A stitch in time

 

Murray Fraser’s RCAF “housewife” sewing kit

Wartime recruits entered a regimented world. A January 1941 issue of The Airman’s Post from Brandon’s Manning Depot explained it well: “After passing through the Record and Pay Offices where the civilian signs his documents, he is directed to the Clothing Stores, where he will receive his complete kit, comprising thirty-nine pieces in all.” [1]

Among those 39 items, recruits may have been surprised to be issued a handy housewife. No doubt the term invited wisecracks, but it was a useful sewing kit needed for keeping a lot of those other pieces in good order.

 

The idea of a small, portable, roll-up sewing kit is neither new, nor exclusively military. An online sewing tutorial explains, “The term housewife (also known as hussif/hussive/hussy) to describe a sewing kit first appeared in a dictionary in 1749 […] but for it to have appeared in a dictionary it had most likely been in use for quite some time beforehand.” [2]

 

Whether domestic or military, new or old, these were practical compact sewing kits. Historians note photos from the U.S. Civil War showing soldiers repairing their uniforms.

A Union soldier during the U.S. Civil War repairing a uniform.  [3] [Library of Congress 1S02987]

The khaki canvas kits issued in the Second World War varied little from those of the preceding World War. Intended to help servicemen maintain their kit, contents could include needles and thread (with a small piece of wax to waterproof that thread), a small pair of scissors, a thimble, spare buttons, yarn to darn wool socks and gloves, a tape measure, safety pins and tailors’ chalk.

A Canadian soldier in the Netherlands (at right) mending his uniform, 1944.  [3] [LAC PA-143931]

Samples of WWII kits found online are rarely complete, confirming that their contents were indeed needed and used. That is true of Murray Fraser’s sewing kit (below), too.

 

Unrolled, his sewing kit measured about 5 x 12 inches (12.75 x 30.5 cm). 

The remaining supplies in Murray Fraser’s sewing kit: darning wool, needles, wax, spare buttons, and a belt buckle.

“A sergeant sews on his own stripes in this cartoon by Sgt. Ralph Stein illustrating a how-to article for YANK, The Army Weekly in 1943.”  [3]

Murray Fraser's kit suggests that servicemen were indeed responsible for sewing on their own insignia.

Murray Fraser’s LAC propellers and shoulder patches, as well as his summer uniform Corporal stripes, all stored in his sewing kit.

A Leading Aircraftman (LAC) tunic, showing the types of patches, buttons and belt buckle found in Murray Fraser’s sewing kit.  [4]

Manufacturer’s label. Let’s hope those stains are grease or oil, not blood.

As its stamped label shows, this housewife was made by S.S. Holden Limited of Ottawa in 1940. Spencer Sutherland Holden worked for Woods, Limited in 1904–1912, before starting his own business. The factory of Grant, Holden, Graham, Limited produced camping gear and workers’ wear, and was well positioned for war contracts. S. S. Holden Ltd. evolved from that company, later becoming a subsidiary of S. E. Woods Ltd. in the 1950s. Boasting a legacy dating back to 1885, Woods remains an “adventure outfitter” to this day. [5]

 

The issuing of sewing kits did not end with WWII. Canadian Forces continued to supply them.

A standard issue Canadian Forces sewing kit from 1978 [6]

A more contemporary, 1991 version. Made of nylon, it has Velcro fasteners instead of cotton ties. [6]

Sources (accessed November 7, 2023)

1.     Flgt. Sgt. Racine, “From Civilian Into Airman,” The Airman’s Post, Vol. 1, No. 2, January 1941, No. 2 Manning Depot, Brandon, Manitoba
https://frasertrunk.blogspot.com/2017/08/the-clothes-make-man.html

2.    Willoughby & Rose “How to Make an 18^th Century “Hussif” or Housewife” YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vui_-n9Glck

3.    Sharon Adams, “The housewife,” Legion magazine, October 1, 2016.
https://legionmagazine.com/the-housewife

4.    LAC tunic, https://www.germanmilitaria.com/OtherNations/photos/C012082.html

5.    “How did Woods™ Start?” https://www.woods.ca/pages/faq

6.    “Sewing Kit,” Canadian Soldiers website, photos courtesy Ed Storey
https://www.canadiansoldiers.com/equipment/personal/sewing.htm

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Homeward bound on HMT Mauretania

The second RMS Mauretania (above) was named after a famed, favourite and fast ocean liner that operated between 1907 and 1934. [1]

Built in 1938 for the Cunard White Star Line, the new (Royal Mail Ship) RMS Mauretania was designed to carry freight and 1,378 passengers: 486 in Cabin (first) class, 390 in Tourist, and another 503 in Third class. With its two funnels, the 235-metre ship resembled the company’s larger 314.2-metre RMS Queen Elizabeth also launched that year. 

At that time, “the new Mauretania was the twelfth largest and the sixth fastest liner in the world.” [2] She was christened on July 28, 1938 by Lady Bates, the wife of Cunard’s chairman, Sir Percy Bates. Mauretania's maiden voyage to New York left Liverpool on June 17, 1939, returning to Southampton a few weeks later.

The launch of the new Mauretania, July 28, 1938 [1]

Mauretania’s commercial service had barely begun before World War II broke out. Ocean liners like the Mauretania, Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth were soon requisitioned by the British government to be used as troop ships. Fitted with guns, repainted battleship grey, and with its portals blacked out, Mauretania sailed to New York in December 1939, and then to Sydney, Australia for her full conversion to (Hired Military Transport) HMT Mauretania.

L-R: Normandie, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, “The Three Biggest Ships in the World,” 1940, New York. It was the only time the three were together. The Normandie (renamed the USS Lafayette) caught fire in 1942 while being converted to a troop ship in New York, and was scrapped in October 1946. [3]

In her new role as a troop ship and without her classic Cunard colour scheme, the elegant Mauretania looked more like a tough battleship than a sleek ocean liner.

“Mauretania, in her grey paint scheme, docked at Newport News, Virginia, with 2,036 German prisoners of war on board, 16 September 1942.” [4]

Gone were the resplendent Art Deco interiors and furnishings. [5]

Cabin Class Lounge [5]

Cabin Class Observation Lounge [5]

Cabin Class Restaurant [5]

Tourist (2nd) Class Lounge [5]

As a troop ship, the grand dame of the seas now wore overalls. Instead of catering to 1,378 passengers for which it was originally designed, Mauretania was refitted to cram in 6,500 servicemen. 

“Cramped troop accommodation on the Mauretania” [2]

“Cramped conditions in the Mauretania’s first-class dining saloon for some of the 6,500 troops the ship could carry.” [2]

HMT Mauretania sailed several seas, transporting 350,178 servicemen and personnel, and logging 542,446 miles as a troop ship. Early in the war she carried Australian troops to Suez, India and Singapore, but later sailed mainly in the North Atlantic. 

Cpl. Murray Fraser

Post-war, the ocean liner made several voyages for the government, repatriating servicemen like Murray Fraser. His photos suggest the ship was less crowded by then. 

Docked in harbour

HMT Mauretania left Liverpool at 5 a.m., Friday, December 28, 1945. In Murray’s pocket calendar, he notes a calm sea under a dull sky that morning. It wouldn’t stay calm, however.

“Last of England fading into the mist. Escort of sea gulls. Pre-shrunk life belt. Hope it doesn’t get used anyway. … Beginning to pitch—some sick.” 

Dad doesn’t write of being seasick himself, but lighter crowds at Saturday’s breakfast suggest others still were:

“Dinner time—more to be endured than enjoyed.”

Not surprisingly, a winter crossing meant snow, wind, and cold temperatures.

 

“Plenty of elbow room at dinner table. … Took a couple of pictures ...Very long day.”

Hold onto your hat! This is likely one of the photos Dad took on December 30.

Another very long and rough day. “Herbert Morrison [Labour Party MP] spoke at 1800 hrs. Lucky he couldn’t hear comments.”

Mauretania docked in Halifax late on January 1, 1946, and passengers disembarked the next day.

January 1, 1946: “Mutton stew, boiled dried peaches, tea. Happy New Year.”

“The port of Halifax welcomes you home.” Happy to be on terra firma January 2, 1946. Probably hungry, too.

Of course, it’s still a long train ride from Halifax to Pilot Mound, but there were Red Cross donuts and coffee. And turkey instead of mutton!

Dad reached Oshawa on January 5, 1946 and “Visited Drummond” the next day. This is likely Robert Drummond, his commanding officer at Trenton, who wrote him a glowing letter of reference. 
Murray then caught a train leaving Toronto on January 7. “Left Union Stn. 10:55 p.m. Tuesday—brush, scrub, rocks, lakes, rivers, snow.

Wednesday!!!”

Dad’s parents and aunt drove from Pilot Mound to his sister's home in Winnipeg on January 8 to welcome Murray home the next day. 

In front of Houldens’ home at 76 Pilgrim Avenue, St. Vital: back, Jack Houlden, Hazel Stevens; middle: Pete and Annie Fraser, Jessie Houlden, Annie Belle Fraser; front: Carole and Murray Houlden. Dot the dog looks on.

The Pilot Mound folks returned home on January 11, and Murray followed on January 15, 1946. The Pilot Mound Sentinel noted his return in that week’s paper:

Notice in the Pilot Mound Sentinel. [7]

Mauretania also returned home. “Weather beaten, scarred and proud,” [6] she was released from government service September 2, 1946 and returned to the Cunard White Star fleet. 

Disembarking 600 passengers in Liverpool, at the end of the ship’s last wartime trip. [6]

In Liverpool the ship was thoroughly reconditioned and refitted. By April 1947 she was again the luxury ocean liner she was intended to be.

Promotional postcard, 1950 [4]

RMS Mauretania sailed the seas until October 1965, when she was sold and scrapped.

In subsequent years Corporal Murray Fraser had no interest in a vacation cruise, even on the most luxurious new cruise ships. 

And he never ate mutton again.

See Mauretania in action and learn more at:

What Happened to RMS Mauretania 2? 22 min. [5]

Sources (retrieved September 13, 2023)

1. "Naval Architecture," Pinterest https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/1062638474555854493
2. “The Cunard Liner ‘Mauritania’ of 1939,” Liverpool Ships, http://www.liverpoolships.org/mauretania_1939_cunard_line.html
3. Wikimedia Commons, The three largest ships in the world https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_three_largest_ships_in_the_world,_New_York,_1940_-_photographic_postcard_%283796186285%29.jpg
4. Wikipedia, “RMS Mauretania (1938)” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Mauretania_(1938)
5. Big Old Boats, “What Happened to RMS Mauretania 2?” (YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTMPHi5-gFw)
6. Liverpool Ships: “The Cunard Liner ‘Mauretania’ of 1939” http://www.liverpoolships.org/mauretania_1939_cunard_line.html
7. Pilot Mound Sentinel, January 17, 1946, p. 4.

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