Popular perceptions of 1914–18 focus on the trenches. Yet, much of soldiers’ time was spent in rear areas and many men never reached the frontlines. By studying life behind the lines it is possible to offer new perspectives on the experience of the Great War. In August 1917 and 1918, the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) took over the usually quiet paths and lawns of Le Havre's Jardin St Roche, which the mayor of the town had agreed to loan to the base commandant. Rather than engaging in battle with the enemy, BEF servicemen and Belgian military personnel, alongside French civilians, were displaying the fruits (and vegetables) of their more peaceful labours. As part of a programme encouraging the cultivation of unused land around the surrounding camps, a vegetable competition was organized in which it was onions, beets, and kale rather than bullets, grenades, and shells that were the produce of war. This article explores the ways in which the organization of these events can throw light on the broader history of the British Army during the First World War. In doing so, it provides novel insights into the functioning of the BEF and the experiences of the men serving in it.

1914-18 年的流行看法集中在战壕上。然而，士兵的大部分时间都花在后方，许多人从未到达前线。通过研究幕后的生活，可以为大战的经历提供新的视角。1917 年 8 月和 1918 年，英国远征军 (BEF) 接管了勒阿弗尔 Jardin St Roche 平时安静的小径和草坪，镇长已同意将其借给基地指挥官。BEF 军人和比利时军事人员并没有与敌人作战，而是与法国平民一起展示了他们更和平的劳动成果（和蔬菜）。作为鼓励在周围营地周围种植未利用土地的计划的一部分，组织了一场蔬菜竞赛，其中包括洋葱、甜菜、和羽衣甘蓝，而不是战争产物的子弹、手榴弹和炮弹。本文探讨了组织这些事件的方式，可以让人们了解第一次世界大战期间英国军队的更广泛历史。通过这样做，它为 BEF 的运作和在其中服务的人的经验提供了新颖的见解。