Page 21 - Flaming Cauldron – Issue 57

ACC ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

Officers’ Club Annual Reunion Celebration

In March the Officers’ Club would normally hold its annual the formation of the Corps. Following another toast to ‘absent
reunion dinner but of course in 2021 this was not possible friends’, members were then able to meet and greet each other,
due to the continuing restrictions in place at the time. as best you can using Zoom. The Chairman, Major Mark
In 2020 the Club managed to squeeze in its dinner just a few Harris, thanked the Committee for their support in arranging
days before lockdown, this year was proving to be impossible the call, wished members well and hoped to be able to see
to hold such an event. However, the Committee did not wish as many as possible at the postponed dinner which will take
for the 80th Anniversary of the formation of the ACC to go place on Friday 10th September at Drapers’ Hall in London.
unmarked so decided to hold a virtual celebration by Zoom,
a first for the Club. With 71 members joining the call the Club Unfortunately, due to space constraints in this edition we have
President, Colonel Nick Barsby, was delighted to be able to
not been able to include any of the 46 images that the Association’s
welcome David Morgan-Hewitt, Honorary Catering Adviser Chairman Lt Col (Retd) Nigel Shepherd kindly provided.
(Defence) as its guest. David make a short speech before
It is our intention to upload this item and all the images onto the
toasting the ACC Officers’ Club on the 80th anniversary of ACC Association’s website.
Army Catering Corps

Officers’ Mess Property

Introduction. In January 2009, as a mess property of the
Officers’ Mess St Omer Barracks was being packed up
ready for the move to St Omer Barracks, the artefacts were
photographed and catalogued. The photographs were for
recognition purposes only, however a glance at them will
stir many memories. Some of you may be able to picture
exactly where they hung in the Mess. I am indebted to
Colonel AF Barnett OBE for his assistance in compiling
this record.
The Beginning. In 1938 Major General Beck was Chairman
of a Tri -Service Committee with a special remit to improve
military catering and provide its own management struc-
ture. The Committee achieved a great deal however its most
significant recommendations were:
a. Each service would have its own discreet organisation
and command structure.
b. Each service would have its own Controller (for the
Army the Controller would become Director) sup-
ported by a Colonel Commandant.
c. Each service would have a Honorary Catering Advisor –
the first appointed was Sir Isidore Salmon of the famous
Lyons catering family, for the Army.
d. Each service would have its own Training Centre which
for the Army included St Omer and Clayton Barracks.
In North Camp there was the Depot and Training
Battalion, embracing Ramillies Barracks ( the Offices
Mess became the first HQ Officers Mess) Oudernade
and Tournai Barracks. Each unit would have its appro-
priate staff and military and civilian instructos. The
RASC were the sponsor.
e. There would be a Cookery instructional Centre in each
Command.
f. Each service would have its own Catering Advisory
Service. For the Army this would be run from the War
Office (now MoD) with representations at each District
and Command Headquarters.
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