Armistice

And so it was all over.  Not altogether - news of men who had been killed in the last hours of fighting continued to arrive for some time longer, which must have been especially hard to bear.  And there were men who died of wounds after the armistice took effect.  There were prisoners of war on both sides who had to be returned home, and wounded and broken men in hospitals, some of whom would never recover fully.  Food and fuel shortages at home did not instantly disappear, and Spanish flu was killing millions of people throughout the world.  But still, the armistice was undoubtedly a huge relief.

My family did not lose anyone during the war. My mother's father was in the Royal Navy; he joined before the war, and was a stoker.  He was at the Battle of Jutland and later served in K-class submarines, a strange and disastrous class that were designed to be fast on the surface as well as underwater and so needed stokers.  It must have been a very unhealthy environment in the engine-room - he developed T.B., was discharged from the Navy and died in the 1920s, when my mother was only 6 years old.  Her mother married again in the 1930s, and her second husband, my Grandad, had been in the Army during the war.  He was wounded in the knee, and wore a caliper on his leg, with special boots, for the rest of his long life - he lived to be 96.

I will give the last words of this blog to two people who have appeared in it several times.  Alice de Winton had been busy throughout the war, amongst other things collecting supplies of comforts for the troops from the knitters of Breconshire.  She was notably brisk in issuing her demands, as in the following letter in the Brecon County Times on the 5th December:

To the Editor of the COUNTY TIMES.
Sir,—Will all the knitters of Breconshire please help again and make 300 pairs of mittens for the 2nd S.W.B. [South Wales Borderers], now marching into Germany.  Germany is very cold.  Col. G. Raikes, D.S.O., is begging for mittens.  There is wool at 89, The Watton, Brecon.  Here is the pattern for knitting.  Eight pairs should be made out of 1lb. [one pound, or about 450gm.] of wool. Please begin at once.
PATTERN FOR MITTENS. 4 No. 12 needles. Cast on 48 stitches. Knit 24 rows, 3 purl 3 plain.  Knit 20 rows, plain.  To make hole for thumb—turn and purl all 3 needles turn and knit plain all 3 needles (as for back of sock heel).  Do this 12 times.  Then knit plain all round six rows; 12 rows, 3 purl 3 plain. Cast off loosely.
ALICE M. DEWINTON.

John Penoyre's style was very different.  He wrote regular letters to the newspapers (mainly The Times) from October 1914 on, always witty and erudite. He started out collecting sweaters that could be dyed khaki, then when the supply of ready-made sweaters began to dry up, asked for sweaters to be knitted.  He also collected field-glasses for army officers - officers had to provide their own equipment, and the supply of field-glasses rapidly dried up, so he asked for the families of officers who had been killed to donate them.  Towards the end of the war, he started to collect games for the troops in France, and these requests continued for some time after the Armistice.  The letter below to the editor of The Times, which appeared on January 29th, 1919, shows that demobilizing the troops on the Western Front was a long and tedious process.  (Notes: The "ever beneficent hut" probably means one of those run by the Y.M.C.A.  Woodbines were a brand of cigarette (smoked by my Grandad).  Hephzibah was, I think, John Penoyre's housekeeper, though I doubt if that was really her name - she is often mentioned in his letters. Sir Edward Ward, the Director General of Voluntary Organisations, has also been frequently mentioned in previous posts.)

Sir,—You cannot hope more than I do that this will be my last letter to you. The fact is I spent Sunday checking officers’ receipts for games recently sent them for their men, and their letters are such that I really have no choice left me but to beg for more.  With the sweater letters of the 1914 pneumonia epoch and the field-glass letters after Neuve Chapelle in my mind, it is curious to have to admit that these requests are quite as compelling.

It seems the days are miserably wet, the evenings are desperately long, many of the men are miles away from the ever beneficent hut, and there are limits, both linguistic and convivial, to the charms of the estaminet nearby.  “So we hang about, smoke interminable woodbines, and read old, old newspapers, till one of these splendid consignments comes to help us through many a weary evening,” and much more to the same effect.

If your readers care to know what games are most in demand here is the list: — Cards, dominoes, darts, draughts, halma, lotto, and ping pong. You will see that we are conservative.  Yet taste has changed in one particular, thank goodness.  I was never yet asked to amass Noah arks—which I read were in great demand in the Crimea of all places.  We also badly want more cigar boxes for packing games: those that hold 25 or 100: we have enough of the size holding 50.

The address for sending everything is that given below.  My quarters have had to be cleared of both comforts and games since the armistice—when Hephzibah, ever in the mode, presented an ultimatum.

Yours faithfully,

JOHN PENOYRE.

Depôt of Sir Edward Ward, D.G.V.O.,

45, Horseferry-road, S.W.1.

That is, you might say, the last post.

Comforts For Tommy And Jack

From Home Notes, January 12th 1918.

COMFORTS FOR TOMMY AND JACK.

Knitting needles out, please!  Our soldiers and sailors want any number of warm comforts, and it’s up to you to help supply them.

Many people who knitted vigorously in the first winters of the war seem to think that their work is no longer so urgently needed.  But it is wanted, and wanted in larger quantities than ever, for we’ve got such a big army and navy to supply nowadays.  So please set to work this very minute.

These patterns, which are, by the way, issued by the American Red Cross, are exceptionally simple ones, and you need have very little experience of knitting to tackle them successfully.

The Muffler.

First of all comes the muffler.  For this you need just ¾ lb. of four ply khaki, grey or navy blue wool and wooden or bone needles No. 3.  Cast on 50 stitches and knit plain for 68 inches.

A muffler like this American soldier is wearing is splendidly warm.

The Mittens.
These are made on to needles with a space left for the thumb.  You need ¼ lb. of the same wool as you used for the muffler, and steel needles No. 12.

Cast on 48 stitches, k.2 and p. 2 for 12 inches and sew up, leaving 2 inches open space for the thumb 2 inches from the top.

An easy, quick to make, warm mitten.

The Helmet.
You will want ½ (?) lb. of the four-ply khaki, grey or navy blue wool; 1 pair steel needles, No. 12.  The helmet is made in two parts, which afterwards are sewn together.

Front of Helmet. — Cast on 48 stitches (11 inches) k. plain for 25 ribs (6 inches), and k. 2, p.2, for 35 rows.  On the next row the opening for the face is made as follows:  k.2, p.2, k.2, p.2, k. 2, k. and cast off loosely the next 28 stitches and p. 1, k.2, p.2, k.2, p.2.  Run the stitches before the opening on a spare needle and on the stitches at other side of opening k.2, p.2 for 12 rows. The last row will end at the opening, and at that point cast on 28 stitches to replace those cast off.  Begin at the face opening of stitches on spare needle and k.2, p.2 for 12 rows.  At the end of the 12th row continue all across to the end of the other needle, when there should be 48 stitches on the needles as at first.  K. 2, p. 2 for 24 rows.

Top of helmet. — K.2, narrow (knitting 2 stitches together), k. 14, narrow, k. 14, narrow, k. 12.  P. the entire next row. On the 3rd row k. 2, narrow, k. 13, narrow, k. 13, narrow, k.11.  P. 4th row.  On the 5th row, k. 2, narrow, k. 12, narrow, k. 12, narrow, k.10.  P. 6th row.
Continue to narrow in the 3 places every plain knitted row with 1 stitch less between narrowings, until 9 stitches are left.

Back of Helmet.  — Work in the same manner as for front, but omit the face opening.  Sew the stitches of upper edges together with joining stitch.  Sew up the side seams, leaving the plain knitting at shoulders open.

Two views of a really sensible helmet, showing it on and off.

Another Mitten Pattern.
These mittens are made on four needles. You need for them ¼ lb. of the same wool as you used for the others, and four steel needles No. 12.

Cast on 52 stitches on three needles. — 16, 16, 20. Knit 2, purl 2 for 8 inches.
To make opening for thumb, knit 2, purl 2 to end of “Third” needle, turn; knit and purl back to end of “First” needle, always slipping first stitch, turn.
Continue knitting back and forth for 2 inches.  From this point continue as at first for four inches for the hand.  Cast off loosely; buttonhole thumb opening.

Tommy wants comforts.  Knit as many garments as you can and send them to

Sir Edward Ward, D.G.V.O.,
45 Horseferry Road, S.W.

Uses for Old Kid Gloves

From the Sheffield Independent, 18^th May 1917.

OLD KID GLOVES.

Take Them to the National Welfare Exhibition.

Have you any old or discarded kid gloves?  Then take them with you to the Cutlers' Hall when you visit the National Welfare Exhibition.  There is a stall at that exhibition showing waistcoats for soldiers and sailors made out of such old gloves.  Size doesn't matter, nor the state of dirtiness in which the gloves may be.  The kid is cleaned before being made up, and even the smallest pieces—the finger parts—can all be utilised.  The Glove Waistcoat Society gives employment to women and pays them a living wage, while at the same time making use of material that would otherwise be wasted, and out of it creates windproof garments that are a great boon to our soldiers and sailors.  Bits of fur are also acceptable, for they are utilised in making the overall gloves so much appreciated by the men on the mine-sweepers scouring the high seas that we at home may not have to endure privation.

Sweaters In Summer

From The Times, April 5th 1917

SWEATERS IN SUMMER. 

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. 

Sir, — Not less than 1,000 letters lave reached me lately asking what comforts the writers shall knit for the men during the summer.  Will you give me room to answer?

Well, I have been asked by authority to give your readers a clear lead as to what is wanted, and I know I ask a hard-thing in doing it.  It seems that last year, we over-estimated the interval between the last cold night of spring and the first chills of autumn, and under-estimated the time required to get the things across the world in these days.  What is wanted is a vast store of warm comforts by—don't be startled—the end of July.  I am told that heavy knitting throughout the summer is contrary to custom and comfort.  Well, if so, we must dispense with both.  We can't compete with the men in those things whose daily story is our grief and pride abroad, but we can do what we don't want to do, and stick out a long, dull, un-timely job at home.

I think so gravely of what I have written above that I had almost forgotten to say how grateful I am for the continued kindness shown this venture during the past winter.  I was obliged to ask your readers for 10,000 sweaters in a month, and they came; and 10,000 mufflers to accompany them, and there they were.  The total number of sweaters received here to date is 38,106, and of supplementary comforts 34,223.  I feel especially grateful to the men in hospital who have been mindful of their brothers in the field, to the kind maids in many households who have given lavishly of their perhaps not too lavish spare time, and to two venerable ladies, pioneers of all good effort for soldier and sailor, who have found time and inclination to help this venture of to-day on behalf of the men they have served for half a century.

Part of your kindness is to keep the sudatorium smiling.  The palm for ingenuity is surely borne by the lady who left the germ of a muffler and a ball of wool in a railway waiting room with a message appended asking the next stranded lady to add a few inches to the work—whence a capital muffler arrived here in due season.  But all my sympathy goes out to the self-sacrifice of those male relatives commandeered for the hateful process of trying on.  Listen to this: "My father's head, which is very small and quite bald, seldom comes through the neck."  Oh, Sir, for these too infrequent triumphs my good wishes, and for the dreadful protracted occultations my sincere sympathy and the assurance that we now "pick up 76 round the neck."  But all round there has been a marked improvement in knitting.  My remarks on snakes' nightgowns did produce, per contra, a small crop of elephants' cummerbunds, but the real thing is now normal.

To recur to the one thing of importance.  With a restricted Press, it will. greatly help if ladies will make a point of passing the word along that sweaters, mufflers, helmets, mittens, and socks will be wanted in very large quantities by August 1, and that they should be sent, when the time draws near, either to the Voluntary Organizations Depôts throughout the country, or to the D.G.V.O.’s Depôt at 45, Horseferry-road, S.W., or to me as below.  I have plenty of patterns here if ladies would write for them, but I am afraid all the wool I have left will be wanted for men knitting in hospital.

Yours faithfully,

JOHN PENOYRE. 

8. King’s Bench Walk, Inner Temple, E.C.4.

April 4.

Knitting Fortnight In Dundee

From the Dundee Courier, 29th November 1916.

KNITTING FORTNIGHT IN DUNDEE.

At yesterday meeting of the Dundee Women's War Relief Fund Committee, held at the Town House, Miss Kynoch presided....... Requisitions for the past week—all of which were passed—were received from: — The D.G.V.O. [Director General of Voluntary Organisations] for 370 pairs of sox, 40 shirts, 16 helmets, 3 waistcoats, and one pair of gloves: the Washing and Mending Committee, for 6 shirts; Mrs Miller, Red Roofs, Broughty Ferry, for 50 pairs of mitts and 50 mufflers for the R.N.D. [Royal Naval Division]; Lieutenant Gordon. for 200 pairs of sox for the A. and S. [Argyll and Sutherland] Highlanders, B.E.F. [British Expeditionary Force]: Lieutenant Lowson, R.N.R. [Royal Naval Reserve], for 25 pairs each of mitts and sox, and 25 mufflers for the men of H.M.S. Heroic.

Miss Duncanson read a letter from the D.G.V.O. referring to the great need for winter comforts for the men at the front, and suggesting that a knitting week or fortnight should be arranged.  On the motion of Mrs Steven (Barnhill), it was decided that the first fortnight of December, beginning on the Monday, be set apart as knitting fortnight, and that the Central Office be supplied with four spindles of wool to begin with for giving out to workers in the district.  ....Miss Duncanson intimated that the number of articles sent to the Central Office during the past week was 1055, making the grand total 152,816, while Mrs Kerr stated that the balance at the Central Office was £139 l6s 9d.

Fearnought Glove Fund.

From The Glasgow Herald, November 3, 1916.

FEARNOUGHT GLOVE FUND.

The Glasgow Academy Fearnought Gloves Fund has been reopened.  Since it was started two years ago by Miss McCallum 4000 pairs have been sent to crews of H.M. destroyers and other small craft which have to patrol the seas in all weather, and have been found most efficacious in keeping warm and dry the hands of our sailors.  The Academy glove is well known in the service, and has been commended by Commodore Tyrrwhitt.  In addition, tweed gloves covered with waterproof are being sent to men in submarines for use when the vessels are on the surface, as the men then feel the cold keenly.  The gloves for the submarine crews are made from oddments of waterproof and of woollen materials gifted by manufacturers, clothiers, and other donors.  Requests from commanding officers for supplies are coming to hand almost daily, and in order to cope with the demand, which, it is expected, will be even greater than last year, an appeal is made for further donations of money and materials and for additional workers.  The gloves may be seen at the Glasgow Academy any Monday or Wednesday afternoon during the session, when Mrs Sinclair, the convener, will be glad to give any desired information to those who may wish to help in the work.

Organising Comforts in Denbighshire

From the Denbighshire Free Press, 19th February 1916.

DENBIGHSHIRE COUNTY COMFORTS ASSOCIATION 

This Association has now work parties under official War Office recognition working in every district of Denbighshire.  Several War Office requisitions have lately been received and executed.  Since the beginning of the year alone over 2300 mufflers and 1100 pairs of mittens have been made and sent out to the troops in France.  They reach the troops promptly, and every consignment has been safely received and acknowledged.  Letters have been received from some of the men who received them expressing their warm gratitude.  It must be remembered that these comforts all go to the men who really need them - men who either because they are separated from their units by the exigencies of duty or because they have no special friend to send them things are without the comforts that some regiments have a superfluity of.  Depots for the sale of wool at wholesale prices and for the collection of comforts have been established at Ruthin, Wrexham, Denbigh, and Colwyn Bay.  The Denbigh depot is open at the Drill Hall, Denbigh, every Saturday, from 2 to 4 p.m.

Work parties who join this association are able to continue working for any local unit of the troops or for local men, but are also encouraged to work for the army as a whole by a grant from the association for all comforts sent to the association depots.  Particulars as to this may be obtained from the Hon Secretary, The Cloisters, Ruthin.

At present the association is occupied on an urgent requisition for hospital supplies, and the War Office has intimated that during the spring and summer such supplies will be asked for in large quantities.  Articles especially needed at the present time are (for the fighting forces), mufflers, mittens and headgear; military hospitals, bed jackets, bed socks, dressing gowns, helpless case bed jackets, hospital bags, pyjamas, pneumonia jackets, nightingales, carpet slippers, and, most perhaps of all, operation stockings.  Many tailed bandages and swabs would be also acceptable.

Articles will also be accepted for the Allies, and these will be sent out at Government expense.  Almost any articles will be accepted for this purpose.

All the above will be gladly accepted at any of the depots above named.

[The County Association was evidently working as Sir Edward Ward intended, making comforts for the central pool, as requisitioned by the War Office.  It's interesting that work parties were still allowed to continue to make items for any unit of individuals that they had a particular interest in, but the inducement to work for the County Association and hence the central pool was that they would then receive a grant from the association - whether in money or materials,  is not clear.]       

Kirkcudbright Cake and Candy Sale

From the Dumfries and Galloway Standard, 25th December 1915.

KIRKCUDBRIGHT WORK PARTY

Cake and Candy Sale

A cake, candy, produce, and toy sale, promoted by the Kirkcudbright War Work Party, working in connection with the scheme for voluntary organisations, was held in the Town Hall on Thursday afternoon.  There were three principal stalls, which had been erected by ex-Provost Wallace, and all were attractively decorated.

The cake and candy stall was in charge of Mrs MacMyn and assistants, and it contained a great quantity of tempting goods, including all sorts of fancy cakes, sweets, shortbread, etc., laid out in a manner well calculated to tempt purchasers.  Mrs Brown, Knockbrex, was convener of the toy stall, which was laden with an immense assortment of articles has likely to catch the eye of the youngsters, balls, crackers, Christmas stockings, teddy bears, toy crabs, Chinese lanterns, etc., were displayed in endless variety. The produce stall had for convener Miss Muir, Castle Street, and it simply groaned under its load of hares, pheasants, fowls, cheese, butter, etc. The flower stall, which contained a pretty collection, was in charge of Mrs R. L. Wilson; and the refreshment department was ably superintended by Miss Rankine.

There was a large attendance when the sale was formally opened.  Mrs. Brown, Knockbrex, presided, and in introducing Mrs Maitland, Cumstoun, to perform the opening ceremony, said that as usual they were out for money, and this time they wanted a great deal more than they had ever wanted before.  Already the Central Association had asked for 500 mufflers and 500 pairs of mittens for 8th January.  That meant a lot of work and a lot of money to buy wool.  The Kirkcudbright Work Party had 418 cuts of wool out just now, so they would gather from that how much money was wanted.  Last year the work had been very haphazard.  Various ladies throughout the county appealed for goods for their husbands' men, without saying what number of men or what quantity of goods, with the result that some soldiers got far more than they knew what to do with.  She heard of one soldier who got 15 pairs of socks and sent 14 pairs home to his papa.  (Laughter.)  That was obviously bad business.  Under the new arrangements there could be no recurrence of that kind of thing.  The Red Cross had done a great deal in connection with the Work Party, and some of them were present to assist that afternoon.  They had also given a contribution of £8 7s instead of taking a stall.  She had pleasure in introducing Mrs Maitland to open the sale,,,.

Mrs Maitland said she had been looking round the stalls, and felt sure that after all the good things on them had been eaten it would make all more kindly disposed towards our "Tommies," and work all the harder to provide the outer comforts that were so much wanted at the front.  She had great pleasure in declaring the sale open.  (Applause.)
...
A brisk business was then commenced and the goods quickly began to disappear from the stalls.  The proceedings were much enlivened by the programme of instrumental music submitted by Messrs J. M'Robert (piano), Mr J. M’Gowan (violin), and Mr H. Livingston (cornet).  Songs were tastefully rendered by Misses Logan and Rae and Gordon, and Master A. M’William.  Misses Gretta M’Lean and Marjorie MacMyn danced the pierrot and pierette dance; Miss Oliva Clark the tambourine dance; and Master D. MacMyn played a violin solo very nicely.  Madame Orynthia, the famous palmist, had numerous clients during the afternoon and evening to have their hands read.

The drawings amounted to £75 16s.

[I have included this mainly because of the frank admission that provision of comforts to men in the Army had previously been inefficient, and that the Work Party needed money to buy wool for the mufflers and mittens that had been asked for.  (A cut was a quantity of knitting yarn.) The sale did very well in taking  £75 16s. - at the start of the war, many working women earned no more than £1 for a 40 hour week, so this was a considerable sum.] 

Comforts for the Troops: Mittens wanted

From The Brecon and Radnor Express, 23rd December 1915

COMFORTS FOR THE TROOPS.  

Sir.—The Director General of Voluntary Organisations has sent a requisition to our county depot for 500 pairs of mittens, which he desires the Radnorshire Association to forward as quickly as possible to his Base Depot at Havre.  Mittens should be 8 inches in length from wrist to knuckles with short thumbs and have long cuffs.  The hon. secretary, Mrs Gilbert Moseley, County Buildings, Llandrindod, will be glad to receive contributions of mittens, a single pair or more will be gratefully acknowledged.  This is the first requisition sent to our Association, and we are most anxious to be able to fulfil it satisfactorily.  There are 60 parishes in Radnorshire, will not each one help a little?  The need is real and as the articles are to be sent direct to France from Llandrindod, there is no fear of any delay in their reaching our men in the trenches.  We hope to be able to send off the parcel early in January or as soon as it can be ready.

—Yours faithfully. 
K. M. VENABLES LLEWELYN, 
President of Radnorshire Association, Halesworth, Suffolk. 
Dec. 17th, 1915. 

[Here is Sir Edward Ward (Director General of Voluntary Organisations) putting volunteers around the country to work, to supply exactly what he decided was needed.  Requisitions like the one sent to Radnorshire must have gone to every county association, presumably tailored to the size of the county.  I do wonder what the volunteers felt about the new system.  Previously each group had sent their comforts to specific groups of men - sending things to a depot in France for distribution to the Expeditionary Force must surely have seemed much more impersonal.]

Appeal for Mufflers

From the Denbighshire Free Press, 4th December 1915.

DENBIGHSHIRE COUNTY COMFORTS ASSOCIATION. 

We hear that, although the notice that they were required was very short, the 1,000 pairs of mittens asked for by the War Office by November 25th, were successfully provided by the county, in response to the appeal of the Association, and were at once sent out to France.  A fresh War Office requisition for 1,000 mufflers before December 15th has now been received, and an earnest appeal to all workers is made for their help to provide these.  The mufflers should be 58 inches long, by 10 inches wide, of khaki wool.  This can be obtained at cost price from the Association Depot now established at the Drill Hall (and open on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons from 2 till 4), and a rebate of threepence per lb weight will be returned to the working parties on the finished articles brought in to the Depot.

[It seems very strange to me that the War Office should have arbitrarily designated mittens and mufflers as 'comforts', i.e. luxuries, that they were not going to provide, and then started issuing requisitions for them (through Sir Edward Ward).  It seems a churlish way to treat volunteers too.  Apart from other considerations, if the War Office wanted thousands of mufflers, they could easily have had them made by machine, rather than asking hand-knitters to provide them.]       

Making Soldiers' Comforts

From the Brecon and Radnor Express, 4th November 1915.

Soldiers' Comforts.

RADNORSHIRE LADIES' WORK.

Sir.—May I be allowed through your columns to make known the official scheme for organising and stimulating the making of comforts for our soldiers which I have been asked by the Lord Lieutenant to undertake for the county of Radnor.

Your readers will probably have seen that Col. Sir Edward Ward, Bart., K.C.B., K.C.V.O., has been appointed “Director General of Voluntary Organisations,” with an office and central depot in London.  From thence it is proposed to spread a net-work of associated workers all over the kingdom by means of County and Borough Depots to feed the Central Organisation.  The War Office recognises with gratitude and appreciation this immense amount of useful work which is being done and has already been accomplished.  The objects of this present scheme are to avoid overlapping, and to encourage and stimulate this work by giving it official recognition and directing it into the most useful and needful channels.  We shall be told from time to time what things are most needed, and a list of articles that can be made, in great variety, is already provided.

The hon. secretaries of the various depots are asked for fortnightly or monthly returns of the work they have in hand, to be forwarded to Headquarters when required.  It has been decided to establish a Radnorshire Depot at the County Buildings, Llandrindod Wells....

Associations of workers, however few in number, who undertake to work regularly, may apply to be officially “recognised by the War Office,” and, further, individual workers, who continue their efforts for three months, will be entitled to badges as war workers.  This will, it is hoped, not only encourage many ladies and young girls to enrol themselves, but will also help us all to realise that this systematic making of socks, shirts, comforters, bandages, etc., is to be looked upon as a serious duty to be undertaken for our country.

It is fully recognised that most localities have their own men for whom they must first provide, or special regiments and ships in which they are personally interested, and it is very far from our wish to discourage any efforts in these directions.  But it is also felt that if the ladies of Radnorshire, in the various localities, will all forthwith start work parties and organise local associations, there will still be a great stream of useful comforts to flow to the County Depot in Llandrindod; and thence through headquarters to those battalions and hospitals at the front which are most in need of them.

Sir Edward Ward has given notice that he is quite unable to meet the numerous requisitions which have already reached him.  Mufflers and mittens are most needed at present.  Any further information will be most gladly given either by Mrs Moseley or myself, and we shall be only pleased to hear of any districts or associations in the county which will support the movement.  It is proposed to invite representatives of the above to form a county committee.

I am, sir, yours, &c.,
KATHARINE VENABLES-LLEWELYN.
Llysdinam, Nov. 1st, 1915.

[You could get a badge for knitting!  That seems excellent psychology, showing appreciation for the efforts of the knitters - surprisingly perceptive of the War Office.      

This letter seems to be slightly in conflict with the aims of the War Office in appointing Sir Edward Ward.  I think that the idea was that all 'comforts' (except of course for those made for individual men by family and friends) should be under the central control of Sir Edward, to avoid groups making things that were already supplied by the War Office, and to make distribution to the front fairer and more efficient.  But if the groups could simply say "we are providing for our own men" and carry on as before, that wasn't going to work.  I think in the end it did work, and there was a strong central distribution of 'comforts', but perhaps there was opposition at the beginning, hidden by the polite language in the papers.]      

Women Aren't Knitting

From the Daily Express, October 29th, 1915

Where You Can be of Service

It is a curious fact that though the winter is advancing rapidly, women are not apparently making any great effort to make warm clothing for the troops.  I hope I am mistaken, and that the work is going on sub rosa, but one no longer sees the ubiquitous knitting needles and balls of khaki coloured yarn that were to be found on all sides this time last year. 

Why is this?  Surely women do not fail to realise that the need for knitted articles with which to keep our brave man warm and comfortable during their arduous work by sea and land, when they are out in all weathers, is as great, nay, greater than ever. 

Is knitting for the troops to be put alongside the tango and ping-pong, as a craze of the moment, absorbing the attention of all for a few months, and then dropped again as quickly as it was taken up?  Surely this is not the case.  

There can be no doubt that the energies of every woman are needed to help to supply the great demand for such articles.  Even the woman who is busy most of the day can find time in her spare minutes to ply the needles in the good cause; she was ready enough last winter, and if she only knew how badly these things are wanted, I am convinced she would be as ready this.

We need not fear that our gifts will not be required.  We have Queen Mary’s appeal, an appeal which should rouse the keenest wish to respond in the heart of every woman.  We have the official notification from the War Office that thousands of pairs of mittens and warm mufflers are needed as soon as possible.  Sir Edward Ward is organising a movement to bring local working parties into co-operation, so that all may unite in making what is wanted, and making it correctly. 

In the meantime, don’t wait for further instructions but set to work on mittens;  they must be made with thumbs, no fingers, and eight inches long, of close knitting in khaki-coloured wool – and khaki mufflers, ten inches wide and fifty-eight inches long – just a strip of plain knitting that any child can manage. 

To help those who have not already made these particular mittens. I have a printed leaflet which gives clear instructions how they should be knitted, which I shall be glad to send free to any reader on receipt of a stamped addressed envelope.  The finished articles should be forwarded to the Chief Ordnance Office, Army Clothing Department, …

Wool and knitting needles are to be had in abundance, so I ask every woman who reads this, not to leave the matter to another time, but to go straight out and buy the necessary materials, and set to work “doing her bit” as soon as she possibly can.  One hears so much about the women who are hoping to do war work, but here, close at hand, lies “war work” that every one can do.  If those who cannot leave home will only realise it, by plying their needles they will be doing quite as good work for the country as those other women who are able to work in shell factories and munitions works. 

Requests for the knitting leaflet should be addressed to Janet Gray, Daily Express, 23, St. Bride-street, E.C.

Janet Gray

Fearnought Gloves for the Navy

From the Manchester Evening News, 4^th October 1915.

FEARNOUGHT GLOVES FOR THE NAVY.

Sir,—Last year I made an appeal for glove made of "Fearnought" cloth for the destroyers' crews, or money to buy the same, and I beg to repeat that appeal for the coming winter.  Over 5,000 pairs were sent last year, but more than double that quantity will be required for this winter.

A well-known local firm has arranged to stock the material. and I will gladly forward a paper pattern with full particulars of how to make the gloves to anyone who will send me a stamped addressed envelope, and I will gratefully acknowledge any cash subscriptions for the purchase of material which I can arrange have made up.

Rear Admiral Hon. H. Hood writes: "The gloves were most welcome last winter.  They were one of the most popular things sent, and will, I feel sure, be welcome again. "

Vice-Admiral Bann also says: "There is no doubt these gloves add greatly to the comfort of the men and are much appreciated by them."

(Mrs.) L. LOCKHART.

Gatley Hill, Cheadle.

[There were several appeals for Fearnought gloves in the 1914/15 winter - see here.]  

Soldier’s Comforts

From The People’s Journal (Dundee, Perth, Forfar and Fife), 25th September 1915.

SOLDIERS’ COMFORTS.

Prepare Now for the Winter Campaign.

WHAT IS NEEDED.

Now it the time to begin preparing for the supply of winter comforts for our soldiers in the trenches in France, Flanders, and Gallipoli, and the splendid efforts of our home workers last year will have to go on with redoubled enthusiasm and vigour.

The call for "woollies" was answered in no uncertain way, and the “People's Journal,” which appealed for socks, comforters, mittens, and other such goods, found that the generosity of its readers provided for it a task which, however congenial, was yet a formidable undertaking, requiring all the careful organisation at its command.

This year the number of soldiers under arms has enormously increased, and, to meet the demand for warm clothing, every woman and girl in the kingdom who can spare the time must devote their attention to the making of knitted garments.  Soldiers' families, and many who have no relatives at the front, have contributed in the past, but it must be realised that these heroes are fighting the battles of the whole country, and that there is no home in Britain but owes its safety and preservation to them. Surely it is a small return to spend an hour or so with the knitting needles.

What to Knit.

The articles which will be in the greatest demand are mufflers, mittens, and socks.  The weary ordeal in the trenches, sometimes standing in ice-cold water for hours on end, is the severest of trials on our soldiers' strength and they must be fortified against wind and weather if they are to give the best of the fighting qualities.

The mufflers and mittens must be of drab shades.  The neck wraps should be nearly five feet long, long enough to give a turn round the head to protect the ears from the bite of the frost and allow the ends to come round the chest.  They should be 10 inches wide, and made of fleeced wool, which keeps out rain and snow much better than the plain variety.

This request for fleeced wool is made by the Press Bureau, and will present some difficulty to our readers.  In the process of machine knitting a scarf is first knitted plain, and the fleecy surface is put on by a machine especially made for the purpose.  A curry-comb is the nearest approach to this machine which the ingenuity of the home worker will suggest, as its short teeth will lift the surface into a pile without damaging the strands.

Mittens should be of drab shades also, with short thumbs and no fingers.  Socks should be of 4-ply or 5-ply wool, with plenty of length in the leg.

Tobacco Wanted.

Tobacco is the great solace of the soldiers' life at the front, and the "Journal" scheme for sending "smokes" to the front has been running for nearly a year with great success.  The announcement which appears on another page shows how cheaply our troops can be supplied with tobacco and cigarettes, and the need for it is as great as ever.  Some men like "bogie roll" or thick black; others pin their faith to lighter mixtures.  There are frequent calls from the trenches for black tobacco, and it appears that some non-smokers and those of the gentler sex imagine that, by giving an increased price for tobacco, they are giving the soldiers a better treat.  This is not necessarily so, and, in sending to a regiment, where the tastes of the recipients are unknown, a judicious combination of light and heavy "smokes" should be made.

By our schemes tobacco may be sent to an individual if it is a certain weight, or for distribution in a regiment.  We organise a supply by subscriptions sent in, and those who have no particular friend or regiment would do well to send in their contribution with the simple direction that it is meant for "tobacco for the soldiers."

[This is based on the same press notice as for instance the article in the Western Daily Press, here.   But the People's Journal reporter has adapted it, adding socks to the list of requirements.  Sir Edward Ward had said that only mufflers and mittens were needed, and indeed The Times said here that millions too many socks had been made.  But I suspect that the People's Journal was correct, and that more socks were need - soldiers got through socks very quickly, and a change of socks in the trenches would help in keeping feet dry.   It's notable too that this is the only newspaper I have seen that actually explains what 'fleeced wool' meant, and how to achieve it.] 

Winter Comforts For The Troops

From The Times, 22nd September 1915.

WINTER COMFORTS FOR THE TROOPS.

THE NEW WAR OFFICE SCHEME.

The new War Office scheme for the formation of a central organization, under the direction of Colonel Sir Edward Ward, to coordinate the work of the various committees and individuals now engaged in supplying comforts and luxuries for the troops, while it has come as a surprise to many people, has been welcomed in those quarters which have suffered most from the willing but inefficient amateur.

Pending the formation of this central organisation, it is suggested that workers should concentrate their efforts on mufflers and mittens.  At the Army Clothing Factory the Chief Ordnance Officer stated that these items had been specially chosen because ladies, anxious to do something useful, had in the past devoted all their attention to socks and shirts, which were a Government issue, with the result that there were millions too many.  The Government did not propose to issue mufflers and mittens, but to leave these to the many women who were so willing to make things for the troops. The specifications given should be attended to; the helmet muffler, which is very cumbersome, is not needed, as the men are supplied with winter caps.  About a million and a half, in round numbers, will be needed, but no figures can be definitely stated until the winter disposition of the troops is known.  The troops in certain parts of the Dardanelles and in Serbia may need them also.

The aim of the present project is to counteract the making by small private groups of people of articles which are Government issues.  The constant appearance of appeals from ladies asking for money for comforts for special units will no longer be necessary, and waste of materials as well as of labour will be prevented.  The centres for collecting and packing will save time and labour at the Army Clothing Depots, where the arrival of small consignments which have to be repacked is not appreciated.

There is probably no intention to interfere with any existing organization, like Queen Mary's Needlework Guild, which has reduced waste to a minimum, and which publishes weekly the articles to be made, according to the requisitions that come in from different commanding officers.
The comfort and clothing of the troops are being well looked after at headquarters.  This winter every soldier will have a Siberian goat skin or sheep-skin coat.  These coats are supposed to be worn under their other coats, but the men are so delighted with them that they wear them on the outside all through the muggy weather, when they must be very uncomfortable wear.

The new respirator, which is being issued at the rate of 60,000 a day, covers the head like a visor, and is made of two thicknesses of grey flannelette, fitted with eye pieces and a mouth piece with tubing.

[This seems a surprisingly frank criticism of the efforts of the "willing but inefficient amateur".   It's also interesting that mufflers and (fingerless) mittens, which you might think were essential for the troops at the front during the winter, are to be left to the knitters at home - that seems to be going well beyond the provision of "comforts and luxuries".]   

Mufflers And Mittens For The Troops

From the Western Daily Press, 21st September 1915.

WINTER CAMPAIGN.

MUFFLERS AND MITTENS.

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION.

LONDON, Monday.

Many societies and individuals have written to the War Office to ask for suggestions as to what articles of clothing will be most acceptable for the use of troops at the front during the winter.  The Army Council hope shortly to announce the formation of a central organisation under the direction of Col. Sir Edward Ward. Bart., K.C.B., K.C.V.O., for the purpose of co-ordinating the work of the various committees and individuals now engaged in supplying comforts and luxuries for the troops, and of directing into the most useful channels their kindly energies.

Pending the formation of this organisation, all who are kind enough to do so should concentrate their efforts on mufflers and mittens, which should be made to the following specifications: Mufflers of fleeced wool, drab shades, 58 inches long, 10 inches wide.  Mittens of knitted wool, drab shades, with short thumbs and no fingers, eight inches long from wrist to knuckle.  Supplies of these articles should be sent, for the present, addressed, carriage paid, to the Chief Ordnance Officer, Army Clothing Depot, at any of the following places: Stirling, York, Chester, Weedon, Southampton, Dublin, and Grosvenor Road, London.

[This was the beginning of efforts to organise voluntary knitting efforts, that had evidently been a bit chaotic since the beginning of the war.   Similar articles, giving the same specifications for the mufflers and mittens, appeared in many newspapers around the country at the end of September.] 

Knitted Gauntlet Mittens

From Woman’s Own, 20th February 1915.

Knitted Gauntlet Mittens

For the Men in the Trenches

These mittens are the correct pattern to be worked for the men at the front, as being so large they can be drawn over the sleeve of the tunic, and thus give additional warmth.
Four No. 12 steel knitting needles; and J. & J. Baldwin's Scotch fingering, khaki colour.
Cast on 84 stitches.
1st row : * k. 2, p. 2 ; repeat all round.
Repeat the 1st row 59 times, or until the work measures 6 inches.
K. 8 rows.
69th row : * k. 14, k. 2 together; repeat from * 4 times, k. to end of round.
K. 3 rows.
73rd row : * k. 13, k. 2 together; repeat from * 4 times, k. remaining sts. of this round.
K. 10 rounds.
84th row : * k. 15, k. 2 together; repeat from * 3 times, k. to end.
K. 3 rounds.
88th row: * k. 14, k. 2 together; repeat from * 3 times, k. 1.
K. 12 rounds without decreasing.
101st row : k. 10, p. 1, k. 1 in front and back of the next st., p. 1, k. to end of the round. The thumb is commenced in this row.
102nd row : K. 10, p. 1, k. 2, p. 1, k. to end of round.
103rd row : K. 10, p. 1. Increase 2 by k. in front and back of the next 2 sts., p. 1, k. to end of round.
104th row : K. 10, p. 1, k. 4, p. 1, k. to end.
105th row : K. 10, p. 1. Increase 1 by k. in front and back of the next st., k. 2. Increase 1 as before in the next st., p. 1, k. to end.
106th row : K. 10, p. 1, k. 6, p. 1, k. to end of round.
107th row : K. 10, p. 1.  Increase 1 as before, k. 4.   Increase 1, p. 1, k. to end.
108th row : K. 10, p. 1, k. 8, p. 1, k. to end.
Repeat the last 2 rows, only with 2 extra stitches, to be knitted between the 2 purled sts. until there are 22 k. sts. between p. st., then put these 22 sts. on a piece of wool and leave them for the present.
K. to end of the round.
K. 7 plain rounds on remaining st.
For the ribbing at the top part of the hand, * k. 2 and p. 2; repeat from * to end of the round.  Repeat the last round 15 times, cast off, put the thumb loops on needles, pick up 4 sts. between the loops of hand part, k. 4 rounds on the 26 sts. Finish by k. 2, p. 2, for 12 rounds, and cast off.

[This was the third knitting pattern for some version of mitten published by Woman's Own in less than a month, following the patterns for steering gloves for trawlermen  in January and steering gloves for soldiers earlier in February.  This pattern is much more detailed and easier to follow than the previous one. Perhaps it was written by one of the Baldwin's designers]    

Knitted Steering Gloves for Our Soldiers

From Woman's Own, 13th February 1915.

Knitted Steering Gloves for Our Soldiers

REQUIRED: Five ounces of Beehive double knitting wool and Nos. 10 and 12 needles. Cast on No. 10 needles 84 stitches (28 on each of 3 needles), knit 2 plain and 2 purl for 5 inches, then purl 2 together every 3rd row until all 2 purl is 1 purl.  Knit on to No. 12 needles now for 2 inches, then begin hand.  Knit plain all round to 4 stitches off end of 3rd needle.  Here keep the 2 knit with 1 purl each side for thumb.  Knit 3 or 4 rounds, then make 1 stitch on 1 of these plain stitches, knit 2 more rounds, and raise 2 stitches every 3rd round until there are 17 stitches between the purl stitches.  Knit the 17 stitches on to 3 needles, and make 7 more stitches.  Knit this round for thumb in centre of the 7 stitches cast on.  Knit 2 together every 3rd row, then knit 2 together on each needle until 9 stitches remain.  Break off wool, leaving about 5 inches, then thread through a darning needle, and run needle through all 9 stitches; pull up tightly, and cast off.  Now knit about 2 inches of hand part, and cast off same as a toe of a stocking until 22 stitches remain.  These draw together on wrong side, and cast off firmly.

[I think "steering gloves" here is used as another word for this kind of mitten, with a 'bag' covering the fingers.  It has nothing to do with steering anything.  In January 1915, Woman's Own had already published a pattern for steering gloves for trawler men  (given here).  Those were different in not having a gauntlet to go over the sleeve, and were in a thicker yarn.   

These instructions are a strange mixture of very detailed e.g. "Break off wool, leaving about 5 inches, then thread through a darning needle, and run needle through all 9 stitches; pull up tightly, and cast off" and very terse, e.g. "knit about 2 inches of hand part, and cast off same as a toe of a stocking until 22 stitches remain", which does not mention that you need to pick up the 7 new stitches at the base of the thumb, and in any case only makes sense if you know how to knit socks.  And there are bits that I can't understand at all: I don't know what "purl 2 together every 3rd row until all 2 purl is 1 purl", though it might mean "(knit 2, purl 2 together), and repeat to end of round".  But if so, it's a very strange way to express it.]   

Gloves and Mittens Fund

From the Brecon & Radnor Express, 11th February, 1915.

SOLDIERS' COMFORTS.

Sir,-
Once again I urge upon the public the claim of the gloves and mittens fund for the men of the British Army in France and Flanders.  We all know how bravely they have fought, and with what good humour they have endured hardships and privations.  Living, fighting, marching, under the open sky by day and night, they are exposed to the bitterly piercing winds, the driving rain, the frosts and snows, and these weather conditions are not likely to improve for some time to come.  To quote a letter I have received, "it is terrible to think of our soldiers handling icy-cold rifles with freezing fingers."  The gloves and mittens fund which I started to carry out, the suggestion of my daughters, has sent 350,000 pairs of those useful articles to the front, but its good work (which has earned the approval of His Majesty, as also of Earl Kitchener and the Army Council) is seriously hampered for lack of support.  I asked for £25,000 last October, and, up to now, £13,000 has been subscribed.  The £12,000 still required would be given in a week—nay, in a day—did every reader of this letter realise how much the military efficiency and the health of the troops depend on their hands and wrists being kept warm.  I appeal, therefore, to the public for this £12,000 to enable the full supply of 500,000 pairs to be sent out without further delay.  Contributions sent to me at this address (cheques to be crossed Parr's Bank, Cavendish Square) will be personally acknowledged.—Yours, etc.

GRAND DUKE MICHAEL.
39, Portland Place, W.

[The previous fund-raising effort for the Grand Duke's gloves and mittens fund was reported here.

Unlike other appeals for comforts for the troops, this one is just for money - most of the others ask primarily for the comforts to be made (sewn or knitted), and as an afterthought say something like  "or money to buy them".   Perhaps that is why this appeal was less successful - or maybe other people wondered, as I do, "Why is a Russian Grand Duke living in London and asking for comforts for the British Army?"]

Celebrity Fund Raising

[In January 1915, a charity matinee was put on at a London theatre to raise money for the Gloves and Mittens Fund started by the Grand Duke Michael.  The following pieces are a letter announcing the event, and a report afterwards.]  

From the Dundee Courier, 11th January 1915.

KEEPING THE SOLDIERS' HANDS WARM.

The Countesses Zia and Nada Torby daughters of the Grand Duke Michael of Russia, Miss Violet M. de Trafford, and Miss Bridget Barclay write:—

On Friday next at the Alhambra Theatre a matinee will be given in aid of the Grand Duke Michael’s Gloves and Mittens Fund which is in need of additional support.  Since we started in October over 280,000 pairs of gloves and mittens have been sent to the front for the men in the trenches, and we have received very appreciative letters from the officers and men of the various regiments who have had them.  The King in subscribing £25 has been graciously pleased to express his satisfaction at the fund's good work, and the Queen has repeatedly shown her sympathy by numerous valuable gifts.  General Sir John Cowans, in communicating the thanks of Earl Kitchener and the Army Council, adds that “the army greatly appreciates the great trouble taken by all in collecting the gloves and mittens.”
What we have been able to do has been gladly done to help the brave troops who have done such magnificent work in Belgium and whose comfort and welfare ought to be our first care.  But we want to do more.  The original intention was to send out 500,000 pairs (250,000 of each), but as the Expeditionary Force has been so much strengthened that number will probably have to be increased.  The latest news from the War Office is— “Send all you can, and keep on sending.”
Those who cannot attend the matinee on Friday can help by subscribing towards the £25,000, of which £11,900 has been subscribed.  We ask for at least £500 a day, so that we may keep on sending until every man of our splendid army is provided.  £10 will equip 80 men.

From The Lichfield Mercury, 22nd January 1915.

OUR LONDON LETTER

The chief feature of the matinee at the Alhambra Theatre in aid of the Grand Duke Michael’s Glove and Mitten Fund, which was attended by Queen Alexandra, was the dazzling array of programme sellers.  In this case they were not actresses but girls and young women of very high degree.  Each wore a number on the left arm, and the programmes furnished a key.  So no mistake could possibly be made, and when you saw “No. 3” you consulted the guide book as it were, and found that it was the Duchess of Sutherland.  Besides her grace, Lady Drogheda, the Countess Zia and Nada Torby, Lady Rosemary Leveson-Gower, Lady Chichester, Lady Lisburne, and Miss de Trafford, to mention only a few, were present, as well as Lady Victoria Stanley, who, however, was not numbered on the card.
This catalogue method savoured somewhat of a race meeting, but it saved a lot of discussion among humble folk, and gave them plenty of value for their money apart from the actual entertainment.  But they got no change out of a sovereign [£1] for their programmes.  With the exception of a short play in which Miss Laurette Taylor, of “Peg o’ My Heart” fame appeared, the show consisted mainly of “turns” from the larger variety theatres.  The combined attractions resulted in a sum exceeding one thousand pounds, which will materially assist one among many worthy causes.

[This idea of putting on a display of programme sellers 'of very high degree' and effectively charging the 'humble folk' for the privilege of seeing them at close quarters seems exploitative to me, to both sides. Even the reporter seems a bit shocked at the £1 charged for a programme.]