Wipe-ar~e (not "wipers" nor Ieper nor Ypres.)

[o j kirby]

Hello Troops,

For those of us familiar with the current issue 24 hour ration packs, you will know that paper hankies are part of the issue for the sake of personal hygeine.

Was there a toilet paper issue in the trenches, behind the lines, in billets etc, or was this something that troops provided for themselves...or improvised?

I would have thought that medics might have insisted on cleanliness.

Anyone with any ideas?

Owain.

[David B]

Owain,

Don't know about that but when I was a kid in the country one of my jobs was to cut up the daily newspaper, only rich people had toilet rolls

in those days.

david

[SiegeGunner]

Ironic, isn't it - these days toilet tissue is cheap and only rich people buy daily newspapers ...

[kenf48]

Can't recall exactly where I read it recently but a quote from a soldier went something along the lines of 'we were all country boys, so a handful of grass did the job'. I think it must have been the same account that said cleaning the latrines was a sought after job as they were excused all other duties (reminds me of that old joke that when you're in the sh*t keep quiet, at least its warm and safe ).

Unfortunately during the war there were over 200,000 casualties from dysentery, including hundreds of deaths. Dysentery is invariably caused by contact with infected faeces and there must have literally been tons of human and animal waste in the front line, not to mention that contained in rotting corpses. Although the authorities were aware of the problem and tried to improve hygiene I guess when you're being shelled and shot at it wasn't the priority. The RAMC also had sanitary units but as with so many other things good intentions foundered in the trenches. It would be interesting to know how the Germans fared in this regard as they were generally reckoned to have better, more permanent trench systems.

Ken

[centurion]

Army issue toilet paper in WW1 was in sheets 6 inches by 4 inches. Navy issue bumf was 5 inches by 5 inches. I started a thread yonks ago enquiring if army and navy posteriors were different shapes!

[MikB]

Sung to the tune of 'Tarpauling Jacket'...

"...For $h1t may be shot at odd corners

Provided with paper to suit (... to suit)

But a $h1t would be shot without mourners

If somebody shot that $h1t Shute."

... after a General Shute had made complaints about the allegedly slack standard of latrine work, to the troops' gerneral disapproval. Assumption would seem to be that paper was theoretically issued - unless this was just added as a joke about unattainable luxury...

Regards,

MikB

[centurion]

The troops that Shute complained about were the Naval Division - probably confused by not having a ships side to locate the heads over

[Steven Broomfield]

The troops that Shute complained about were the Naval Division - probably confused by not having a ships side to locate the heads over

Maybe they were issued with the wrong shaped toilet paper.

Ironic, isn't it - these days toilet tissue is cheap and only rich people buy daily newspapers ...

I buy a Tottygraph every day

[centurion]

Maybe they were issued with the wrong shaped toilet paper.

Question I asked in vain in an earlier thread - if the RNAS used 5 X 5 and the RFC 6 X 4 pieces - what did the RAF use?

[SiegeGunner]

The troops that Shute complained about were the Naval Division - probably confused by not having a ships side to locate the heads over.

The poem or ditty is by A P Herbert.

[MikB]

The poem or ditty is by A P Herbert.

I don't think I knew that - can't remember where I read the ... ah ... lyrics, but somehow they ... erm ... stuck

Regards,

MikB

[MikB]

Owain,

Don't know about that but when I was a kid in the country one of my jobs was to cut up the daily newspaper, only rich people had toilet rolls

in those days.

david

You could cut it? Luxury.

I remember my grandpa used to tear it into squares as neat as you please, then pull a piece of string through with a nail. Both ends of the string then tied to a hook on the back of the Khazi door.

But then (that) Grandpa wasn't in the trenches - cylindrical grinder - reserved occupation. I don't know if he would even have been accepted.

Regards,

MikB

[janecavell]

I thought that somewhere out there, there must be an expert on the subject, so asked Google, and discovered not only that the study of toilet paper has a proper name (cloacopapyrolgy) but that there's a website devoted to it. No sign of any WWI info there, though.

Then I wondered if The National Archives' catalogue had any references to toilet paper. The answer is yes! Mostly too late for this Forum, but there is a Foreign Office document dated 1917 and referring to "Inadequate supply of toilet paper for British prisoners in Germany".

Jane

[David B]

MikB,

Ah yes, but in the country we had plenty of pairs of sheep shears available.

David

[Nigel Marshall]

I don't think I knew that - can't remember where I read the ... ah ... lyrics, but somehow they ... erm ... stuck

Regards,

MikB

Lyn MacDonald's Somme perhaps?

I'm almost certain all the words are in it.

Cheers,

Nigel

[27thBN]

Rather delicate topic all i can remember from ration packs in the service was that you never got enough 6 by 4 or 5 by 5 for the job. :(

MC

[MikB]

Lyn MacDonald's Somme perhaps?

I'm almost certain all the words are in it.

Cheers,

Nigel

Yes, I've read that - could well be.

Regards,

MikB

[centurion]

Most of A P Herbet's wartime ditties were published in Punch and then reprinted in a collection under the title "The Bomber Gipsy" (available as a down load) dedicated to the wives of the RND - not surprisingly that one isn't included.

[eltoro1960]

Recall in one book I read, a soldier taking one last read of scented letter from his beloved on the throne, then 'recycling' it. Apparently in short supply it would seem. and no place for sentiment.

[eltoro1960]

Question I asked in vain in an earlier thread - if the RNAS used 5 X 5 and the RFC 6 X 4 pieces - what did the RAF use?

Silk hankies old boy, poor show to use anything else.

[MikB]

Silk hankies old boy, poor show to use anything else.

What about those white scarves?

After all, much of the requirement may've been due to the castor oil sprayed in their faces by radial engines with total-loss lubrication systems...

Regards,

MikB

[o j kirby]

Hello,

I didn't imagine that this topic would create so much interest!

A thought I have had is that perhaps vast amounts of flannelette (for cleaning rifles) was put to other uses? I would guess that a pull-through was not advisable! Perhaps there is a special drill for it...wiping by numbers!

Thanks to all that have contributed.

Owain.

[MikB]

A thought I have had is that perhaps vast amounts of flannelette (for cleaning rifles) was put to other uses?

Four-be-two? A bit narrow for proper hygiene, I think - unless of course it were supplied uncut, four inches wide. However, I think we'd be starting a whole new roll there...

Regards,

MikB

[Ghost]

Didn't the RAF use two four by two's, so they had a guide line.

Alam

[ianjonesncl]

The troops that Shute complained about were the Naval Division - probably confused by not having a ships side to locate the heads over

The General inspecting the trenches

Exclaimed with a horrified shout

'I refuse to command a division

Which leaves its excreta about.'

But nobody took any notice

No one was prepared to refute,

That the presence of **** was congenial

Compared to the presence of Shute.

And certain responsible critics

Made haste to reply to his words

Observing that his staff advisors

Consisted entirely of turds.

For **** may be shot at odd corners

And paper supplied there to suit,

But a **** would be shot without mourners

If someone shot that **** Shute.