lin.nl appetisers at dinner have ousted the Anzac's "boiled

rice. sometimes with raisins." There lis no rationing of food. Instructions have been issued that the consumption of milk must be encouraged, and the former daily total per man of approximately threequarters of a pint is now one and a quarter pints.

The cooks arc on the permanent staff, and good men who wish to serve their - country in a most acceptable way are invited to let tilfe authorities know, for the maintenance of first class cookhouse personnel is a constant problem. The rough old mc&iods of feeding and sleeping in Ihe same hutment; are no more. Dining hutments are set apart for this purpose. Tables are allocated to groups of men who are always together for meals-.. One of the group- takes - charge. The soldier has his personal issue of plate, mug, knife,- fork and spoon.

"Serving one's country in "wartime means sacrifice' from the very first day, and the young.soldier must be given credit for facing up to the loss of many things he enjoyed before he got into uniform," observes Mr Wheeler. "But much thought and care are devoted to the soldier in camp, and camp life is a man's life which healthy men enjoy to the full once they settle clown."