Well I didn't know that!

[atillathenunns]

The following photo was published in a New Zealand newspaper (The Evening Post) on the 17th of May 1941.

"A novel idea which is popular amongst the girls of Britain whose menfolk are in the Forces. They wear his regimental badge tied to the ankle with a piece of coloured ribbon."

[sailorbear]

Originally Posted by atillathenunns

The following photo was published in a New Zealand newspaper (The Evening Post) on the 17th of May 1941.

"A novel idea which is popular amongst the girls of Britain whose menfolk are in the Forces. They wear his regimental badge tied to the ankle with a piece of coloured ribbon."

Hmmm? My mother who was in her teens during the war told me the only girls in britain who wore anything on their ankles during the war were prostitutes! maybe this lady had a unit specific client base?

[wright241]

Agree with sailorbear on this. My Mum didn't either, she wore a silvered RASC sweetheart brooch. Stockings were also not available (like a lot of things) and she used a black eyeliner line on the back of the leg as well - unless you were going out with the Yanks who got all sorts..... she reckoned that any of the girls who had those, must have been 'fraternising' with them. She (of course) was a good girl.

[Phillip Herring]

Originally Posted by wright241

Agree with sailorbear on this. My Mum didn't either, she wore a silvered RASC sweetheart brooch. Stockings were also not available (like a lot of things) and she used a black eyeliner line on the back of the leg as well - unless you were going out with the Yanks who got all sorts..... she reckoned that any of the girls who had those, must have been 'fraternising' with them. She (of course) was a good girl.

...because we all know our own mothers were virgins when they married our dads.

I wouldn't have thought that any girl would advertise that she was having it off with somebody from the RAOC when there were available men from much more exclusive regiments and corps.

Phil

[54Bty]

Anything to sell a news paper.

[matti467]

Does it come down to pay? Did RAOCmen get better trade pay?six pence extra if they were a marksman....

[atillathenunns]

So what I am hearing is that "Some" British women traded good Brit ribbon and Brit issue badges in 1942 for American silk stockings and cheap GI booze.

[Phil2M]

As far as I am concerned, my mother has always been and is still as innocent as the pure driven snow. I was dropped down the central heating flue by a stork in 1982.

Phil

[wright241]

Originally Posted by atillathenunns

So what I am hearing is that "Some" British women traded good Brit ribbon and Brit issue badges in 1942 for American silk stockings and cheap GI booze.

Yes they did, but not my Mum. Next time I visit her at the British Legion in Aylesford, I'll try and find out how many did....
All the best, David