Chevril

Devised by Lieutenant McNalty of Army Service Corps, Chevril was a take off of the famous Bovril, the French name for horse being shortened to Chev. The long engine shed at the railway workshops was the factory for Chevril. The engine pits formed the fire pits that housed the cauldrons constructed from iron trolleys. A wood fire was lit under the cauldrons in much the same way as a campfire. The horseflesh was cut up by the natives into usable chunks, the bones were crushed and the whole lot thrown into the huge cauldrons. This was boiled until a jelly like paste resulted. Likened to Beef tea it was surprisingly palatable.