WW2 parachutes ...question for military buffs

[steeljack]

ok a bit of a odd ball subject , but bear with me , Foyles War the TV detective show has just began the third series over here in the US , and it got me to wondering ........where did the RAF get all the silk from for the parachutes , man made fibres were still in development , importation from the far-east was halted due to the 'Japanese sphere of economic influence' , we have all heard the stories about how the French women used parachute silk for recycling into underwear and such , I cannot believe that the RAF had the foresight to have enough stocks on hand, noting the complete lack of British foreward planing pre 1939,
I thought maybe India , but I have never really heard of India as big silk producing county , Thailand , Japan, China yes , but not India ...........anyone got any ideas

said it was an oddball subject .....thanks ......

[Less]

A quick google got this quote:-

During the Second World War the parachutes introduced were made out from more durable materials, like woven nylon fabric.

Taken from here:-
http://ezinearticles.com/?Parachute-Uses&id=295119

Hope it helps.

[West Ender]

Before the war my dad worked for British Celanese in Spondon. On my birth certificate it shows his wartime occupation and, in brackets, his peacetime job - "printer's engraver at artificial silk manufacturers". Maybe Celanese silk was the silk they were using, it was around for at least 10 years before the war.

[steeljack]

Originally Posted by West Ender

Before the war my dad worked for British Celanese in Spondon. On my birth certificate it shows his wartime occupation and, in brackets, his peacetime job - "printer's engraver at artificial silk manufacturers". Maybe Celanese silk was the silk they were using, it was around for at least 10 years before the war.

thanks for probably the correct answer , I'd heard of Celanese but never really knew what it was , lots of links on the web
http://www.answers.com/topic/hoechst...on?cat=biz-fin

[cashman]

another little story about re-cycling, when i worked with n old soldier in 60s he told me about a english women he took out on his return, he told me she had Tate @ Lyle on her knickers, apparently the suger bags were Hessian n were re-cycled fer knickers by some women. maybe someone knows if its correct?

[steeljack]

Originally Posted by cashman

another little story about re-cycling, when i worked with n old soldier in 60s he told me about a english women he took out on his return, he told me she had Tate @ Lyle on her knickers, apparently the suger bags were Hessian n were re-cycled fer knickers by some women. maybe someone knows if its correct?

wonder if thats the origin of the term ..."shes an old bag "

[shillelagh]

My mum used to tell me stories about nipping across into Eire for stuff when they couldnt get it in the north because eire was neutral they could get stuff. They knew the back roads that didnt have any soldiers on guarding the border.

[cashman]

Originally Posted by steeljack

wonder if thats the origin of the term ..."shes an old bag "

possibly lol he told me they used to call em sugar bag knickers, so it could have been abbreviated.

[MargaretR]

This thread brings back memories and set me off websearching. I found this
http://www.myhomefront.org.uk/make.html
There was not much need for clothes recycling at our house because mum and dad were mill workers and got loom end offcuts. I had cotton dresses made from poplin shirting, but I do remember reknitting woolen jumpers, and darning socks.

My mum ran a 'racket' in clothing coupons.
My great aunt had a boarding house in Bispham.
Nearby Norbreck Hydro was a whitehall outpost of London civil servants.
Those women would exchange good classy clothes just for some coupons to buy some new ones.
Mum would collect coupons from friends and return with clothes for them

[steeljack]

Originally Posted by shillelagh

My mum used to tell me stories about nipping across into Eire for stuff when they couldnt get it in the north because eire was neutral they could get stuff. They knew the back roads that didnt have any soldiers on guarding the border.

So your telling us your Mam was a "black marketeer" sabotaging the war effort , thats nowt to brag about, if you had lived in France they would have shaved her head

[WillowTheWhisp]

Hessian knickers ?????

[West Ender]

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

Hessian knickers ?????

I'm all itchy just thinking about it.

[K.S.H]

Originally Posted by cashman

another little story about re-cycling, when i worked with n old soldier in 60s he told me about a english women he took out on his return, he told me she had Tate @ Lyle on her knickers, apparently the suger bags were Hessian n were re-cycled fer knickers by some women. maybe someone knows if its correct?

Bet they had hell of a rash after wearing them, like sandpaper that stuff