大象传媒

鈥淚f You Can Knit 鈥� You Can Do Your Bit鈥�

During the War the Women鈥檚 Institutes and other patriotic ladies held knitting circles, influenced by the slogans on the hoardings, etc, with the reminder that 鈥淚f you can knit 鈥� you can do your bit鈥�. So they knitted for the Army, Navy, Air Force and ARP workers. Knitting patterns were printed called 鈥淲ar Knitting鈥� and Sidar Wool Company produced wool specially dyed in service colours, i.e. kharki, navy blue, Air Force blue and grey. They knitted pullovers with long sleeves, sleeveless pullovers, gloves, balaclavas and other garments which were lovely, cosy and warm.

One day word went round our camp that the Padre had issued knitted pullovers to some of the Airmen but although in many instances we women did the same work as the men, there were no garments for us. It was agreed by my friends and me that this was unfair and I drew the short straw to approach the Padre. This needed careful handling, he being a senior officer and me a mere ACW1 at that time. Discipline was strict 鈥� stand to attention when addressing him, no sitting until told to, then do so, of course be sure to call him 鈥淪ir鈥� the correct number of times and salute when appropriate.

The Padre held a Morning Surgery, had his Bible and prayer book ready and was not very pleased to see me about knitted garments instead of a religious problem. I stated my case and he was cross, his reply being that the women were quite capable of knitting their own. My answer to that was 鈥淵es, but with what, Sir, we do not have any coupons to purchase wool鈥� This was true because we did not need 鈥渃lothing coupons鈥�; every bit of clothing we possessed was issued to us, underwear, pyjamas, stockings, shoes, you name it we were issued with it 鈥� no fancy 鈥渇rillies鈥� however.

Padre 鈥渉ummed鈥� and 鈥渉ahed鈥� a bit but finally agreed he would try to get us some wool. I reached the door, turned and said 鈥淥h and knitting needles, Sir, sizes 9 and 11鈥� I shut the door and then poked my head back in and said 鈥淎 pattern also please, Sir鈥�. I shut the door quickly and hurried away because I knew he was not pleased!.

Did I get my wool? Yes but no pattern nor knitting needles though. However, my sister was in the WAAF also 鈥� based at Horsham St. Faith. (Today this is now much enlarged and called Norwich Airport.) She was a good knitter whereas I was not and when I eventually got my wool from the Padre, I sent it to her. She had enough wool to knit my pullover and herself a pair of gloves.

The Padre had been most specific with his orders regarding the wool and said that I was not to spread the news around the camp as he did not want WAAF attending his 鈥渂ible surgery鈥� asking for wool, which he had great difficulty in obtaining anyway. I therefore decided to follow the slogans posted on many public hoardings, which said 鈥淏e like Dad, keep Mum鈥� and 鈥淐areless talk costs lives鈥�!!!

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