Thank you to everyone on RootsChat and ww2talk who provided the information that MaxD requested on my behalf. I am always bowled over by the generosity of people in sharing their knowledge. This has all been extremely useful and informative. As MaxD pointed out nowhere is there anything like "Shoes, canvas, for the use of" (I made an error when I quoted from my Uncle's letter, it was 'for the use of' not 'for the wearing of') but I rather think it was his jocular way of describing his canvas shoes following the format of many of the lists you have provided such as 'Drawers, cotton, long', 'Drawers, woolen', and 'Shoes Canvas Rubber Sole'
Thank you to PackRat on WW2talk for explaining 'Housewife/hussif/hussiv' - that's got to go in my book!
I'm off to The National Archives tomorrow with a list as long as my arm, so the information you have provided will save a lot of time that I can now devote to more serious stuff.