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.

An Appeal To Working Parties

From the Western Times, July, 1917.

AN APPEAL TO WORKING PARTIES.

To the Editor of the "Western Times."

Sir,—Socks and mufflers, but socks especially, will be required in as large or even larger numbers than before, for our troops at the front this autumn and winter. May I, therefore, urge the many working parties, and individual helpers, who have so generously helped the Mayoress's Depot in the past, to continue, and, if possible, increase their efforts? We now have many Devon battalions at the front, and in addition we receive urgent requests for bales from the Director-General of Voluntary Organisations. I am sure it is hardly necessary to remind working parties that the Mayoress's Depot is permitted to supply wool from the War Office at cost price. It would greatly help us if we could hear from affiliated working parties the approximate quantities of wool they would wish reserved for them during the coming months. I shall be happy to hear from any one desiring information on the matter.

Yours faithfully,
J. KIRK G. OWEN, Mayoress.
The Guildhall, Exeter, July 18, 1917. 

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.

Sweaters And Mufflers

From the Yorkshire Post, 11th January 1917.

SWEATERS AND MUFFLERS.

To the Editor of The Yorkshire Post.

Sir,—It has been my good fortune to transmit to the men in the field some 32,000 sweaters since the war broke out. Sir Edward Ward, the Director-General of Voluntary Associations now asks if, without letting the sweater industry go down, I could "do the same for the men's mufflers, of which a very great quantity are wanted at once."

The sweater pattern, easy and economical, is to be had here for asking, but the War Office formula for mufflers is so short that I hope you may find room for it at once. The muffler should measure 58in. by 10in., and be made on two No. 7 needles, taking 10oz. of fairly thick drab or khaki wool.

One knows of the enormous amount of well-considered work that has been done for the men all over the country. I feel, however, that one has but to name the incredible numbers that our armies have recently reached to justify asking this further effort.  I am authorised, then, to state that the need for sweaters, mufflers, and all other hall-marked comforts is great and immediate, and that these should be sent either to the Voluntary Organisations Depots throughout the country, or to the D.C.V.O.'s depot at 45, Horseferry Road. S.W., or to me as below.—Yours. etc.

JOHN PENOYRE. 

8. King's Bench Walk, Inner Temple, E.C., Jan. 9. 1917.

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.

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.]       

Socks and Mufflers for Kent Regiments

From the Folkestone, Hythe, Sandgate & Cheriton Herald, 12th February 1916.

SOCKS AND MUFFLERS FOR THE COUNTY REGIMENT.

An appeal has been made to the Association of Men of Kent and Kentish Men to assist in promptly providing a supply of socks and mufflers for the men of our county regiments, viz.:—“The Buffs” and Queen's Own Royal West Kents now at the front.  It is found that a very frequent change of dry warm socks is a preventive of the effects of frost-bite.  The County Association is confident that the want of our brave men has only to be known, for every woman in and connected with Kent to do her best to meet it.

A special appeal is made to principals and mistresses of all girls' colleges and schools to assist. Where it is not possible to raise funds locally for the purchase of wool, application should be made to the Secretary.

Parcels for the county regiments should be addressed as per the directions at foot of this appeal.  All correspondence on the matter to be addressed to Mr. Henry Thompson, Secretary of the Association of Men of Kent and Kentish Men, 7, Victoria-street, Westminster S.W.  Contributions towards the purchase of wool, etc., will be gratefully received and allocated.

Ladies are invited to form working parties in their respective districts, and are asked to communicate with Mr. Thompson, who will forward them any instructions and printed matter necessary.  Suggested sizes of socks, of which several thousand pairs are required at once, are 10 to 12 inches, and mufflers about 60 inches by 10.  Balaclava caps are also required.

[The Men of Kent/Kentish Men names reflect a division of the county of Kent into East Kent and West Kent.  (Don't ask me why.)      

Clearly the  Association of Men of Kent and Kentish Men wanted to supply comforts to local men, and I doubt that they would be happy with the general pool of comforts that Sir Edward Ward was setting up.  And whereas Sir Edward was asking at this time only for mufflers and mittens, the Association thinks (probably correctly) that socks are more needed.]    

Comforts for Local Men

From the Llangollen Advertiser, 31st December 1915.

WAR GUILD

AND COUNTY COMFORTS ASSOCIATION.

The collection for the above was held on Dec. 23rd, when 266 garments were brought in, made up as follows:—

6 shirts,
60 pairs socks,
20 vests,
6 caps,
6 jerseys,
19 bags,
87 scarves,
12 handkerchiefs,
50 pairs mittens,
2 various. 

Since the last report, owing to Christmastide, no extensive distribution has yet been made.  Mrs. W. Best has, however, sent 99 pairs of mittens to Queen Mary's Needlework Guild (recognized by the War Office), 50 pairs of socks to Mrs. Lloyd George's Fund for Welsh Troops, 2 pairs of socks for convalescent soldiers, and the following parcels to local men:—
Pte. Edwd. Wallis, R.A.M.C., 2 vests, 2 pairs socks, pair mittens; Pte. J. E. Roberts, 1st Welsh Horse, 2 shirts, pair socks, cap-scarf, mittens, handkerchief; Pte. E. Jones, 5360, 2nd Batt. R. W.F., 2 vests, shirt, pair socks, 2 hankerchiefs; Morris Williams, Montgomeryshire Yeomanry, 2 pairs socks, jersey, cap-scarf, mittens; Pte. A. Dean, 1st Welsh Horse, 2 vests, cap-scarf, pair socks, jersey, mittens.

During 1915 sixty-five parcels have been sent to local men, mostly all abroad at the time, and up to date only nine have not been acknowledged.

The next requisition for the County Comforts Association is another 1,000 scarves.  Mrs. Best has promised 120 this time, to be ready by Jan. 13th at latest.  Regulations are, “size, 10 in, by 58 in. —fleecy wool.”  The ends should be run in with a needle when finished.  Names and addresses should be attached to all mittens and scarves when brought in.

[This is such an odd mixture. At one extreme, local knitters were just a small part of a national scheme to provide thousands of scarves, under the direction of Sir Edward Ward, who had sent the requisition for 1.000 scarves to the county. At the other, they are sending personal parcels to several local men, as if they were family members.]    

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.] 

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

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 Scarf and Cap

From The Lady's World Fancy Work Book, January 1915.

A Knitted Scarf and Cap for Soldier or Sailor

So many comforts have been knitted for soldiers, but we fear comforts for sailors are being overlooked, and we would remind the home worker of the need of scarves, sweaters, stockings, mittens, etc., that is experienced by the men in the North Sea at this time of the year.  If we would just let our imagination run to the sea coast on a cool summer day even, how gladly we would turn to the warm woolley jackets and scarves, which have been stuffed in to the holiday box for occasions of emergency, and think how much worse it must be out at sea on a cold bleak wintry day, and with feelings of sympathy occupy our spare time in giving a little of it and our work to the comfort of the brave sailors who are guarding our shores.  With this need in view we are publishing a few articles which will give real warmth and comfort to the man at the helm or the nimble sailor at the mast-head.
At the present moment we are working a scarf with the very nicest and softest wool which can be obtained, as we do not consider that comforts for either soldiers or sailors should be knitted with anything but the best wool.  This particular scarf is knitted with Faudel’s A.A. Peacock Quality Fleecy Navy Blue Wool and a pair of No. 2 wooden knitting pins.

When the work is grasped in the hand it feels like a ball of fluff, and the working of it is so easy that even the little school girl cannot fail to make a nice job of it. When the scarf is finished it is one long tube of knitting two yards in length.  The casting off end is gathered up and a large button sewn on.  The casting on end may also be gathered up and a loop put there. Now this scarf may be worn twisted round the neck several times, of course, or the tube may be utilised by folding part of it under and popped on the sailor's head, the button part at the top. The long end which is hanging down, is wound round the neck as often as it will go, and the end with the loop, fastened to the button at the top of the head.  Imagine to yourselves anything more cosy than this, it answers the purpose of a helmet coming well down over the ears, and will keep every breath of air away from the chest where comfort is needed.  Now for the working of this wonderful scarf.

TO CAST ON STITCHES FOR KNITTING.
The length of a strand of wool allowed for this purpose depends, of course, on the number of stitches required, but even though more than one attempt has to be made at the beginning, little or no damage is done to ordinary wool.
Take the wool in both hands, with the length allowed for casting on hanging on the left.  Hold it firmly between the finger and thumb of the right hand, grasp it within the clenched fingers of the left hand and slip the left thumb under the wool.  Twist the left thumb under the wool a second time while holding the wool taut on the right, and it will be found to be crossed on the top.  Next, take one knitting needle, insert it under the loop on the outside of the thumb, and after passing the wool held by the right hand round the point of the needle, bring the needle forward through the loop, slip it off the thumb, and draw the stitch up tightly. Repeat, taking care to have the stitches close together.

Cast on 56 stitches loosely, turn, put up the wool as if you were going to purl and insert the needle in the first stitch, slip it off, don't knit, and put the wool back. Knit next stitch, wool forward, again insert needle as if for purling, slip off next stitch, wool back, knit next stitch, wool forward, again slip the stitch off, wool back, knit, continue until the end of the 56 stitches.

Next row: Wool forward, slip off one stitch, wool back, knit one, wool forward, slip one, wool back, knit one and so on to the end of the row. Continue doing this until your scarf is two yards long; and in the fleecy wool which I have mentioned, you will require 9 ozs. In Faudel's Double Knitting Wool, which is not quite so fleecy, but is a very nice wool, 8 ozs. will be required.

[The Lady's World Fancy Work Book was a quarterly publication, that mainly dealt in crochet fancy work, but in January 1915 had several patterns as well for soldiers' and sailors' comforts.  The only illustration to the instructions for the cap-scarf combination shows a rectangular piece of knitting still on the knitting needle, so is not very illuminating.  The instructions for casting on appear to be describing what we now call long-tail cast-on - not a well-known method at the time, I suppose. The rest of the instructions describe knitting a tube using the double-knitting technique.  You end up with a double thickness flat scarf, with the two layers joined together at each end by the casting on and casting off.    Except that you then gather up the cast-off edge and sew a button to it, and optionally  gather up the cast-on edge and sew a loop to it.  When it comes to wearing the result, wrapped round the neck and also worn as a cap, imagination fails me. 

More information on the other contents of the magazine can be found here. ]

A Plain Knit Shetland Scarf

From the Woman's Own Knitting Supplement, 16th January 1915.

To Make a Shetland Scarf Quickly

These are the Lightest and Warmest Scarves to Make

A warm scarf that can easily be folded to put in the pocket is an ideal gift for a soldier, and such useful gifts are now being made in the Shetland Isles of the natural wool, which costs fourpence per cut.
To make one 2 yards long and 20 inches wide, cast on 75 stitches on to No. 12 vulcanite needles.
Knit one row plain.
2nd row : K. off 2 stitches, put up thread, k. 2 together, * k. 5 plain, put up thread, k. 2 together ; repeat from * to end of row.
Next rows to be knitted plain until the length required is worked.  Then work the 2nd row over again to make the holes in the end of scarf, then one row plain, and cast off.

To MAKE THE FRINGE.—Have a piece of wood 7 inches broad, and wind round this the wool that is left over.  Cut at one end, and count 5 threads for each hole ; double the threads when separated, and put the centre through hole; slip the ends through the loop, and pull tightly—in the usual way of attaching fringe.  Repeat until all the holes are threaded; then divide each "tassel," and knot half of one with half of another.  Other methods of finishing the ends will suggest themselves to ingenious or artistic workers. Many men, of course, prefer the ends left plain.

There are 100 threads in each cut, and from 2½ to 3 cuts of the Shetland wool are required.

[The fringe sounds a daft idea if the scarf was intended for a soldier - I should think that indeed "many men prefer the ends left plain."]

More Mufflers Wanted

From the Manchester Courier, 1st January 1915.

LADY FRENCH APPEALS FOR MUFFLERS.

Lady French writes:  “Will you permit me through the medium of your columns to make another appeal on behalf of our troops at the front.  Mufflers are still urgently needed, and I have been asked by the authorities at the War Office to collect another 50,000 to send out in the shortest possible time.

“The response to my former appeals has been most generous, and I desire to take this opportunity of publicly thanking the many kind donors.  May I once more ask for gifts of mufflers or money to purchase them with to be sent to me at 39, Berkeley Square, W., which house has been kindly lent for the purpose by Mr. and Mrs. Almeric Paget.”

[Lady French, the wife of Sir John French, commander of the British Expeditionary Force in France, had made an earlier appeal for mufflers in October 1914.

Almeric Paget had a colourful career, according to Wikipedia, including setting up the Almeric Paget (Military) Massage Corps at the start of the war. His wife was Pauline Payne Whitney, an American heiress.]

Appeal for Socks

From The Times, 29th August 1914.

SOCKS FOR SOLDIERS.

Lady French writes from The Manor House, Waltham Cross, Herts:—There is a great need for knitted socks, &c., for our troops. It is, indeed, a crying need, as the War Office allowance is only three pairs for each man, and a long day's march will wear socks into holes. I would ask those who have leisure to knit, or are willing to employ others to do so, to send parcels as soon as possible ... to Miss Douglas and Miss N. Selby Lowndes, at the Ceylon Tea Depot, ... These ladies have kindly consented to receive and acknowledge all contributions, whether in knitting, wool, or money, and to forward them in my name to the different regiments. Wool is very welcome, as there are many willing workers who are glad to give their time but cannot afford to buy materials; and gifts of money will also be laid out to provide these and to pay for the work being done when it cannot be given voluntarily, thus doing a double kindness.  Socks are needed more than anything, but comforters (not less than 2½ yards long and 12in. wide) are much appreciated.

[Lady French was the wife of Sir John French, commander of the British Expeditionary Force in France.   This appeal is I think the first indication that there was a legitimate, official, need for volunteers to provide extra socks for soldiers on active service. ]

Miss Susan Ballard, 17, Waldegrave-park, Twickenham, writes:—Socks without a shaped heel have three advantages—first, the pressure, not coming to the same place, they last much longer; secondly, they fit any foot; and thirdly, they are so quickly knitted. Cast on as for any ordinary ribbed sock.  Knit till you come to where you begin the shaping for heel, then knit plain, all round the three needles, till you decrease for toe.  Do the decrease for toe on each of the three needles.  You then have a long sock the same all round in every part.  Knitters must not on any account let a knot come in the foot.  

"T. A. C." would like to draw attention to the supreme necessity of washing socks before handing them over, as if this is not done it may cause blistered feet.

Mrs. Campbell Turner, Inveraray, N.B., suggests that every maker of socks and stockings shake a teaspoonful of boracic acid powder into the foot of each sock; this is a great comfort, prevents sores from dyed wool, and a pennyworth of powder will go a long way.

[Like the suggestion to provide a darning needle with every pair of socks, the hints from private individuals may or may not be sensible.   The idea that heelless socks were better than the traditional kind cropped up several times.  I doubt if such socks were ever officially acceptable in Britain.   

The last two hints suggest that the dyes then used must have left some residue in the yarn which was irritating to the skin.]