In researching my book about women at sea in WW1 and WW2, I've noticed something very distinct about the ships taking a mass of war brides across the ocean. Warbrides' bodily functions were necessarily of great logistical concern to ship owners and transport managers, who had never been used to so many women passengers before (especially pregnant and nursing mothers). Wrens, nurses, crew etc were on ships in much smaller numbers - and without babies, so their bodily needs were not such a problem.
BIG ISSUES
It seems to me that the big issues were as follows - and that few warbrides have yet talked about it.
1.How to cope with the disposal of sanitary towels, given that sea toilets were so inclined to block (the brass clappers were affected by salt corrosion) and passengers seemed averse to using disposal bins?
2. How to enable the laundering of babies' nappies, given that few bride ships had laundries and that each mother would need to soak, wash and dry at least four diapers a day. Where do you put the dozens of buckets, to stop them falling over in choppy seas? Where do you hang these small squares that take up so much space on the washing line? Some US ships in WW2 dealt with the problem by issuing disposables.
3.How to assist mothers to breast feed in private, in such crowded spaces?
4. How to deal with sexual desire during the voyage, given that crew members could be predatory (and wives who'd been away from their husband for a long time could be feeling in need of physical consolation). It seems that bromide was issued on at least one occasion, to quell women's ardour.
HELP
I'd love it if any warbrides or their crew can help me understand these points. Thank you.
No comments:
Post a Comment