condensed discuss document expanded export feedback print share remove reset document_white enquire_white export_white report_white
discuss document export feedback print share gallery-landscape xml

kit, sewing

human history
  • Common Name
    housewife
  • Other Name

    Hussif (sewing kit), WW2 (descriptive name)

    Flying Officer DV Bullock, 218 Squadron, WW2 (associated name)

    housewife (alternative)

  • Description

    Sewing kit, or hussif, belonged to NZ41868 Flying Officer Derek Vaughan Bullock, 218 Squadron, WW2

  • Place
  • Associated Place
  • Accession Number
    2003.49.1
  • Accession Date
    17 Jun 2003
  • Department
sewing kit [2003.49.1]

Images and documents

Images

Artefact

  • Credit Line
    Collection of Auckland Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, 2003.49.1
  • Primary Maker

     unknown (Military equipment/manufacturer)

  • Place
  • Date
    1939-1942
  • Associated Notes

    Sewing kit, or hussif, belonged to NZ41868 Flying Officer Derek Vaughan Bullock, 218 Squadron, Bomber Command, WW2.

    Housewife, a small leather, canvas or cloth roll containing needle, thread, buttons etc, used for the personal maintenance of a soldier's kit

    A housewife or hussif is a a rollup cloth case containing sewing equipment - needles, pins, safety pins, buttons and thread - used as a sewing kit by men and women in the field to alter or mend their own clothing. They were rolled up and tied with the tapes for easy transport and storage. Also referred to as a pocket-housewife - a cloth case with compartments for carrying needles, thread and other basic sewing equipment, usually rolled up and fastened with a tie.

    Flying Officer Bullock was killed in action on 20 August 1942 when his plane crashed at Langwedel, near Kiel, during 'Operation Gardening' - an operation to lay mines in the entrance to Kiel Harbour. He was buried at Hamburg Cemetery.

  • Associated Event
    WW2; 1939-1945
  • Associated Person
  • Associated Place
  • Associated Date
    1942
  • Period
  • Subject Category
  • Classification
  • Last Update
    15 May 2023
The development of the Auckland War Memorial Museum online collection is an ongoing process; updates, new images and records are added weekly. In some cases, records have yet to be confirmed by Museum staff, and there could be mistakes or omissions in the information provided.

The gift of curiosity

With unlimited free entry to all paid exhibitions, discounted event tickets and exclusive Member-only events, a Museum Membership is the gift that keeps on giving year-round.

SEE OPTIONS FROM $60

The gift of curiosity