AUSTRALIA'S ORIGINAL AND BEST CAMP OVEN AND OUTDOOR COOKING CAMPING AND LIFESTYLE FORUM - Military issue camp ovens. Do they exist?

Jul 25^th, 2016 at 9:50pm

Mike234 Offline
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Does anyone know if there are any camp ovens ever specifically made or issued to Australian, British or other armed forces around the world?

Would Army cooks be issued any, or would they simply use whatever was available if any?

Just something that's always been an interest to me, as I also like to collect militaria

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Reply #1 - Jul 26^th, 2016 at 10:25am

Chally Offline
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I have never heard of, or seen, any information or photos of camp ovens being issued or used by the military. That is not to say they weren't issued though.

The Queensland government however issued camp ovens to workers in the Railway and Main Roads. The ovens were made in the Bundaberg Foundry.

Jeff

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Reply #2 - Jul 26^th, 2016 at 6:20pm

Mike234 Offline
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Thanks for the info Jeff.

After doing a little bit of research it appears that most Military forces during the 20th century mainly used steel pots.

Though, some COs may have been used during WW1 (including by the light horse) and during the Spanish-American war. But it appears that none were officially issued, and may have just been brought from home.

Anyway, here's some old photos of field kitchens during WW1, but I can't confirm if they're using any typical iron COs.

StateLibQld_2_177447_Camp_kitchen_with_the_Australian_2nd_Light_Horse_Regiment__Queensland__1914.jpg (97 KB | )

ww1_007.jpg (272 KB | )

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Reply #3 - Jul 26^th, 2016 at 9:33pm

ddav1964 Offline
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I have been in the Army for 34 years as a Army Cook and to the best of my knowledge there has been no camp ovens issued. The pots, trays etc we used were from the 50's mainly cast aluminum trays, deep fryers or metal pots from the USA. (Used during and after Vietnam) I have also seen the odd cast aluminum pot made in Australian but not in the camp oven mould and not from any companies which are household names. Today we still use these pots along with stainless steel cook ware. I am guessing camp ovens didn't get a look in due to size and weight. Wish they had been.

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Reply #4 - Jul 26^th, 2016 at 9:53pm

Chally Offline
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Good to see the old photos Mike. As you say, it doesn't appear that there was any cast iron cookware.

Thanks for your info Dave; no doubt you would have cooked many a meal in that 34 years.

Jeff

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Reply #5 - Jul 26^th, 2016 at 10:44pm

Rufzgutz Offline
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There are a few cast iron ovens in these photos from the SA library.

http://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/find/Searcy/page:234

image_421.jpeg (135 KB | )

image_422.jpeg (129 KB | )

image_423.jpeg (303 KB | )

image_424.jpeg (275 KB | )

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Reply #6 - Jul 27^th, 2016 at 9:47am

Chally Offline
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You did well Rufz. The ovens look like big Carrons.

Jeff

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Reply #7 - Jul 27^th, 2016 at 7:02pm

Saltbush Bill Offline
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Im pretty sure that most of the military cooking gear was made along the lines of the Bedourie Oven. "pressed or spun steel.
Cast iron would have been considered too heavy and too easily broken.
The photo that Rufz has posted is interesting in that it does have cast ovens in it.

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Reply #8 - Jul 28^th, 2016 at 8:54pm

Mike234 Offline
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Perhaps they had some cast iron COs as they were still in Australia and may have just sourced them from the local area.

As SaltBush Bill pointed out, the weight and fragility of the camp ovens would have probably deterred the military from carrying them around all the time.

Though, it would be interesting to know why they used them in those photos. Perhaps some of the cooks chose to carry them around for special occasions when time and location allowed their use.

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Reply #9 - Jul 29^th, 2016 at 4:56pm

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For what its worth, l seem to recall reading a Furphy cast iron cookware brochure in the mid 80's or early 90's which alluded to the Australian Army using large Furphy camp ovens. The brochure also depicted a half a dozen or so army blokes standing around a substantial camp fire with large Furphy camp ovens in the foreground.
Presumably the sales inference was that the 20 incher could feed an army Cheesy

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