Bully Beef & Biscuits: Food in the Great War

Bully Beef & Biscuits explores soldiers' rations during World War I, drawing on men's letters and diaries to document what troops ate in the trenches and their views on the food. As the British Army expanded from 250,000 peacetime soldiers to over 3 million during the war, feeding such numbers presented a significant logistical challenge. Despite the harsh conditions of trench warfare, soldiers were rarely hungry. The book covers the standard rations soldiers consumed—bully beef and hard army biscuits—as well as occasional treats like food parcels from home or eggs and chips enjoyed during rare leave. It also examines the home front, describing how families managed rationing and how women entered the workforce in new roles, including service in the Women's Land Army, taking positions previously held by men. The book appeals to readers interested in food history, military history, and social history of the period.