One of the more surprising things in the Museum’s collection is a biscuit: an army ration biscuit that was used as if it were a postcard – with an address and stamp on one side, and a message on the other – and sent home by a St John Ambulance Brigade member during the First World War. 

The member in question was Henry Charles Barefield, who served in the Military Home Hospitals Reserve until 1915, and then joined the Royal Army Medical Corps. He worked at base hospitals in France until he was transferred to the Royal Engineers and sent to the Somme in 1917. 

The message he wrote on the biscuit reads, “Our new rations. Thought you would like one. Gott Straffe G.” The phrase “Gott strafe England” was a slogan used by the German Army during the First World War and means “May God punish England”. Presumably this is what Barefield was referencing. Could the G. stand for Germany? 

The biscuit is not the only thing in the collection that records Barefield’s life. We also have his St John service medal and competition medallions, as well as his British War Medal 1914-1918 and Victory Medal. 

Barefield lived his whole life in Tunbridge Wells. A photograph in the collection shows staff at the Old Hall, Southborough, Tunbridge Wells. They are all St John Ambulance and Red Cross personnel in uniform, and, on the righthand end of the front row, is Henry Charles Barefield.