Over my many years in the British army I worked in a NATO multinational force many times, each country bringing their own unique skills to the table. Their professionalism was first class and I enjoyed my time immensely. One exercise sticks out for a strange reason, back in 2001 I went to France, Soissons to be precise, it was a traditional army camp in the Champagne region but it was adjacent to military ranges almost untouched since the First World War, trench systems still intact and rusty barbed wire everywhere.
The catering arrangements stood out above all others I had experienced in both exercise and operations, the French army certainly know how to feed the troops. When working in a headquarters everyone works two shifts usually 6 to 6, my role was quite insignificant in the greater scheme of things, I worked out road moved for a brigade and how much fuel to arrange etc.
After the first night shift I handed over to my day shift opposite number and headed to breakfast, instead of the usual cereal bacon and eggs etc, it was a full 3 course evening meal with a choice of French wines. Waiters with white tea towels over their arms, white shirts and bow ties were everywhere! I didn’t relish a full meal and wine before going to bed but entered into the spirit along with all the other staff, I would stress this was not an officer’s mess just an all ranks cookhouse! Frightfully civilised, I was thinking they might expect formal dinner suits but all was ok!
I slept through lunch and went for a meal before my next shift, to my surprise I was faced with a full cooked breakfast and a further choice of wine! This went on for 2 weeks and when I finally went back to normal it seemed so strange eating normal meals, what a civilised way to soldier! No wonder guys join the French Foreign Legion! A thoroughly enjoyable and civilised exercise! It was almost as if we had been transported back to the Napoleonic era, mess silver, waiters and port in excess!
John F Bennett, Author, Blogger and Military Historian 