The preface is by Lieutenant-General Sir` Wilfrid Lindsell, who had served with marked distinction in his role at the Ministry of Supply, and who was put in charge of administration in the Middle East as part of Monty's team brought together to revitalize the Eighth Army. He writes that "the alterations, recipes and apparatus" for this edition, "are based on two and a half years' experience of warfare under desert conditions" and goes on, "this publication will act as a guide for all connected with the feeding of the troops, and particularly those cooking under Field Service conditions with the minimum of equipment.