Culture in Common commissioned Niall McDiarmid to photograph Fish & Chip shops in the New Forest for National Fish & Chips Day on 6th June 2024, which coincides with the 80th Anniversary of D-Day.
‘Fish and Chips’ is often considered the British national dish, but many people may not be aware that the humble meal was a vital ingredient of the war effort in both the First and Second World Wars. Sir Winston Churchill called the simple dish our “good companions” and would not ration the dish during the Second World War for fear of sparking widespread discontent.
The British Government safeguarded the supply of fish and potatoes during both world wars to ensure the dish remained a morale boost. So ingrained are fish and chips in the national psyche that the dish was used as a life-saving code-name during the D-Day landings. British troops used to call out to each other, and one would shout “fish” and wait for a response of “chips” to identify each other on the field. It worked as a simple and effective way to ascertain who was a friend or foe.
