02-20-2012, 03:54 AM
It's perhaps worth noting that even at the time of the Napoleonic Wars, although there was variation from regiment to regiment, British soldiers did their own cooking, typically in groups of about ten. Even in barracks of the period, cooking facilities were typically provided for individual companies, not the whole regiment. Cooking was done by the ordinary soldiers, not professional cooks.
Regimental cooks were not established until the Crimean War (1853-56) and they would obviously not be having to deal with anything as complex as a legion (though an auxiliary cohort would perhaps be a closer equivalent). The Catering Corps was not established until 1941!
I realise that making comparisons with other periods is dangerous, but consequently, given how long the British Army (and its predecessors) managed to cope (more or less) without centralised messes, I think it's reasonable to speculate that the Romans could manage without.
Regimental cooks were not established until the Crimean War (1853-56) and they would obviously not be having to deal with anything as complex as a legion (though an auxiliary cohort would perhaps be a closer equivalent). The Catering Corps was not established until 1941!
I realise that making comparisons with other periods is dangerous, but consequently, given how long the British Army (and its predecessors) managed to cope (more or less) without centralised messes, I think it's reasonable to speculate that the Romans could manage without.
Carus Andiae - David Woodall
"The greatest military machine in the history of the universe..."
"What is - the Daleks?"
"No... the Romans!" - Doctor Who: The Pandorica Opens
"The greatest military machine in the history of the universe..."
"What is - the Daleks?"
"No... the Romans!" - Doctor Who: The Pandorica Opens