"Shoes, canvas, for the wearing of"

[Brewins girl]

"Shoes, canvas, for the wearing of" is a quote from a letter written by a soldier (REME) during WW2, while he was still on home soil (UK) and had some time off. Although I think it was written 'tongue in cheek' I wonder whether such a description would actually have been used in some document/check list of items of clothing issued to conscripts. Does any one know if this is so, and better still, direct me to an image to explain it?

[Jebber]

Probably plimsolls, otherwise known as daps.

[Brewins girl]

Thank you for this quick response Jebber. It was more the expression 'Shoes. Canvas. For the use* of' that I was after. (* wrongly said 'wearing of' in my earlier post)

[Treetotal]

I have a photo of my Uncle wearing white canvas shoes but he is in tropical army uniform I believe  and it was taken Rome.
Carol

[medpat]

At a guess old fashioned plimsolls with laces still being issued in 1960s in the RAF.

[MaxD]

The phrase is a joking one that tended, with variations, to be informally tagged onto almost anything for (supposedly) comic effect.  The official nomenclature would in all probability have been Shoes, canvas - full stop.

MaxD

[medpat]

That was how they would be described as part of his kit that he was accountable for.

[Brewins girl]

I realised that he was using it in jest MaxD - indeed I've heard my husband refer to an item of underwear as 'cellular, green, for the use of' too.  I'm hoping as medpat suggests that somewhere there is an 'official' document that uses such arcane language!

[medpat]

I had it recited to me when getting KD for an overseas posting.

2 KD dresses, WRAF, hot climate, for the use of other ranks.

6 white dresses, WRAF DSA, for the use of other ranks etc.

Even my box for sending my belongings was for WRAF, for the use of other ranks