Curio

State Library of New South Wales
War narrative, 14 April 1917–14 May 1918, 'Thirteen months captivity in Hunland', 16 April 1917–14 May 1918

War narrative, 14 April 1917–14 May 1918, 'Thirteen months captivity in Hunland', 16 April 1917–14 May 1918

MLMSS 893 / Item 2

Manuscript

In the camp, Bell was always hungry. He describes the food distributed to prisoners during a standard day:

‘The ordinary diet is as follows: Breakfast 7.30, coffee; 9.30, six ounces of black bread; noon (dinner), bowl of “saur kraut” or swedes in hot water; 3 pm, cup of coffee; tea 6 pm, Bowl of hot water and two tablespoonfuls of barley. The barley water, in color is uncommonly like dish-water, and smells odiously. The dinner soups probably have a little dog or horse flesh mixed with them, possibly to give it a greasy appearance, incidentally it improves the taste. One seldom receives any of the meat.’ 


‘My first packet from England arrived on the 30th. inst. I already feel years younger, and quite able to bear any future trials. The parcels contained a varied assortment of food stuffs. For instance, canned meat, jam, dripping, tea, sugar, milk, oxo and several additional articles. The number despatched from England are three food parcels fortnightly and one clothing half yearly. Bread is forwarded from Berne under the auspices of the R.C.S. [Red Cross Society].’