LegionLive

I came across an interesting story in the news today about how the secret of the British D-Day success was down to some ingenius home cooking! Never-before-seen documents detailing dishes for the men on the front line were discovered during a house clearance in Wiltshire.

Apparently, what gave our boys their strength when they landed in Normandy in 1944 was a set of recipes which had been created with military precision. On the menu was essential fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Breakfast consisted of bacon and fried bread, dinner included hotpot or a braised steak and sweet treats introduced desserts such as jam flan and baked fruit pudding.

Celebrity chef Anthony Worrall Thompson has commented that the amount of hot food offered would have been good for morale. He said, ‘Coming back to a cooked meal would have been great psychologically…whoever put these recipes together would have worked out the nutritional content and made sure the men got what was necessary.’

The recipes, which give such a unique insight into the day to day diet of serving World War II soldiers, are now going up for auction, and are expected to fetch up to £1,000.

Today the History Channel’s ‘World War II Lost Films‘ kicks off. The special ten-part series features more than 3,000 hours of archive footage from 1939 to 1945, all restored to full colour in high definition. The documentaries use diaries from the time to re-tell some amazing stories from people from all around the world, including June Wandrey, an army nurse who served from the beginning of the war in North Africa to the liberation of the camps in Germany, and Jewish émigré, Jack Werner, who managed to escape from Austria when Hitler came to power and ended up fighting in the Pacific Theater.

This is a great opportunity to view personal and inspiring accounts from the front-line and see the events of World War II as they really were. Make sure you tune in! Things get started at 10pm tonight.

 

Be sure to check out today’s Daily Mail for a Blitz special in its Weekend magazine. It’s 70 years since Britain entered a terrible phase of World War II, where the Germans attempted to bomb us into submission and the sound of sirens regularly filled the air. There’s some very nice photography, including a young Dame Vera Lynn keeping British troops’ spirits up (she didn’t get named the Forces’ Sweetheart for nothing), Churchill out and about inspecting bomb damage in Kent and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Consort, taking to the streets of London to help raise morale. There’s also some classic wartime recipes (including ‘Potato Jane’ and corned beef fritters) if you fancy preparing something rather 1940s this weekend.

Calling all active Legion supporters!

How do you fancy being able to put your strength and stamina to the test with a hike across the Pyrenees into Spain? If that sounds like something that’s right up your street, consider taking part in the Freedom Trail.

The Royal British Legion is offering 15 determined trekkers the ultimate challenge - to relive the escape route that 18,000 Service men and 38,000 civilians took during World War II when attempting to evade enemy capture.The four day trek covers 50 miles and reaches heights of 2,600 metres, so is sure to require some tough training beforehand! You can expect to be walking through snowfields, negotiating gigantic granite boulders, experiencing varying climates and reaching some pretty dizzying heights - and all while carrying your own equipment. But, and this is the highlight, you’ll be experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity while raising important funds for an important charity!

It all takes place between the 6th and 13th July, and if you’d like to find out more, just send Claire O’Dowd, the Legion’s Events Assistant, an email on codowd@britishlegion.org.uk

This made me smile this morning….an army search dog called Treo is to be awarded the Dickin Medal for his life-saving work in Afghanistan. The medal, essentially the animal version of the Victoria Cross, was created by the PDSA to honour gallantry in war, and Treo will be the 63rd furry friend to recieve it. The medal has been awarded before to 26 dogs, 32 World War II messenger pigeons, three horses and one cat.

Black Labrador Treo was one of 25 dogs  in the Afghanistan supporting British troops on patrol, his work involving searching for arms and explosives; he  twice discovered hidden bombs in Helmand Province. His proud handler, Sgt Dave Heyhoe, said: “It’s very important. We are part and parcel of the search element. We’re not the ultimate answer but we are an aid to search.”  He added that Treo’s work has saved the lives of many soldiers. It was when he was serving as a forward detection dog in Sangin in 2008 that he found two hidden ‘daisy chain’ bombs made from multiple explosives wired together.

Dave added: “Everyone will say that he is just a military working dog - yes, he is, but he is also a very good friend of mine. We look after each other.”

Treo will be presented with his medal by Princess Alexandra at the Imperial War Museum in London. He can then, at eight years old, enjoy his retirement!

As the end of February is creeps ever nearer, I thought I’d share the activities that have been taking place this month at the Fromelles Military Cemetery in France - the first site built for World War I and II soldiers in 50 years. For on every Monday, Wednesday and Friday this month visitors can watch the raising and lowering of National Flags, and a series of reinternments taking place at four periods of the day - 9am, 10.45am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm. Each reburial takes the form of a standard military funeral, with hearse, bearer party and padre in attendance.

The site also provides a ‘Contemplation Area’ for those who want to spend some time thinking about the 250 Australian and British soldiers who died in the Battle of Fromelles on 19th July, 1916, and who were recovered from Pheasant Wood, where they were buried by the Germans in six mass graves. Visitors can access more information about the operation and sign a Book of Remembrance. A designated area is also available for the laying of tributes.

Amazingly, in March an identification board will be working to identify as many soldiers as possible by looking at historical, anthropological, archaeological and DNA evidence, meaning that relatives will be able to add inscriptions to headstones which will otherwise be left blank.

Head on over to the Remembering Fromelles website to find out more.

Now that we can start looking towards the New Year and what it might hold, I wanted to draw attention to the goodwill of Pete Hawtin and Merv Ashe, two RAF officers who are taking part in a 68 mile sponsored march in early 2010. The two have over 50 years combined experience in the Service, and being no strangers to the effects of conflict on Service men and their families, wanted to do something to raise money to support the injured and the bereaved. As a result, all money raised will go to The Royal British Legion and Help for Heroes.

The march, which is to celebrate the 68^th Anniversary of the formation of the Royal Air Force Regiment, begins at Holkham on the North Norfolk Coast and ends at Pete and Merv’s home base in Suffolk. The pair will walk the route dressed and equipped as a World War II era Gunner and his modern counterpart from operations in Afghanistan. To make things a little tougher, the pair will also camp out over two nights - whatever the weather - utilising only what they can carry in their respective period ‘battle kit’.

Of the task ahead, which kicks off in February, Merv has said that it’s both an honour and a privilege to support the charities…..though he’s not looking forward to wearing a desert uniform in the middle of a Norfolk winter!

If you’d like to help Pete and Merv support the Legion and Help for Heroes, head to their Just Giving page.