Dress Regulations
.
Required Items
Members of the Navy Nurse Corps were required
to possess all of the articles of uniform hereinafter prescribed, except
the raincoat, which was an optional item of uniform.
(Most of the following information are taken
from
"The Naval Officer's Guide" by Athur A. Ageton,
1943/1944)
a) Indoor Uniform
.
6 uniforms, indoor , white. |
Cuff links, white. |
3 caps, indoor with markings. |
1 cape. |
2 pairs pin-on corps devices. |
1 sweater. |
Shoes white oxfords with rubber heels. |
1 raincoat, blue |
Hose, plain white. |
1 cap, outdoor blue |
Additionally, a slate gray dress was authorized
in May 1944 as work attire and the WAVES' seersucker working uniform (for
Navy Nurses serving in the Pacific Theater of Operations) in August 1944. |
.
b) Outdoor Uniform
.
Blue Uniform
|
White Uniform
|
Blue Suit. |
White Suit |
Blue Overcoat with shoulder marks (as required by weather). |
---- |
Blue or white cap with corps device
(replaced by Naval officer's cap device in
August 1944). |
White cap with corps device
(replaced by Naval officer's cap device in
August 1944). |
White shirt, with neckband and long sleeves. |
White Shirt |
Black four-in-hand tie. |
Black four-in-hand tie. |
Black oxford shoes.
Later in the war, plain black pumps permitted |
White oxford shoes.
Later in the war, plain white pumps permitted |
Black hose.
(replaced by beige hose in December 1944) |
White hose.
(replaced by beige hose in August 1944) |
Gray gloves.
(replaced by black gloves in December 1944).
White gloves for dress occasions. |
White gloves. |
Purse - black envelope style. |
Purse - black envelope style. |
.
Wearing of the Uniform
.
"Officers should make every endeavor to present
a smart appearance (...) Uniforms should give the appearance of being freshly
pressed, the linen should be clean; (...) the stripes should be new enough
to present a pleasing appearance; the shoes should be neatly shined; and
the cap should be new enough to be well shaped and its gold should present
a good appearance, all of which contribute to the general impression of
a smartly dressed officer."
a) Indoor Uniform
.
"The indoor uniform shall be worn when on
duty in hospitals, in hospital ships, in dispensaries, and whenever prescribed
by the Commanding Officer.
During the probationary period or until the
indoor uniform outfit can be procured, any plain white uniform may be worn,
but it must confirm with regulation uniform in length of skirt (not more
than 16 inches from the floor) and sleeves (long), and, in addition, nurses
will be required to wear the Navy Nurse Corps indoor cap, white cuff links,
plain white hose and plain white oxfords with rubber heels."
.
b) Outdoor Uniform
"(1) The outdoor uniform shall be worn at all
times when the wearing of the indoor uniform is not indicated. The same
regualtion for officers in reference to the wearing of the uniform at home
or quarters and at exercise applies also to the members of the Navy Nurse
Corps.
(2) Indoors under conditions when men are
customarily uncovered (theater, church, meals, etc.) members of the Navy
Nurse Corps, if they prefer, may wear their street caps. Under these conditions
it is considered that the cap is worn not as a badge of office, but in
conformance with civilian rather than military custom."
The uniform should be worn at all times by
officers when out of their home or quarters, except when actually exercising,
in which case they are permitted to wear civilian clothing appropriate
to the sport in which they are engaging. The uniform need not to be worn
at home or in quarters when not more than two guests are present.
The blue uniform was worn when blue is worn
by male Naval officers. The white uniform was worn when working or white
uniform was worn by male officers.
.
(((A special treatise about he use
of cosmetics by service women during WWII
can be found here: Reenactor's
Guide )
.
Care of the Uniform
.
"a. Necessity to Care of Uniform
and Equipment
The longest service of the various articles
of the prescribed uniform can be obtained only by proper care and maintenance.
The information given here is presented in order that the useful life of
uniforms and equipment may be prolonged, and also that they may be worn
with the justifiable pride which should distinguish a naval or military
uniform.
b. General Care
No matter how well fitting a uniform, and
especially the coat, is when new, it will not continue to look its best
or keep its shape unless it is carefully put on and kept buttoned. The
carrying of large and heavy objects in the pockets will speedily destroy
the shape of the best coat.
c. To fold a coat
Spread it out, lining down, on a table and
turn up the collar. Straighten out the sleeves and fold each side from
the lapel notch, bringing lower corners to center seam. Fold the coat over
once on center seam. If the container will not allow the coat to be packed
at its full length, turn the sleeves up at the elbow before folding the
coat.
d. Moths
Frequent brushing and exposure to sunshine
and fresh air will effectually prevent moths. If uniforms are to be put
away for a long time and left undisturbed, thoroughly clean and then pack
away with camphor balls, naphthalene, cedar wood, or balls of cotton saturated
with turpentine.
e. To Remove Oil or Grease from
Blue Uniforms
Soap a piece of blue cloth in chloroform,
carbon tetrachloride, petroleum benzene, benzyl, or acetone, and rub the
spot briskly. The stain will be washed out. The solvent will be rapidly
evaporated.
f. To Remove Kerosene
Wash in a solution of warm soapy water.
g. To Remove Paint Stains from
Blue Uniforms
Paint stains, while still fresh, can be removed
by use of the method given above for removing oil or grease. Old and hard
paint stains are difficult to remove and oftentimes impossible. The best
treatment for old paint stains is to rub them hard with a piece of blue
cloth saturated in turpentine.
h. Paraffin, Wax, etc.
Place blotting paper over the spot and apply
a hot iron to the blotting paper. Continue this, using clean blotting paper,
until the spot is removed.
i. Iodine Stains
Iodine stains can be readily removed by applying
a solution of "hypo" (sometimes called "anticolor") used in photography,
or sodium hyposulphite, and then rinsing thoroughly with water. It may
also be removed by using starch as prepared for laundry purposes. Immerse
the stained part in the starch and boil; the stain first turns blue then
disappears.
j. Chocolate
Cover the stain with borax and wash with cold
water, then pour boiling water on the stain and rub vigorously between
the hands. When dry, sponge with naphtha, chloroform, or benzene.
k. To Remove Rust, Ink, or Fruit
Stains from White Uniforms
Soak the stained part in a solution of oxalic
acid, or put some powdered oxalic or sodium or potassium acid oxalate on
the stain previously moistened with water and rub with a piece of white
cotton or linen. The stain will dissolve and can be washed out with water.
Oxalic acid and its soluble salts are very poisonous, and care should be
taken in handling them.
l. Care of Gold Lace
Gold lace will rapidly tarnish and deteriorate
if in contact with or hung near any substance containing sulphur, such
as rubber or ordinary manila and Kraft wrapping paper.
m. To Remove Tarnish from Gold
Lace
Gold lace may be cleaned by dipping it in
solution of potassium cyanide and rinsing it thoroughly with water. The
use of potassium cyanide is very dangerous, as it is a powerful poison,
and extreme care must be exercised. Never under any circumstance, use it
if the hands have cuts or scratches. In any case, it is much safer to have
an experienced tailor clean gold lace.
n. Mildew
If stain is recent, simply use cold water.
If it is an old stain, bleach.
o. To Clean Buttons That Have
Turned Green
Buttons sometimes turn green when the gold
plating is worn off and the copper base becomes covered with green copper
carbonate due to the exposure to moist air. This can be removed by rubbing
gently with acetic acid or any substance containing this acid, such as
vinegar or Worcestershire sauce, followed by a thorough washing in fresh
water and drying.
p. To Remove Shine from Serge
Uniforms
The spot to be treated should be steamed by
laying a wet cloth over it pressing with a hot iron and then rubbing it
very gently with a piece of "00" sandpaper or emery cloth. This should
be done by a regular tailor.
q. To Repair and Clean Cut in
a Serge or Cloth Uniform
A clean cut in a serge or cloth uniform can
be repaired by being rewoven with threads drawn from the material in another
part of the garment. This must be done by an experienced tailor. This process
is
rather expensive but a cut so repaired cannot be detected after being rewoven.
r. To Remove a Singe Mark
A light singe mark on a blue serge or cloth
should be rubbed vigorously with the flat side of a silver coin. In many
cases, this will make a great improvement in appearance. It is, however,
not effective against bad singes or scorches.
s. Cap Devices
These and other embroidered insignia may be
kept new and bright by scrubbing them occasionally with a nailbrush and
ammonia which has been diluted with water. This should be done as soon
as there are any signs of tarnishing or corrosion. If corrosion has been
allowed to continue for a long period, the device cannot be restored to
its original condition.
t. Metal Cap Devices
The gold part of this device may be cleaned
by washing it with soap and water or by rubbing it with any kind of polishing
cloth; the sterling silver part can be cleaned with any silver polish.
.
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[ I. Development ]..[
II. Facts about the NNC ]..[
III. Uniforms ]..[
IV. Sources
]
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