Taste of Combat

Keeping combat troops and other military personnel well fed during deployment and training is a fundamental but often overlooked aspect of military service. The Shrine of Remembrance’s exhibition Taste of Combat (2 December 2024 - November 2026) explores the rarely-seen world of the military catering corps and introduces the men and women who keep the troops fed during their deployment. From field kitchens near the front line, to kitchens in the basement of war-torn buildings, wherever troops are stationed, not too far away is a resourceful member of the Catering Corps keeping meals on the table and stomachs full despite the pressures of their surroundings.

In the kitchen with veteran Gordon Traill
Working with veteran Gordon Traill, who served as part of the Operation Catalyst in Iraq, Gatherer followed Traill as he took us through the paces of a regular day in a working military kitchen. As one meal ends, preparations for the next begin. Across the course of eight hours we followed Traill as he prepared breakfast, lunch and dinner for the men and women and officers of an undisclosed military base in Melbourne.

Vignettes
Working with a selection of recollections of military food sourced by the shrine’s curator Kate Spinks from both active and retired service personnel, Gatherer crafted a series of vignettes that deployed the audience into the mess halls of Iraq, the villages of Afghanistan, the jungles of Vietnam and much more.

Final presentation
The final videos were embedded within custom-built stainless steel cabinets designed to look like industrial fridges and ovens one might find in a large-scale commercial kitchen and surrounded by stainless steel joinery and shelving designed by Studio Peter King. Featuring glass windows that revealed the portrait oriented screens inside. Visitors are encouraged to open the doors to listen to the content and watch the videos inside.