D-DAY LANDINGS 60 YEARS ON: A D-Day welcome from the NAAFI.THE traditional forces' canteens that helped welcome and feed battle-weary troops during World War II are being set up in Normandy for the 60th Anniversary of D-Day. Sixty years on, the Navy,Army & Air Force Institutes,known as the NAAFI Naafi Noun 1. Brit Navy, Army, and Air Force Institutes 2. a canteen or shop run by this organization, esp. for military personnel NAAFI n abbr (BRIT , will again serve up some old favourites to Normandy veterans. The returning heroes will be able to reminisce rem·i·nisce intr.v. rem·i·nisced, rem·i·nisc·ing, rem·i·nisc·es To recollect and tell of past experiences or events. [Back-formation from reminiscence. about the victorious invasion over a cup of NAAFI tea and a penny rock bun -a favourite snack for soldiers, sailors and airmen. Around 10,000 veterans are expected to make the pilgrimage back to Normandy for June 6 where so many of their comrades fell in the Allies'invasion of France. During the war thousands of squad dies headed for the NAAFI after a hard day's slog in the field,and forces' top brass saw it as an essential element to keep troops happy. The canteens will be warmly remembered -despite being the butt of many affectionate jokes from soldiers for its cooking. Tommy Cooper,Spike Milligan Terence Alan Milligan KBE (16 April 1918–27 February 2002), known as Spike Milligan, was an Irish comedian, writer, musician, poet and playwright. He played the piano, trumpet, guitar and saxophone and was the creator, the principal writer and a performing member of and Frankie Howard as young soldiers first cut their teeth in comedy playing to the crowd in NAAFI-organised shows in the canteens and field kitchens. One popular sign in NAAFIs read: ``Pies like mother used to make 6d. Pies like mother thought she made 1/6d.'' NAAFI moved with the troops across the battlefields, setting up canteens in tents. In the run up to D-Day, when troops were about to move into battle, NAAFI helped to keep spirits and morale high by organising entertainment, including games and competitions. Canteens could not be set up in Normandy until a bridgehead had been established, so NAAFI packs were issued to every soldier taking part in the invasion. These packs contained cigarettes, tobacco,matches, toothpaste, soap and razor blades; cubes of meat extract Meat extract is highly concentrated meat stock, usually made from beef. It is used to add meat flavor in cooking, and to make broth for drinking. Meat extract was invented by Baron Justus von Liebig, the German-born 19th-century organic chemist. ,cocoa, milk tablets, chewing gum,letter cards and pencils. |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion