I think most of the SPAM produced in the US in 1940-1942 must have gone to Britain and Russia. I am not sure if it is anecdotal or not, but I read somewhere that Nikita Kruschev said that the Red Army would have foundered and starved if it wasn't for SPAM. I know that in Britain SPAM was almost always available on ration and for many families became the multi-purpose meat of wartime existence. I can still vividly remember my father slicing and frying Spam as a substitute for bacon/ham as he fixed Sunday morning breakfast in the early War years. I still like SPAM -- we buy it at he grocery store all the time!
I can't stomach the stuff myself, but my dad loves it. Spam and grits, grits and spam. It is the only thing he can cook. I don't know where he learned to like it. It could have been the army, but more likely college where the poor students living on campus will just about eat anything they can trap.
I tried to up load the Spam Song from Monty python but it would not let me! in my day it was replaced by bacon grill! Which I can get in the local shops including one who HQ is in Germany But I still like the odd spam or corn beef buttie.
For anyone interested, I have created a page with the contents of wartime Compo Boxes. See: http://www.nih.ww2site.com/nih/Articles/2.html In addtion to F and X (the Spam boxes) the one containing mulligatawny soup was much sort after. Gerry
Spam was distributed to the armed forces and civilans alike after the US entered the European War.It was part of the aid that reached these shores from the US and was an essential part of military and civilian rations.I remember the Spam fritters or the Spam sandwich followed by jam and bread. I would have thought it would have found itself on all fronts that were subject to US aid. Similar to corned beef in that corned beef was the leftovers from choice beef cuts,Spam was the leftovers from choice pork cuts.Both were canned for "long life" and the can was designed for easy access. Spam was the main foodstuff dropped by Lancaster squadrons in April/ May 1945 to the starving Dutch civilians during "Operation Manna".While the military establishment designated the drops as "Operation Manna", the operation was known lightheartedly at squadron level as "Operation Spam". Regarding an appitite for Spam,I would stress that wartime shortages were such that Spam was a joy to eat. I am sure that that those in occupied Europe would have found that too given the chance.
A popular way to serve Spam was to coat it with ground up army biscuits - heated over a petrol and sand fire. Posting to this topic reminds me of something from my narrative, while waiting for the order to go, near the end of the campaign in Tunisia. Quote: "Wrapping Things Up - Operation Vulcan While waiting for the orders to go there are two amusing stories to mention, (not quite salubrious in nature), although the latter was not seen to be so when it occurred. Among the contents of the previously mentioned Compo Boxes were forty-two sheets of toilet paper, or just three sheets per man - as the wags would have it "One up, one down and one to polish." In one box delivered to Bangor we were short-changed which motivated "Tich" Young to complain to SSM Docksey that there were only two sheets per man. The SSM, never one to be short of an appropriate phrase, replied "Not to worry Trooper Young. Just one up, one down and cut out the bull." Some thirty or so yards to the west of the tanks a latrine had been dug. Alongside of it was a sign proclaiming the site to be the "Most fertile spot in Tunisia" while a few hundred yards further west the Royal Artillery had located several batteries of 25pdrs. On the eve of the attack the guns opened up with a sustained barrage which of course was right over our heads. While it was going on one of the guns misfired and the shell, fortunately a dud, landed in close proximity of the latrine to the utter consternation of one using the facility at the time. (A not dissimilar situation happened during the last winter of the war in Italy but more of that later.) " Such memories from long ago! Gerry
I can remember getting Spam fritters for school dinner in the 1950s. Tastier than turkey twizzlers, I think!
Funny what you potter onto while looking up spambots: Spam Again BBC - WW2 People's War - Spam: Did It Save The Nation? Who knew you could do so much with it...: Gallery of Graphic Design
I've got two tins in the cupboard that have been there for yonks, love the stuff but never seem to get round to eating it. Good with chips and beans (healthy food Eh! ). Rob
Google Image Result for http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/spam-day-11-01-1945-999.jpg
I knew better than to saunter into this thread. My stomach is turning at the mere thought of the ghastly gastronomic nightmare known as Spam. I've not been hungry enough lately to even contemplate having to eat that...that...that...stuff.
[YOUTUBE]<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cFrtpT1mKy8&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cFrtpT1mKy8&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>[/YOUTUBE] Spam always reminds me of Monty Python. Regards Tom
Jeff I do not have any idea what you mean as Rob said Spam fritters chips(fries) and baked beans possibly with a bit of bread and butter washed down with a nice cup of strong tea we know how to trip the gastronomic universe
You're doing this to me, man... http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attach...824d1272638370-spam-hormel-kind-dog_vomit-jpg
Jeff; That picture's now been nicked and is on my own HDD! Brilliant! Spam Fritters though? In a passed life, in some very lean times, they and veggie fritters which were 'freely acquirable' were a delightful mainstay of my frugal diet. Loved 'em!
