Stoneleigh 8

They say an army marches on its stomach, but as Eric Knowles finds out, a soldier’s diet has changed a lot over the years. In this episode from Warwickshire, Eric meets retired Lt Col John Rice from the Fusilier Museum to learn about British Army rations over the past two centuries. One of John’s earliest examples is a box of chocolates issued by Queen Victoria for troops in the Boer War – and the chocolate is still edible. Less edible is a hardtack biscuit from World War I, which lacked flavour and had to be washed down with plenty of tea!

Marching to victory at Stoneleigh antiques fair are two teams of families. In red are dad and daughter Dave and Aby, helped by their expert Caroline Hawley. On the blue team, Tim Weeks guides mum and daughter Julie and Rebecca. From the off, Tim is aiming high – with a huge tin-plated giraffe – but it would blow their budget! The reds spot a vesta case on a silver chain, but it doesn’t fire their imaginations.

In Derby, the teams hope to light up the saleroom with their items, but can auctioneer James Lewis stoke the bidders’ interest?