War and Beer

[willie45]

I was looking at these old photos showing WW1 and WW2 beer bottles in areas of active service, and it got me thinking about brands of beer supplied to the troops.

I found a vague reference to Cooper's being supplied to the Australian troops, but no other information. My father seems to recollect Resch's beer supplied to them up in the Islands during WW2. The photos aren't very clear.


These are some of my dad's mates in the 2/9th. AIF. It could be at Morotai, but most likely at Balikpapan at war's end.
The bottles look to be the current shape of Australian beer bottles, but the brand is not obvious.




Another couple of his mates with a different bottle type.




A close up of those same bottles. I don't think it's Cooper's beer.







Some of my Great Uncle's mates with the 5th L.H. Regiment during WW1.
I'm fairly sure these are Cooper's bottles. It looks like the Cooper's barell on the labels.





Close up of the same. I'd say definitely a type of Cooper's beer.





I'd tend to think just one company would have the contract to supply beer to the forces, but maybe they had a variety.
I was also wondering if anyone from the U.K. and/or U.S. had any knowledge of beer supplies to their troops during the wars.


Cheers, Willie.

[tailor marc]

Good thread. I will post my pops war time pic. He is furtherest to the right

IMG_0029 by Marc Russo (Australia), on Flickr

[willie45]

That's a great photo, Marc. A nice sharp image in the bargain.

Just as an addition to the original post, I asked my father tonight about the beer issued when he was in Morotai, Balikpapan, Celebes etc., and he said that they sometimes received Tooth's KB Lager as well as Resch's.
They used to keep the empties and fill them with home brewed hooch.

I guess any beer would be appreciated in that environment.

Cheers, Willie.

[guns ltd]

great Pictures Marc. Can't have war without some beer, as they say.


John

[4md]

Great photos, makes me thirsty, Coopers is my favourite beer.

[harryamb2]

where would a aussie be without his beer.

[Ubique]

The Aussies in Vietnam were famous for having "Two cans per man per day perhaps". I wonder if bottles were also sent there?

Oz.

[willie45]

The Aussies in Vietnam were famous for having "Two cans per man per day perhaps". I wonder if bottles were also sent there?

Oz.

Good question. I've only ever heard of cans there.

Cheers, Willie.

[Ubique]

Here are two beer cans I found in the attic of an army accommodation building several years ago. Possibly used by soldiers training for their tour of Vietnam and thrown into the attic before they got caught with the evidence. These were the days when a can opener was required.





Cheers,
Oz.

[Danmark]

. Can't have war without some beer

Too right - and if we run out of beer there WILL be war!!!