Page 47 - Beverage Master February March 2020

Craft Beverage

would gather to drink and socialize, as pictured. December 8, 1918, Verdun, France:
Inscription on the back: “the French people like to
have this little beer table outside. This is very typi- “…a rumour floated around that there was beer to
cal.” found in a neighboring village. Another lieutenant
and I walked eight kilometres to investigate - and
On a printed card from the YMCA, “The Y.M.C.A found that it was all wrong; there wasn’t even
accepts no responsibility for money or valuables Pinard!” Pinard was a red French table wine.
kept by soldiers during the night. These should be
handed for safe keeping to the Leader in charge During the Easter Uprising in Dublin of 1916
of the Hut. Overcoats, rifles, or other equipment of Irish citizens against British rule, the British
should be stored in the cloak room. You are urged Illustrated War News of May 10, 1916 reported
to leave no articles of clothing or equipment in the that British troops took cover behind a barricade of
cubicle after dressing or about the Hut at any time. beer barrels.
By order of the Police, Beer and Spirits must not be
brought into the Institute.” One postcard shows a “German concrete cellar
used as cooler for beer, in woods, Meuse, France.”
From the service of Private Walter G. Shaw, 18th A British humorous postcard shows a tent sur-
Infantry Band, 1st Division. He died at Charpentry in rounded by flood waters with a downcast soldier
the Argonne in 1918: poking his head out lamenting “‘Ah! If it were only
beer.” A German postcard that a Karl Rosendahl in
Oct 31, 1917 “I like France fairly Well don’t think writing to Frieda Rosendahl of Riemsloh, Germany
I would like to live here always [sic] they have fine related: “My dear Freidelchen, We are sitting in the
roads here. white and red wine can be bought for Train with a nice glass of beer and send you greet-
1.50F a bottle (30c) some of the soldiers get tanked ings.” [translated to English].
up on it I don’t like it because it is so sour French
people have it with every meal. Champagne can A letter from F. Thunhorst of Riemsloh Germany
be bought for 9.00F a bottle $1.75 this is extra dry to Carl Rosendahl, June 3, 1915, related that one of
costs about $7.00 in the U.S. Beer costs .30 cen- their acquaintances “Old [illegible] is still the same
times a bottle 10c….” and he just keeps going. The beer still tastes excel-
lent, and he still drinks a few pints daily. He sends
From the service of Corporal Reid Disman Fields, his greetings.” [Translated from German to English].
Ordnance Detachment, 13th Field Artillery, AEF:
“Feb. 23/19 American Dale E. Girton, Base Hosp. #78 wrote on
May 8, 1919,
Dear Clara:
No doubt you will be surprised to hear I am going down into “Hello Rummy:
Germany. Left Mehnin today 11AM. Am going to the Third army. I guess that is a fitting salutation for one who has told me in a - past
So far as I know somewhere near Coblenz. So don’t expect I will be letter he has started drinking Rum, BEER, Wine & Cognac. How
back very soon. Tell your mother I will drink her share of beer. Ha! about it? Haven’t heard from you for some time and we are expecting
All for the time so Bye Bye, Reid.” to leave Toul for a port of embarkation at any day now, so I thot [sic]
I would write you a word so that if I am quite a while.”
The roster and menu for Christmas dinner, 1915
from the 133rd Company, US Coastal Artillery Beer was universal in WWI. It was used to quench
Corps, Fort Terry, New York listed that the dinner thirst, to enjoy in comradeship, to relax and possi-
included oyster stew and crackers, roast turkey, bly, to help for a moment, to forget about the hor-
oyster dressing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, ror of war.
creamed corn, creamed peas, stuffed olives, toma-
to catsup, celery, pumpkin pie, mince pie, cocoa- From the Archives of the National WWI Museum
nut layer cake, chocolate cake, bananas, oranges, and Memorial.
apples, grapes, figs, cigars, cigarettes, apple cider,
and bottled beer.

From US volunteer truck driver, Ned Henschel,
BEVERAGE MASTER February - March 2020 45

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