Dear all - my father's wartime RAMC records mention that 2 months after he joined he went on a 10-day 'Messing Officers Course 626' - what does this mean. 10 days was quite long for a course in wartime. Kate
I suspect it was pretty normal for newly-joined officers to be clobbered with attendance on a messing course. I have a course photo of my father's attendance on a messing officers' course, which he attended just after joining 2 KRRC. I would like to see the course syllabus as 10 days (ie 2 x working weeks) does seem a touch long. I imagine the course was mainly concerned with learning the skills of ration accounting rather than how to create exciting recipes with egg powder, bully beef and lard. John
I guess Canadian Officer’s learned to “mess” faster (or they weren’t as “refined” as British Messing courses)......here’s a snapshot of the Queens Own Rifles of Canada war diaries Pippingford Park, Sussex, England 7 Jan 1942 0900 Trng continued. Capt Richard Malone brother of Lt A.V. Malone, Sigs offcier attached for 8 week period. 1330 Bde Boxing committee meeting under Major Hachey, N Shore R for Bde Bouts 15 and 17 Jan. Lt C.N. Bradshaw left on two day Messing Course under Cdn Corps “G.”
Actually, here’s the section out of QR&O’s.....I imagine KR&O’s would be very similar Regimental Messing Officer. In units where there is no food services officer or food services warrant officer cover, a regimental officer is to be appointed as the messing officer and ration account holder, who, prior to taking up the appointment, should have attended a messing officers course; the tenure of the appointment should be for a term of not less than six months.
