Miscellaneous Ration items

Cigarette packs, 10-in-1 Ration €2

There are three brands of cigarette cartons available: Old Gold, Chesterfield and Lucky Strike.

The Old Gold and Chesterfield packs have colorful commercial designs with an extra shiny gold print. The Lucky Strike is the special dull military ration packaging. The Old Gold and Chesterfield were used throughout the production of the 10-in-1 Rations, while the use of the Luckies started the summer of 1944.

These cartons will hold 10 cigarettes each and were exclusive to the 10-in-1 Ration. They are of the sleeve-and-tray construction.

With each carton comes a sheet of self adhesive tax labels. There's a choice of 1st generation (August 1943 through March 1944) or 2nd generation (April through August 1944). A generic tax label is also included on each sheet.

Can Opener with Envelope €3

This can opener was officially known to the Army as Opener, Can, Small, Individual and was developed in 1942 for use with the 5-in-1 Ration.

The can opener came in a small square or rectangular (depending on the manufacturer) kraft brown envelope. Instructions for use were printed on the front of the envelope. Three lines of instruction were used during the war. An extra line was added post war.

This envelope with the little handy can opener was included in the 10-in-1 Ration's First Half boxes and in one of the eight Accessory Packets that were inserted in a case of C Rations.

The can opener was never included in the K Ration!

These can openers are of modern manufacture (Shelby Co.) and are inserted into a reproduction envelope. The construction of the envelope is based on an original envelope, although other constructions were used too.

Originally the flap was sealed with a drop of glue but I leave that to you.

Fuel Tablet 'Size A' Hot Box €1,50

Fuel Tablet '3 oz.' Hot Box €1,50

One complaint often voiced about the rations was that there were no easy means of heating the rations. Folowing these complaints a small expandable heating unit was developed, called Hot Box, that could be broken in three smaller blocks. One-third was large enough to heat a can of the C Ration's M-unit or a canteen cup with soluble coffee. This unit is referred to as "Size A". Strangely, no "Size B" was ever produced.
A larger heating unit of 3 ounces was also developed for heating five meals from the 5-in-1 or 10-in-1 Rations.

In these cardboard boxes was a block of wax and sawdust mixture. The block for the "Size A" came with serrations so a third could be broken off easily along the perforated lines. The whole unit was wax coated for waterproofing.
None of these fuel tablets were ever included in rations but were issued separately in the field. These became available starting spring 1944.

Only the flat cardboard box is for sale. You can fill them with modern fuel tablets or BBQ starter blocks. After closing the unit should be coated with paraffin wax.

Matchbook covers €1,50

New production matchbook covers are available. This production run include the early version as found in K Rations (A thru D) and a matchbook cover as was handed out by the American Red Cross at their canteens (E).

Later production matchbook covers (F thru L) are of the kind that have the malaria warning on them as usually found in the later K Ration production and 10-in-1 Rations. Some of these have an advertisement on the inside.

There's also the smaller version (M) that was included in the accessory packet of the C Ration.

The striker strip is screen printed and is the real deal for lightening your match! The row(s) of matches should be made from cardboard, not wood.

Note that the covers only have one crease in it, this is where the matches will seat when folded. As with the originals, there are no creases to fold over the heads of the matches. The cover is merely bend around the match heads when closed.

The Matchbooks used in the K Rations only have one row of 10 matches. The other matchbooks, as used in the 10-in-1 Rations and the Red Cross matchbook, have two rows of 10 matches. The small C Ration matchbook has two rows of 5 matches.

Due to shipping restrictions these are the covers only, no matches are included when shipped.

More information can be found here: www.kration.info/cigarettes-and-matches

Below are the three sachets that are typical for the early production Type I or Type II K Rations. These beverage sachets are included in the Hills Bros. K Ration kits.

The coffee sachets is printed with dark blue instructions (both sides carry the same printing) on a plain metallic colored bag.

Both the Lemonade and Bouillon sachets are transparent cellophane bags with that distinctive rear seam.

Shown below are two combinations of the sachets that would go perfectly with a mid to late war Type IIIa or IIIb K rations. (The first combination is included in the Patten K Ration kit and the second set is included in the Phillips kits.)

Depending on the list on the back of the Dinner unit you can choose between the Lemonade or Orangeade sachets.

The reverse of the "Kup Kafay" sachet, although also sand-colored, has no text. Just like the originals.



The backs of the Nescafé, Lemonade and Orangeade sachets are printed with a list of ingredients or instructions for preparation, and the Bouillon Powder has the same printing on the front as on the back.