What is a "housewife" ?

[cathyaus]

HI
I am currently researching the soldiers that died in World War 1 & are buried in Compton Chamberlayne Cemetery in Wiltshire, England as part of my role on the Wiltshire OPC project. There were 28 Australian, 4 British & 2 Irish soldiers that died during this time & are buried at Compton Chamberlayne.

The Australian soldiers' Service records are available for viewing on-line (free) at the Australian National Archives website. Included in the Service Records is a list of their personal effects that was to be returned to the next of kin. I have found in a few of the soldiers's list of personal effects the term "housewife" - can someone please let me know what this was ??

For example - Pte C W Ferrow Service number 2911 of the Australian 57th Infantry Battalion- his inventory of effects has "cap comforter, gloves, housewife, 4 handkfs, mirror, roll book, musketry book, razor in case" etc

Pte Ferrow had embarked from Australia on 3rd November, 1916 & had been transferred to the Training Camps at Hurdcott, Wiltshire. He died at the Military Hospital at Fovant, Wiltshire on 28th February, 1917 from bronchitis.

Hope someone can help
Cathy

[bikermickau]

It's a sewing kit I believe - unsure if it was standard issue WW1


Edited to add link to a Housewife example
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0ns6/

Mick

[Wiggy]

My Grandmother gave me one of these when I first went Nursing       A Portable sewing kit in a roll.

  It is a rolled up kit for sewing and includes needles, pins, some different but basic coloured threads and a small pair of scissors The roll usually tied with a piece of ribbon of something similar - usually pronounced Hussiff.  They are very useful when travelling - and I still have the one I was given  - many years ago - and I still use it all the time!!

The outside of mine is coloured cloth - the inside is a small piece of blanket sewn inside the folded over cloth!

Wiggy  

Snap Mike - only more wordy!!      

[cathyaus]

Thanks Wiggy & Mike for your quick replies. Thanks also Mike for the link to the image of a "housewife"

Much appreciated - the mind was boggling trying to work out what it could be !

Cathy

[joboy]

Wiggy is quite correct ..... the term was still in use in 1945 as part of a Royal Marine's kit it was rolled and tied with a tape that was partly sewn on the outside of the roll.
I was issued with one ... it's purpose was to ensure that one's own clothing,including uniform,was properly maintained.
I would imagine that personnel in all services were issued with one.
joboy.

[joboy]

Here is a photo of a WW2 kit inspection where you will see a 'hussif' to the right and above the knife,fork and spoon.
http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/WW2/scan0238.jpg.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1
joboy

[mmm45]

Deffo the term is  still in use with RM today....As are the kit musters as per the phot provided by Joboy

Ady

[cathyaus]

Thank you to Joboy & Ady for your replies.

Who needs an encyclopedia when we have Rootschat 
Cathy

[GrahamSimons]

....and I believe it's pronounced huzzif