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In late May of 1953, when I was on the Maggie (HMCS Magnificent – the Aircraft Carrier), we sailed from Halifax for the Coronation and to the Spithead Review1. My job at that time was cafeteria party; you clean up after all the slobs etc. On the morning of the Spithead Review (15 June 1953), we received an attachment of soldiers onboard, more or less to fill in the flight deck. They arrived via the dockyard liberty boats [tugs] and we were required to serve them breakfast.
Well, about 30 khaki uniformed VAN DOO`S (Royal 22nd) arrived in the mess cafeteria line up, and got their naval breakfast of powdered scrambled eggs, bangers and red lead (stewed tomatoes) plus slightly toasted stale bread. (Myself, I’d rather eat the saltines!)
The soldiers proceeded into the main cafeteria, where lo and behold yours truly was doling out chocolate milk. They stood there and as fast as I ladled it out they quaffed it back, asked for refills, and still they stood there scrambling for chocolate milk; some even put their trays down and supped on the finest fresh chocolate milk.
One corporal told me in broken Anglaise (the Royal 22nd is a French Canadian Regiment), “This is the first time we’ve had fresh milk in 3 months. All we normally get is powdered crap.” I replied, “Well being the senior service we always fly first class! Drink up; there is plenty more where that came from.”
Well, they found us out when some jerk came up and said, “Holy Shit! How can you drink that powdered crap?” Well at least it was cold and we got rid of a good supply of the ole naval standby, powdered carnation milk. Just chill it and the Army can’t tell the difference.
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