Armed Services

Many Livery Companies have established flourishing links with the armed services and the Worshipful Company of Cooks is no exception.

From the earliest days, financial taxes were put upon citizens to meet militia costs, providing soldiers, horsemen and ships for the Crown. Raising armies was an expensive business and a drain on the Company’s funds but there was little alternative... in 1595 one Owen Saintpire, a cook of the City was sent to prison for failing to pay his dues for service to the Crown.

Throughout our history, there are countless references to members of the Cooks’ Company who have served the Crown. In modern times Livery Companies were particularly urged to form links with military units and the Company was associated with 625 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery from 1951 – May 1955.

The feeding of a mobile and widely dispersed army, under all conditions, anywhere in the world and often without the help of modern technology, inevitably requires considerable craft skills. In November 1975, the Company sought to support these specialist caterers by forming links with the Army Catering Corps (now part of the Royal Logistic Corps). In March 1976 at a special Court meeting an exchange of gifts was made and since then senior officers have been admitted as Honorary Freemen of the Company.

Associations were also formed between the Company and Royal Naval Supply school and the Royal Air Force School of Catering in 1981.

All three services offer generous hospitality to the Master and other Court members, inviting them to attend competitions and various functions throughout the year.

Following a government strategic defence review, the logistics of the three Services were combined to form the Defence Catering Group (DCG). DCG provides the central focus for UK Military catering and food supply, supporting Service personnel worldwide since 2000. The Cooks’ Company maintains its close links with officers working within this Group.

Members of the Company have been impressed to see high standards of cuisine achieved in battlefield organisations, for, as Napoleon once said, ‘an army marches on its stomach’.

17 th Century Company minute books show a large number of entries regarding the armoury and payment to men. Such entries include: ‘Paid for cleaning the Armes and match powder and Bulletts 5/-, paid 2 men going out 2 days and 1 night at 5/ - ye man 10/, Paid for ribbon of collours and powder for the soldiers 1/6.S’