Name/TitleEnamel sign for "navy and Army canteen Board", 1917 - 1921
About this objectA sign made for the Army & Navy Canteen Board (NACB) and used in a NACB canteen in Cromarty. The Cromarty NACB canteen was probably housed in the Hemp Factory, which at various times was also a naval hospital.
Prior to 1914, individual regiments were responsible for their own canteens. At the beginning of WW1, to improve standards and procurement, the Army established the Board of Control of Regimental Institutes as an advisory body, especially over the purchase of canteen goods. In July 1916 this was superseded by the Army Canteen Committee, which became the Navy and Army Canteen Board later that year when the Royal Navy decided to join in. The NACB (1917-1921) managed canteen services and procured food supplies for the British armed forces at home. Although the NACB charged for their services, they were run as a not-for-profit organisation and surplus moneys were usually donated to ex-servicemen organisations. It was the forerunner of today's NAAFI - Navy, Army & Air Force Institutes.
