Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 3 Apr 1941

Vol. 82 No. 10

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Army Meals.

Mr. O'Neill

asked the Minister for Defence if he will state the number of meals allowed to each serving soldier per day, the hours of such meals, and the quantity of each class of food allowed per meal.

Minister for Defence (Mr. Traynor)

The number of meals officially supplied to members of the Army is three— breakfast at 7.45 a.m., dinner at 12.30 p.m., and tea at 4.30 p.m. Normally, from the savings on these meals, it is possible and customary to supply supper consisting of tea and bread or tea and a scone.

The reply to the remainder of the query is a very detailed statement and will be published in the Official Report.

Following is the statement:

Although there is no definite scale for each meal, yet each works out approximately as follows:—

BREAKFAST:—

Dry Tea	3/20 oz.
Sugar	4/5 oz.	To provide 1 pint of tea per head.
Milk	1/10 pint
Bread	8 oz.
Butter	¾ oz.
with
Rashers	3 oz.
or
1½ oz. rasher and 2 oz. sausage;
or
1½ oz. rasher and 1 egg
or
1½ oz. rasher and 2 oz. pudding
or
1½ oz. rasher and 2 oz. liver,
or any one of the following—

4 oz. sausage, 4 oz. pudding, 4 oz. liver, 4 oz. kippered herring, 2 eggs, 1 egg and 1 oz. oatmeal, 1½ oz. bacon and 4 oz. tinned tomato (or fresh tomatoes to same cash value as 4 oz. tinned tomatoes).

DINNER:—

Meat	12 oz. (with bone), or alternatives
Potatoes	14 oz.
Vegetable	7 oz., Cabbage, or alternatives.
Rice	1 oz., or alternatives.
Tea	½ pint per head.

TEA:—

Dry Tea	3/20 oz.
Sugar	4/5; oz.
Milk	1/10 pint.
Bread	8 oz.
Butter	¾ oz.
Jam	½ oz., or alternatives (which may be held over for suppers.)

SUPPER:—

1 pint Tea.
Bread	1 slice per man (saved from week-end ratious or by the man).
Scones	1 per man (made from flour saved by cooks and issued when bread is not available).

SCALE OF RATIONS FOR OFFICERS, NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND MEN.

Daily	Ration	Alternatives
Bread	16 oz.
Butter	2 oz.	1½ oz. and ½ oz. lasher (compulsory during butter shortage).
Tea	½ oz.
Sugar	3 oz.
Potatoes	14 oz	Bread, 5 oz.
	8 oz.	Fish, Fresh, when issued for dinneron fast days, 8 oz.
(2 oz. with bone)
		In lieu of fish	2 eggs.
		Tinned fish	4 oz.
		Bacon, 1 day per week	8 oz.
Milk	½ pint	Tinned Milk, 16 oz. tin (nett. 14 oz.) to 8 men.
Cabbage	7 oz.	Carrots	4 oz.
		Turnips	4 oz.
		Parsnips	4 oz.
		Onions	2 oz.
		Peas	1½ oz.
Bacon—
Rashers	3 oz.	1½ oz. Bacon and 2 oz. Sausage.
		1½ ,,Bacon and 1 Egg.
		1½ ,,Bacon and 2 oz. Pudding.
		1½ ,,Bacon and 2 oz. Liver.
		4,,Sausage.
		4,,Pudding.
		4,,Liver.
		4,,Kippered Herring.
		2 Eggs.
		1 Egg and 1 oz. Oatmeal.
		1½ oz. Bacon and 4 oz. Tinned Tomatoes (or fresh Tomatoes to the same cash value as 4 oz. of tinned Tomatoes).
Jam	½ oz.	½ oz. Marmalade.
		¼ oz. Cheese.
Rice	1 oz.	1 oz. Sago.
		1 oz. Tapioca.
		1 oz. Jam and 1 oz. Flour.
		1 oz. Marmalade and 1 oz. Flour.
		2 oz. Flour and 1 oz. dried fruit (or apples to the same cash value as 2 oz. of dried fruit).
Salt, 1 lb. per 100 men.
Pepper. 1 oz. per 100 men.
Mustard, 1 oz. per 100 men.

Mr. O'Neill

Would it be possible, in any set of circumstances, to have the evening meal later than 4 o'clock, because I understand that no meal is served to the soldiers from 4 o'clock until early the following morning?

Mr. Traynor

That point has been examined on many occasions and 4 o'clock has been found to be the most suitable hour. I will, however, mention the matter to the Army authorities.