"What always catches my attention when I look at old photos of airborne troopers who have spread out their gear for inspection, is that there are always a couple of D-Rations between all the equipment and weapons.

What where those D-Rations? According to the QMC a bar that is able to sustain a soldier for one meal with enough calories (600) to survive. Thought up by Col. Paul Logan in 1937 the D-Ration was comprised of chocolate, sugar, skimmed milk powder, cocoa butter, vanilla essence, oat meal and vitamin B1. The logic behind it was that it had to taste slightly better than a potato or a soldier might eat it as a snack before he would actually need it in an emergency. Sounds good to me!

In this instance I have decided to use “normal” chocolate – although I already purchased or localized all products needed and have the original recipe – it is easier to obtain."

- Lawrence Kelatow.