Cook's tour

Cook's tour: A colloquial phrase for the customary tour round the trenches by officers and NCO's of relieving or newly arrived units, before the newcomers "went in" in order to gain knowledge of local conditions, the "Cook's Tourists" being guided by the previous holders of the position. Also, used of the trips round the trenches, permitted on occasion to foreign Allied officers, politicians, journalists and certain civilians under official guidance. The Conducting Officer taking such a party round, would speak of himself, sometimes, as a "Cook's Guides."