Labour Corps

[MWS]

The is my grandfather, William Simmonds and other (unknown unfortunately) soldiers of the Labour Corps from some unknown date during WWI



I was told that he was also the cook and I have his Mrs Beeton's cookbook



There's a good few recipes that have gone out of fashion and I can't seem them making a return anytime soon.

 

[Anne Watton]

Lovely photo MWS and great that you have his cookery book.

 

[Vivienne14]

That's wonderful MWS. The cookbook has his handwriting on the pages too (well I assume it's his). The photo looks like it's been halved, would that be right? You can imagine old friends from the Corps sharing the photo by tearing it in half. I also wondered if there were non-British men in the photo too, but not sure. Two little gems. Hope someone can suggest a date for you. Viv.

 

[Ianmonger]

Labour corps formed Jan 1917. disbanded 1920
Reformed as the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps 1039
Renamed Royal Pioneer Corps 1940
Foreign troops were recruited by them

 

[MWS]

Thanks, I'm not sure when he enlisted, I don't think his records survived unfortunately.

I think it's his handwriting. The photo has definitely been torn, I don't know how much is missing. I wonder if some of the descendants of the other men also have a copy. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the fellas were non-British, top left possibly.

 

[maypolebaz]

Thanks, I'm not sure when he enlisted, I don't think his records survived unfortunately.

I think it's his handwriting. The photo has definitely been torn, I don't know how much is missing. I wonder if some of the descendants of the other men also have a copy. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the fellas were non-British, top left possibly.

I think you'll find Ole Bill, top left, has the cap badge of the Manchester Regiment, (or maybe the "General Service" badge), MWS !

I'm still working on the other cap badge.

 

[Radiorails]

At first glance MWS, I thought that was the same cookbook that I posses. But it isn't. The cover of mine looks similar bit it is entitled Model Cookery and Housekeeping Book by Mary Jewry. Warnes were the publisher and the cost, printed on the cover, is one shilling (5p. post decimalization):biggrin: I cannot find a date but I am pretty certain that it pre dates WW1.

 

[MWS]

No idea how you worked that out maypolebaz, to me it looks like a splodge not that I'd no what it was even if it was clear. Inconsiderately my granddad hasn't got a cap on.

I don't know if there's a price on mine, radiorails. I'll have to have a check.

 

[Morturn]

I had a go at restoring that splendid image, hope you don't mind, but I thought it was worth a go.

 

[MWS]

Thank you Morturn, I don't mind in the slightest. It looks great, especially the right hand side which you seem to have magicked out of thin air.

 

[rowan]

I found one selling on Ebay & the year they have got it at is 'New Edition 1910'. How lucky you are to have it.

 

[Vivienne14]

I was wondering which edition it might be too Rowan. Mrs Beeton's Cookbook was published in new editions including 1910, 1911, 1912, 1914, 1915 .... then nothing until 1923. Seems amazing that a cookbook originally produced in1859/60 could still be popular all those years later. Originally it covered household management too. There was a shilling cookbook edition and a shorter 6d edition, as well as an enlarged version. Don't know if all editions were printed with a few colour plates, but some of them certainly were. Viv.

 

[Vivienne14]

Hi MWS. Do you know if the cookbook was your grandfather's own cookbook or army issue?

Came across this, some of these might have been familiar to MWS's grandfather. Interesting that military cooks were trained to build them. Viv.

https://joyoffieldrations.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/improvised-cookers-british-army-wwi-and.html

 

[MWS]

I'm sorry, I don't know if it was his or army issue. It's a 1914 edition so maybe it was army issue.