Admiralty Eats: Feeding The Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve

Enlistment in the Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve provided many benefits to its members. Sailors had work during the periods when the fishery was inactive, and they had access to education that might have been unattainable otherwise.

 

Another profound benefit of service in the Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve was access to consistent nutrition – in the form of 5 meals a day.

0630 Breakfast ·      ½ pint of cocoa* ·      4 oz. bread**	1600 Midafternoon Meal ·      ¾ pint tea ·      8 oz. bread ·      2 oz. jam***   1930 Supper ·      ½ pint cocoa ·      2 oz. corned beef ·      4 oz. bread
0800 Midmorning Meal ·      ¾ pint tea ·      8 oz. bread ·      2 oz. corned beef
1200 Dinner ·      ¾ lb. beef ·      1 lb. vegetables***

 

Daily Ration per Reservist	Total Daily Rations, HM Wireless Station Mount Pearl (22 men)
1-pint cocoa 1 ½ pint tea 24 oz. bread 4 oz. corned beef ¾ lb. beef 1 lb. vegetables 2 oz. jam	2 ¾ gallons cocoa 4 gallons tea 33 lbs. bread 5 ½ lbs. corned beef 16 ½ lbs. beef 22 lbs. vegetables 2 ¾ lbs. jam

 

*Cocoa, also known as kye or kai, is a traditional naval drink. It is a chocolate beverage, traditionally made with shavings of "pusser's" (purser's) chocolate melted in hot water or evaporated milk.¹

 

**Potato bread was a popular wartime recipe because it retained its moisture and potato reduced the amount of wheat flour used. 

***Jam flavours and vegetables would have changed seasonally, but stalwarts such as carrots, potatoes, turnips and parsnips would have been common.

A day in the life of the Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve was busy, full of physical labour and mental stimulation. Ensuring that reservists were well fed was of vital importance.

 

0630 Breakfast

0800 Midmorning Meal

0900 Inspection of men & uniform followed by physical drill

1000 Classes & instruction

1030 Stand at ease

1040 Classes & instruction continue

1130 Clean deck & return gear

1200 Dinner

1315 Classes & drill

1530 Clean deck and return gear

1600 Second inspection followed by a fire drill

1630 Midafternoon meal ¾ pint tea, 8 oz bread, 2oz jam

1700 Leave from sea available or reading & writing classes

1930 Supper

 

Regardless of whether they were training on HMS Calypso, guarding HM Wireless Station in Mount Pearl, or serving in other parts of the Royal Navy, members of the Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve were held to the highest standards of naval discipline and lived a highly regimented lifestyle – whether at sea or ashore.

 

 

Our Admiralty Eats series will continue to explore the food history of the HM Wireless Station in Mount Pearl. Stay tuned for more good eats!

 

 

1. Boutilier, J. RCN in Retrospect, 1910-1968. UBC Press, 2011.

2. Parsons, David W. and Ean Parsons. The Best Small-Boat Seamen in the Navy. DRC Publishing, 2009.