There was a ceremony before the evening meal for the lower ranks, the majority being National Service, in the 1970s. The Officer of the Day and the duty NCO would arrive at the mess to mix the wine.

In full regalia they would pitch a large bag of dark red powder and a bottle of alcohol into a barrel of water and then stir it vigorously.

That what was the plebs got.

I watched from my lair in the vineyards to the west which afforded a cooling Atlantic breeze. Very good show by all concerned.

I suppose this was because by this date, the French had lost Algeria and all that cheap wine.

Not in 2 REP. We 'plebs' got a choice of either local wine or a stubby 'grenade a main' of Kronenbourg with la souped.

Regards
Batco

Not many may know that the Rafale that overflew the RAF 100 display at Les Invalides provided in part by YAM at Elvington was flown by an RAF pilot on exchange with l'Armee de l'Aire. Well done them, and him.

Ummmm…..errrrr…..UMMMM....no...….mmmmm. Give up.

Maybe, instead of palette, I should have said tolerance. The Algerian stuff really was ruff. (I meant to spell rough that way.)

After the unit moved from Istres to Orange, and immediate access to the fruits of the Rhone valley, my palette was educated.

Since arriving in SA, I have made pleasurable acquaintance with the produce of the Western Cape.