Iron ration

An iron ration was a soldier's emergency food ration; a sealed supply of concentrated food, issued to troops on service for use only in the last emergency and by special order. Each man carried his own Iron ration. The term dates from the Thirty Years' War (1618-48). Albrecht von Wallenstein is said to have introduced it. Frederick the Great next had an "Iron Ration" provided for the Prussian Army during the Seven Years' War (1754-63), a reserve biscuit ration, carried in each soldier's knapsack. Other nations then followed suit, England last of all. It was also a colloquial expression in speaking of a hot shell-fire - "Jerry is letting them have it, lots of iron rations flying about!"