The First World War was a conflict of unprecedented scale and scope. It involved millions of troops from dozens of countries, and was fought on many fronts. But despite the complexity and scope of the war, one thing remained constant – food was scarce.
In the early days of WW1, soldiers were fed mainly by local farmers and merchants. This food was often fresh, rather than canned or preserved in any way – partly because few people had access to canning technology. As the war dragged on and supplies dwindled, however, canned foods became more important.
The British Army began to use canned food as early as 1915. They bought canned rations from American companies such as Libby’s, who already had experience producing canned foods for home consumption. The rations were mainly beef or pork stew with vegetables, and were designed to provide a quick meal for soldiers in the field without having to cook over a fire.
The French Army also used canned food during WW1, although they sourced their rations from domestic companies such as Nestlé and Poulain-Lavallee. These rations were mainly soups or stews made with beef or chicken. The Germans also used canned food during the war, although their supply lines were limited by U-boat activity in the Atlantic Ocean.
Canned food played an important role in sustaining soldiers during WW1. It provided them with quick meals that could be eaten on the go without having to build a fire or wait for fresh ingredients to be delivered from local farmers or merchants. Without these cans of food, it is likely that many more soldiers would have gone hungry during this long and brutal conflict.
Conclusion:
Yes, they did have canned food in WW1 – it was used by all sides of the conflict to provide quick meals for soldiers in the field without having to cook over a fire or wait for fresh ingredients to be delivered from local farmers or merchants.