(British) Cookers, Portable, No. 2 - A very brief history
The Cookers, Portable, No. 2 appear to have started life as a commercial product of the Turley and Williams Company.* See this link:* https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/turley-williams-safety-junior-portable-stove-patent-late-1930s.28481/#post-290546<https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/turley-williams-safety-junior-portable-stove-patent-late-1930s.28481/>
It is described in the 1939 Vocabulary of Army Ordnance Stores, Section J2, Portable Cookers and Cooking Equipment which can be downloaded at this link:
http://www.essexhmva.co.uk/education...%20Cookers.pdf
In the British and Commonwealth Armies the majority of food was prepared in bulk by the unit cooks and then either served to the troops at the food preparation area or distributed in insulated containers.* However, this arrangement was not always suitable for the crews of Tanks, AFVs, Universal Carriers, or other personnel who could be detached a considerable distance from the unit so they were provided with the Cookers, Portable, No 2, so they could prepare their own meals when required.