Children, Comforts and Intercultural Exchanges for Australians in Both World Wars

Abstract

Despite the importance of the production and supply of food during times of conflict, little scholarly attention has been paid to food in the everyday experience of soldiers and civilians, including children, during both World Wars. Drawing upon diaries, oral histories, material culture, and histories of the emotions, from an Australian perspective, this article traces how children and young people played a key role in the exchange of food and drink in wartime, including in cross-cultural interactions. This article leads to a richer understanding of the history and heritage of war in relation to Australian society.