30 Days Without A Bath
Dublin Core
Title
30 Days Without A Bath
Subject
Nurses washing their hair using helmets and buckets
Description
This photograph from 1945 is one of the few that shows the full everyday realities involved in serving as a nurse, especially overseas, during World War II. While it is unclear whether or not the donor of these images, US Army nurse Joy Lillie, is pictured here, in some information that came with the image it was states that Joy did not have a bath for thirty days after she and her group arrived at their location.
Obviously, the fact that these women had to go without bathing for so long, and when they did bathe had to do it using their helmets as washtubs, proves that nursing during World War II was not glamorous. The effortless beauty of the nurses pictured in recruitment adds simply did not match up with the reality of life on the front. Many nurses recount using their helmets as bathtubs, basins for washing clothing, shovels for digging foxholes, and baskets for carrying belongings.
Alongside their water canteens, nurses seemed to value these versatile headpieces above all other items provided to them by the military to get them through service.
Obviously, the fact that these women had to go without bathing for so long, and when they did bathe had to do it using their helmets as washtubs, proves that nursing during World War II was not glamorous. The effortless beauty of the nurses pictured in recruitment adds simply did not match up with the reality of life on the front. Many nurses recount using their helmets as bathtubs, basins for washing clothing, shovels for digging foxholes, and baskets for carrying belongings.
Alongside their water canteens, nurses seemed to value these versatile headpieces above all other items provided to them by the military to get them through service.
Creator
Joy Lillie
Source
Grand Rapids Historical Commission: History Grand Rapids Website Collections, "WWII U.S. Army Corps Nurses Washing Their Hair, 1945," from the private collection of US Army Nurse Joy Lillie: http://www.historygrandrapids.org/photo/1580/wwii-us-army-corp-nurses-washi
Publisher
Joy Lillie and the Grand Rapids Historical Commission
Date
Accessed April 24, 2020
Format
Photograph (jpg)
Language
English
Type
Still Image
Identifier
US Army Nurses Washing Their in World War II
Coverage
US Army Nurse Corps, US Army Nurses of World War II
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Original Format
black and white photograph
Collection
Citation
Joy Lillie, “30 Days Without A Bath,” US Nurses in World War II, accessed April 24, 2024, https://usnursesww2.omeka.net/items/show/37.