Emergency or Iron Ration

In the 19th century, warfare was changing from the big set piece battle. There were smaller fighting units and more skirmishing. There was a need for soldiers not to have to rely on a camp kitchen or cookhouse. The Army took advice from, among others, Burton & Stanley and developed portable rations, called the iron ration. The first was obtained through the Bovril Company of London. The cylindrical tin contained Bovril paste ( ‘Johnsons fluid beef’ ) in one end and a chocolate ration or cocoa in the other. It was essentially a fluid ration, needing hot water to mix.