Packing advice for WWII Army Nurses

sharpeimom · May 26, 2013

I had a mixed reaction. "That was interesting." and "Yikes!"

sharpeimom · May 26, 2013

Would you believe our elderly home ec teacher had us each make two DOZEN washable reusable sanitary pads?! :roflmao: No, I'm not 110!

We also made vests and skirts that had been popular in the '50's. Wa-hoo! :eek:

KJM-RN, BSN · May 26, 2013

Thanks for sharing, that was interesting. Although it's funny how much language changes over time. The use of some of those terms I was not familiar with.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · May 26, 2013

Thanks for sharing, that was interesting. Although it's funny how much language changes over time. The use of some of those terms I was not familiar with.

I am curious which terms???

I found it fascinating especially lipstick/plenty of it....LOL

DoGoodThenGo · May 28, 2013

Posted a link to the same story in the "news" forum, but it does suit Memorial Day quite well!

Lipstick once reserved for "fast" women by the 1940's was gaining acceptance for "nice" girls and respectable women. Indeed that and a bit of powder and perhaps mascara was about all decent women were supposed to wear make-up wise. The whole painted heavy made up look was reserved for females of questionable morals and or Hollywood/Broadway types.

Using a bit of lippie was encouraged both at home and in the military so females would help boost morale. Not sure if military nurses were allowed to wear lipstick and or other make-up on duty but certainly while off and or out of whites it was allowed.

Store bought disposable sannies such as Kotex and Modess were available in the 1940's but you young gals should know quite a few females young and old still "rolled their own". Either out of necessity (economics and or poverty), or simple belief that "nice" girls didn't purchase such things.

The other problem was that Kimberly-Clark along with other American manufacturers had switched over to war time production. This meant there was a shortage of "feminine hygiene" products for civilian women. However supplies of sannies were shipped to the military and thus to various areas around the world where American troops and or military hospitals were located. However anyone who as seen M*A*S*H with Radar trying to order supplies knows often things ran out and couldn't be quickly replaced. In such instances you relied upon your *stash* (to be replenished later) or made do best way you knew how. The other problem as the wadded cotton creped wadding used to make sannies was in short supply because it was used as insulation for shipping fragile parts such as aircraft, medical supplies and so forth.

As if this all wasn't bad enough with rubber in short supply due to war time restrictions, elastic sanitary belts became scarce for the duration as well. It wasn't just nylons some females were stocking up on! *LOL*

KJM-RN, BSN · May 28, 2013

I am curious which terms???
I found it fascinating especially lipstick/plenty of it....LOL

For one I have no idea what a musette bag is.

I'm pretty sure most people would no longer say something such as "gay material".

What the heck does "polish brighter than Windsor" mean and why is it "taboo"?

Definitely an interesting flyer to read.

DoGoodThenGo · May 28, 2013

For one I have no idea what a musette bag is.
I'm pretty sure most people would no longer say something such as "gay material".
What the heck does "polish brighter than Windsor" mean and why is it "taboo"?
Definitely an interesting flyer to read.

Musette bag: "a small leather or canvas bag with a shoulder strap, used for carrying personal belongings, food, etc., while hiking, marching, or the like." These are the standard issue bags you saw and still see both male and females in the military carrying.

Windsor Rose was a popular shade of Revlon nail polish and IIRC also came as a lipstick (Revlon was one of the first cosmetic companies to produce matching nail and lippie shades). It was a rosy red with a bit of mauve as opposed to blood/dark bluish or "w***" red thus acceptable shade for respectable women. Flight attendants of the period were just beginning to be allowed to wear nail polish and Windsor was one of the shades they were restricted to wearing.

Painted nails like painted faces was gaining respectability by the 1940's but there were limits. Certain shades of either were just "taboo" for well brought up young ladies and proper ladies. Dark nail polishes and lippies were associated with females of "low" morals. *LOL*

Gay in the 1940's and indeed in much of the English speaking world such as Great Britain meant happy or pleasing. Gay colours or gay material simply meant bright and cheerful. After the 1960's or so with the associations with homosexuals the word dropped out of fashion for it's original use by most, but late as the 1980's you'd still hear it in adverts in the UK.

DoGoodThenGo · May 28, 2013

Woolen undergarments:

First time one went abroad to the UK as part of a school trip we were advised to bring woolen undergarments. This was the 1980's and one had never heard of such things nor could comprehend the rationale behind such a statement. Soon found out!

Trip was during winter break and having only been used to American centrally heated homes simply was not prepared for what most British seem to call "heating". To put it bluntly was turning blue *indoors*! *LOL* Apparently the English never got the memo about turning on the heat during winter! Later found out for various reasons ranging from economy to simply what they are used to many British do not heat their homes to what they consider roasting temps of Americans. This went for the hotels and student guest quarters we stayed. Further out in the countryside the more miserable things became. Cold, damp and more blueness. *LOL*