In the early years of the Second World War, the United Kingdom was unable to provide Australia with the necessary military hardware to equip a rapidly expanding Australian Army. The following two articles; For Want of Clean Socks: The Australian Mobile Laundry Trailers and And More Clean Socks: The Australian Light Laundry Trailer by Australian military historian and authority on the technical history of vehicles and equipment, Michael K Cecil, examine how Australian industry stepped up to provide the Australian Army Ordnance Corps with a Mobile Laundry capability. First published in the Australian Khaki Vehicle Enthusiasts Newsletter the KVE News of March 2013 these articles are Published with the permission of the author, Michael K Cecil.Copyright Michael K Cecil
For Want of Clean Socks: The Australian Mobile Laundry Trailers
Laundry the hard way: scrubbing by hand in a basin of water.
Keeping clothing and bedding clean is only second in importance to good food and clean water when it comes to maintaining an Army’s health and morale. To this end, Laundry Units have been an integral part of the Australian Army’s Order of Battle since the First World War. But the early days of the Second World War heralded a change from the semi-static trench warfare of the First World War to a much more mechanised and fluid war – a war on wheels and tracks where gains or losses might be measured in tens of kilometres in a day. Any unit operating in a forward area had best be prepared to move quickly in response to changes in the tactical situation.
Mobile laundry facilities were first given serious consideration by the 2nd Australian Imperial Force (2AIF) in mid-1940, and by the Australian Military Forces (AMF) later the same year. Initial equipment was to be provided by purchase from Britain in line with the policy of adopting British Army standardised equipment wherever possible. However, Britain was unable to supply the laundry equipment in a timely manner or in the quantities required, so the Army turned to local industry to bridge the gap.
By late 1940, orders had been placed for the supply of various commercially available laundry equipment, in order to assemble a pilot model mobile laundry for trials. Several Australian companies from across the nation were contracted – Robert Bryce for the washing machine, Robert Lilley and Co. for the hydro-extractor and the soap and soda dissolver, Burtons Ltd for the tumble dryer, Cameron and Sutherland supplied centrifugal pumps, and a clarifier was supplied by the Perth-based firm Boltons Ltd. An entirely new device, a continuous drying machine, was being designed by the Land Headquarters Experimental Workshop, who would also assemble the pilot model laundry trailers. Power for each complete laundry was to be supplied by a 25kva, 415 Volt, three-phase AC generator mounted on a four wheel trailer. This was already an issue item, so procuring one for the pilot model laundry did not present a problem.
The equipment had all arrived at the workshop by the close of July 1941, except for the trailers. These were in extremely short supply owing to a higher priority demand for machinery trailers. The workshop went ahead and began assembling the laundry as a static unit – at least the components could be tested and their inter-relationship could be worked out within the trailer’s known dimensions in the interim.
And they were desperately needed. By February 1941, sixteen mobile laundry units were allowed for on the Australian Army’s Order of Battle – six for the 2nd AIF, and ten for a fully mobilised AMF, each one attached to an individual higher formation. Of those for the 2nd AIF, 5 were needed overseas. The 8 th Infantry Division in Malaya were in the greatest need, so the pilot model laundry – still not mounted on trailers – was sent to Malaya, along with some additional commercially available equipment, to provide a static laundry facility. Tropical conditions were already proving to be particularly hard on troops, and regular changes of clothing and bed linen helped keep tropical diseases, particularly skin rashes, in check.
By the time the pilot model’s equipment left for Malaya in September 1941, the mobile laundry design was well advanced. In anticipation of receiving trailers, contracts for the supply of the various major components were issued to suppliers. There was even a contract for the woven rattan trolley baskets, with Lawries Ltd engaged to manufacture enough sets for 11 mobile laundries.
Assembly of the first mobile laundry was to be undertaken by Robert Lilley and Co., but the supply of the trailers was still proving something of a problem. It was overcome by supplying machinery trailers that then had to be converted: hardly an ideal solution, but the only one available under the prevailing circumstances. The stripped machinery trailers were delivered to Lilleys in late April, 1942.
A Mobile Hospital laundry set up, with the boiler trailer set at right angles to the other 4 trailers. The trailer sides are dropped to the horizontal and used as the walkways and working area. The boiler trailer is the specially built McGrath model with the stepped bed construction to provide maximum height for the vertical boiler. AWM140751. Copyright expired.
By mid June 1942, good progress was being made on the construction of the pilot model mobile laundry at Robert Lilley and Co in West Melbourne. Trailer brake modifications were well advanced at Patons Brakes, and the McGrath Trailer Co had completed a new trailer specifically for the boiler assembly after the converted machinery trailer proved unsatisfactory. In anticipation of successful trials, contracts had also been placed with various manufacturers for laundry components, such was the urgent need to supply completed laundries to field units. The contractors list was a veritable ‘who’s who’ of the Australian light manufacturing industry at the time: Andrew & Higgs, Gordon Brothers, Lawries Ltd, Johnsons Tyne Foundry, and L Horscroft & Co., to name a few.
A fully equipped divisional mobile laundry consisted of 9 trailers of equipment, each one towed by a 3- ton truck or lorry. There were four washing machine trailers, two boiler and feed water trailers, two trailers equipped with a generator and tumble dryer (the dedicated generator trailer had been abandoned in favour of combining it with a dryer in a more compact layout), and a continuous drying room trailer. They were designed to be parked in a line and interconnected by the various pipe work and electrical cabling. The trailers’ lower sides were designed to fold out horizontally to provide working room and facilitate movement of staff and trolleys laden carrying washing between trailers. The upper wire mesh sides were hinged at the top, allowing them to be raised to the horizontal to provide an all round awning over the workspace.
Feeding the laundry boiler to provide hot water and steam for washing, and heat for the continuous dryer. The boiler had the versatility to be fired by wood or, in the tropics where dry wood was not available, quickly converted to a petrol-fed ‘hydra burner’. AWM055382 Copyright expired.
Baskets full of linen waiting to be washed. A mobile laundry’s work was never done! The near trailer houses the drum-type washing machine and to its right, a ‘hydro-extractor’ is being loaded from the trolley basket. The hydro-extractor was a machine that performed the ‘spin’ cycle of a modern washing machine. AWM026376. Copyright expired.
The Unit was manned by 3 officers and 118 other ranks, and the washing capacity was 400 pounds weight (181 kilograms) of dry clothing and linen per hour. Manning was based upon a sustained operation of two 8 hour shifts per day, 6 days per week, but greater output was possible if operated with more staff on a three shift rotation. For attachment to hospitals, a Hospital Mobile Laundry Unit was created. This was essentially a ‘half laundry’, consisting of five trailers: 2 washing machine, 1 each boiler and generator/tumble dryer trailer, and a drying room.
By early 1943, mobile laundry equipment manufactured by Australian industry was flowing to field units. Divisional Units were attached to higher formations located across Australia and in New Guinea, and Hospital laundry units were taking over from the older and far less efficient technology being employed at General Hospitals and Casualty Clearing Stations in Northern Australia and New Guinea.
A ‘flat head’ V8 working hard to spin the generator to provide all the power needs of the Mobile Laundry Unit. The other end of the same trailer housed a tumble dryer unit. AWM027631. Copyright expired
While these large capacity laundries were hard at work satisfying the never-ending requirements for clean linen and uniforms in larger formations and medical facilities, experience in the tropics during 1942 had demonstrated a need to constantly provide front line troops with clean clothes whenever possible, both for health and morale reasons. But the Mobile and Hospital laundries were just too far in the rear and too unwieldy to be safely moved further into the combat zone. Consequently, there was a desperate need for a lighter, more compact laundry for deployment as far forward into the combat zone as possible. Consequently, there was a desperate need for a lighter, more compact laundry for deployment as far forward into the combat zone as possible. The following article covers the Australian ‘Light Laundry’,
And More Clean Socks: The Australian Light Laundry Trailer
While the multi-trailer Mobile and Hospital laundries served the rear areas well, there was still a desperate need for a lighter, more compact laundry for deployment as far forward into the combat zone as possible. Troops operating anywhere need to maintain their clothes and equipment, but suffice to say, combat conditions often preclude anything more than the most basic of attention to this. While troops could survive quite well operating in the dry conditions of the Middle East, Greece and North Africa, the tropics meant dealing with a whole new regime of endlessly wet, muddy and humid conditions, together with the prevalence of some debilitating tropical diseases. Such conditions could rapidly reduce an army’s fighting effectiveness. Hence, the provision of clothes washing and decontamination facilities for front line troops and forward medical facilities such as Casualty Clearing Stations became almost as important as good food and shelter.
To provide washing facilities, the mobile showering unit, wholly mounted in a ¼ ton truck, was invented. To wash and decontaminate their clothes, the Australian Light Laundry was devised. The design work commenced in earnest in December 1942, and a pilot model was put together during January 1943. It was a somewhat radical design, as it dispensed with the steam pressure boiler altogether, opting for a direct-fired water heater to provide the hot water directly to the washing machine. This had the advantage that a qualified pressure vessel (boiler) attendant was not required: the simple system could be operated by almost anyone with a minimum of training. The drying system was also a departure from the conventional, as it too used a system of direct firing to heat the air exchanger that forced heated air into the tumble dryer. The complete laundry was mounted on a single four-wheeled 14 foot x 7 foot flat bed trailer. Initial trials of the pilot model during January and February 1943 proved the rugged simplicity of the design.
The Light Laundry (Aust) used a radical design to achieve compactness, but not sacrifice efficiency. Built by L. Horscroft, they were an instant success in forward areas. (Image reproduced from the MGO Equipment Memorandum)
The US Forces had also come to the realisation that a light mobile laundry was needed, but when shown the Australian pilot model, expressed some dismay at its unconventional features. The US Army Services of Supply (USASOS) opted for a different, more conventional design much to the disappointment of the Australian authorities. This design, which utilised a conventional 100 psi steam pressure boiler, was to be manufactured in Australia under the Reciprocal Lease Lend agreement. By refusing to standardise, Australian industry would effectively be required to split their efforts and produce two light laundry designs in parallel. Australian authorities considered this division a waste of precious manufacturing resources, but the USASOS were not to be swayed.
The Light Laundry (Aust) was geared toward the washing needs of a small hospital or casualty clearing station of up to 200 beds. With this capability, it could also be used for the washing and decontamination of the clothing of front line units when withdrawn to secure areas a short distance behind the lines. In addition to consumables such as soap and fuel, all the Light Laundry (Aust) needed was a reliable supply of water. Delivery of water to the washer and water heater was handled by a small petrol engine driven pump which was included as part of the laundry’s basic equipment.
The oil-fired water heater provided hot water to the washing machine, with the residual heat used to provide the primary supply of warm air to the tumble dryer. A booster burner was also provided to heat the air-exchanger for times when the water heater was not in full operation. Power to operate the dryer and washer was provided by a 10hp Ford petrol engine connected to a counter-shaft running the full length of the trailer. Flexible couplings enabled any one part of the system to be temporarily disengaged, such as when emptying or filling the dryer or washing machine, and power was transferred from the countershaft by belts and pulleys. The fully integrated system was designed to wash 60 lbs dry weight of clothing per hour, but early trials exceeded all expectations by consistently processing more than 70 lbs per hour, and an experienced crew could complete more than 80 lbs per hour for short periods if needed.
With the success of the pilot model, and in anticipation of an early delivery of the production equipment, Army Headquarters authorised the addition of 22 Light Mobile Laundry Units onto the Order of Battle in February 1943. The units were designed to operate with any type of formation or unit as required, and were manned by members of the Australian Army Ordnance Corps (AAOC). To equip them, contracts were raised with L Horscroft and Co. for 25 Light Laundries (Aust) in April 1943, which was later raised to 40. L. Horscroft and Co. were experienced in the manufacture of laundry and oven equipment, and were already handling several military contracts for cleaning and drying equipment, including ovens for heating explosives. Within a few months, Light Mobile Laundry Units AAOC were in operation within Australia and on their way to several locations in New Guinea.
The Light Laundry (Aust) was one of the more successful collaborative projects undertaken by Australian industry during the Second World War. From the Army’s articulation of the requirement in late 1942, it took only until mid-1943 to equip, raise and deploy the new units into forward areas. Truly a fantastic effort.
Copyright Michael K Cecil
Biographical Details Michael K Cecil
Michael K. Cecil was born in Melbourne, Australia in 1955. His tertiary studies were at Monash University (Clayton campus) where he graduated with two degrees: a Batchelor of Science with Honours and a Batchelor of Arts. He later studied at Canberra Institute of Technology, where he graduated with a Certificate IV in Museum Practice.
Following graduation from Monash University, he held various positions in both the public service and in private consulting. These included research assistant to the ‘Atlas of Victoria’ project, various tertiary teaching positions, and technical administration appointments.
Always passionate about history, he has been researching Australian military history – particularly the technical history of vehicles and equipment – since the early 1970s. This translated into publication of articles in the late 1980s, and his first book in the early 1990s.
Laundry and Bath Units have played a crucial role in the overall success of numerous conflicts in which New Zealand has been involved since the First World War. Troops, who had spent weeks pursuing the enemy through deserts, muddy fields, and dense jungles, often found it surreal to emerge covered in grime, only to be greeted by a unit offering them a hot shower and a complete change of clothing. The impact on the morale of these soldiers was so significant that it is reasonable to assume that, on many occasions, the enemy specifically targeted Laundry and Bath units for elimination. The identities of many Laundry and Bath operators remain unknown due to security concerns, and some soldiers even received the wrong laundry in return. As you well know, soldiers rarely forget such incidents when it comes to their personal kit.
This article aims to provide historical context on field baths and laundries and examine the primary Mobile Bath equipment used by the New Zealand Army from 1914 to 1996. The provision of laundry and bath functions in Commonwealth armies was a shared responsibility between the Medical and Ordnance Corps. The Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) provided facilities at hospitals and bases, while the Ordnance Corps supplied mobile facilities for deployment into the field. The primary roles of Laundry and Bath Units within the Ordnance Corps were as follows:
Decontaminating individuals and their equipment after a gas attack.
Providing laundry and bath facilities to forward units.
Offering laundry services to supported Medical Units.
First World War 1914-18
Operated as a Divisional unit overseen by the Divisional Bath and Laundry Officer, Divisional Bathhouses were strategically established in facilities such as breweries or fabric processing plants. These locations, equipped with large vats and a water supply, were easily repurposed for this critical function. Typically, a Divisional Bathhouse could accommodate up to 1200 men daily, providing essential services such as bathing, laundry washing, disinfection, drying, and minor repairs. The staff responsible for running the Divisional Bathhouse consisted of a combination of civilian personnel, Medical Corps members, and soldiers who were not considered fit for frontline duty.
In the New Zealand Division, the Divisional Bath and Laundry Officer’s role was placed under the supervision of the Deputy Assistant Director of Ordnance Stores (DADOS) starting in December 1916. This restructuring ensured effective coordination and support for the Division’s bathing and laundry needs.
Despite the presence of Divisional Bath Houses, some units occasionally organised their own bathing and laundry facilities, as documented by WHA Groom. “First of all, we had to have a clean up with a shower bath and clean underclothing, which would however again be lousy within a few hours; so with eager anticipation we marched off and after about a mile we came to the baths. There they were in a field – some baths! It was a corrugated iron compound, almost wide open to the elements and this housed an authentic Heath Robinson or Emmett contraption which consisted of a boiler with the hot water going through a small elevated tank from which the water flowed to pipes having small water can roses at intervals so in groups of twelve we stood shivering and at a signal from the corporal in charge on came the hot water – usually too damned hot and quick was the word as the shower did not last long. The slow ones were left with soap and no more water – a sorry predicament, but damned funny for those not caught”.[4]
The First Aid Nursing Yeomanry, commonly referred to as the FANYs, made efforts to facilitate bathing for soldiers by deploying a mobile bath unit affectionately named ‘James’ near the frontlines. This unit was equipped with ten collapsible baths and utilized the truck’s motor engine to heat water, allowing approximately 40 men per hour to enjoy the rare luxury of a bath.[5]
” Every possible care is taken of the health and comfort of our brave soldiers. After being relieved from a spell of duty in the trenches, they are frequently given a hot bath and served out with a clean change of underclothing: their own clothing being dried, cleaned and disinfected in the meantime “.Will’s cigarette cards published in 1916 illustrating military motors
WW1 Equipment
Serbian Barrels
The Serbian barrel, a vital innovation developed by the British military medical mission in Serbia, served the crucial purpose of heating water for disinfecting clothing and bedding. This process effectively destroyed lice and their eggs, thereby preventing the spread of diseases like typhus.
The initial design featured metal barrels with water at the bottom, placed over a fire to generate steam. Inside the barrel, a basket prevented direct contact with the water, ensuring that clothes and bedding remained dry. However, due to a shortage of metal barrels, modifications were made. Clothing was instead placed inside an empty wooden barrel with holes drilled in its bottom. A separate container filled with water was heated over a fire, and the wooden barrel was positioned above it. The resulting steam from the heated water passed through the holes in the barrel, effectively disinfecting the clothing. This ingenious invention, dubbed the “Serbian barrel,” played a significant role in curbing the typhus epidemic in 1915 and found widespread use among British and allied forces during World War I. Typically, four of these barrels were allocated per battalion or units of comparable size, although due to transportation constraints, many were left behind in base areas and often went unused.6
A mobile thresh disinfector left, on wheels and Serbian barrel delousers, used by the 2nd Australian Sanitary Section to kill lice in uniforms, blankets and so on. Neither of these methods were adequate for speedy, large-scale disinfection, which required high-pressure steam. Lice infestation was heavy among troops in the desert, opportunities for washing were limited. AWM A02718.
Men of the Army Ordnance Corps disinfecting clothing in improvised disinfectors, known as Serbian barrels. Imperial War Museum
Thresh Disinfector Delousing Chambers
The Thresh Disinfector Company secured a patent for their disinfection device in 1904, which marked a significant advancement in the field. This ingenious device harnessed the power of low-pressure steam to effectively disinfect bedding and clothing. Additionally, it had the capability to generate hot air, facilitating the drying process for the disinfected items.
These remarkable disinfectors were distributed to Divisions based on a specific allocation scheme. Each Division received one Foden steam wagon variant equipped with two Thresh chambers, along with two horse-drawn variants, each featuring a single Thresh chamber.
Both versions of the Thresh Disinfector shared a common design. They consisted of a horizontal steam chamber encircled by an outer jacket, which was integrated into a single unit with a boiler. To disinfect clothing effectively, the garments were loosely placed in a basket, allowing steam to penetrate all layers. Once the clothing was loaded into the disinfector, the doors were securely sealed. Then, a vacuum of 10 to 15 inches (254 to 381 mm of Mercury) was created within the chamber. Subsequently, steam was introduced until a positive pressure of 15 pounds (equivalent to 6.8 kg) was achieved, corresponding to a water temperature of 165 °C. This pressure was maintained for approximately twenty minutes.
Following this disinfection period, the steam was released, and another vacuum of 10 to 15 inches was generated to facilitate the drying of the disinfected clothing. This vacuum was maintained for around five minutes, ensuring that the items emerged both sanitized and dry, ready for use.
Horse-drawn Thresh Disinfector Delousing Chambers
The horse-drawn variant was a single thresh disinfector chamber mounted on a single-axis horse-drawn wagon. Fitted with a self-contained burner unit under the chamber, the horse-drawn variant could generate its own heated water to power the unit.
The Thresh Disinfector Delousing Chambers saw extensive use among Allied forces, including the United States and Australia. A notable deployment of these chambers involved 100 Foden Steam Wagons, each equipped with two such chambers. An innovative feature of the Foden Steam Wagon was its capacity to generate steam directly from its engine, eliminating the need for the burner unit present in the horse-drawn variant.
Both iterations of the Thresh Disinfectors proved highly effective in combating lice infestations, an unfortunate consequence of trench warfare. Their mobility allowed for deployment as needed, making them invaluable assets in safeguarding the health and hygiene of the fighting forces. These units played a crucial role in mitigating the health risks posed by the challenging conditions of trench warfare.
This Foden steam delousing vehicle is unit marked YD, the US 26th Yankee Division. The crew is assisted by German prisoners in one of the pictures. The 101st Sanitation Train was part of the 26th Division which arrived in France on September 21, 1917. Historic Military Vehicle Forum
Foden Steam Wagon with two ‘ Thresh ‘ Delousing Chambers in Corbie 1917. Copyright: IWM (Q 29222)
Australian troops are seen using the Foden Delousing Wagons, note the extension fitted to the funnel of one of the Foden Steam Wagons. AWM This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.
American servicemen from the U.S. ‘ Yankee Division ‘, using a Foden Steam Wagon fitted with ‘ Thresh ‘ Disinfectors. LF This image is reproduced strictly for non-commercial research and private study purposes as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.
Disinfector Delousing Chamber Videos
Work of the NZ Medical Corps: In June 1917, when this film was shot by NZEF Official Photographer Lt H. A. Sanders, the New Zealand Division was in the line south of the river Douve with the front line forward of Ploegsteert Wood, in Northern France. At 15.38 on the video, it shows the operation of the New Zealand Medical Corps sanitary section. Men are seen entering the Divisional baths and handing their clothing and blankets to men running Fodden Lorry Disinfector with two Thresh Chambers, which could each deal with thirty blankets an hour (twenty minutes in heating, twenty minutes in steaming and twenty minutes in drying). This was to kill the lice which infected most front-line soldiers and which were responsible for much of the disease and scabies found in the trenches. View Here
US troops having their clothing deloused by steam during World War: Video clip showing Foden Lorry Disinfector with two Thresh Chambers in use with US Troops. View Here
Second World War 1939-45
As New Zealand did not maintain a large peacetime army, the country relied on contractual agreements with commercial laundries to fulfill the laundering needs of its forces. This system, referred to as “Dhobies” in the British Army, saw civilian contractors, or “Dhobies,” take responsibility for the base laundering requirements of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) upon their arrival at Maadi Camp near Cairo, Egypt, in 1940. The facilities for this purpose were constructed within Maadi camp under the supervision of the NZEF Hygiene Section. However, the Dhobi system had limitations, particularly when the units moved into the desert, necessitating alternative laundering solutions.[8]
1941-42
In the years 1941-42, following the British model, the NZEF included Laundry and Bath units within its organizational structure and war establishment. This unfamiliar capability presented challenges to New Zealand Military Ordnance leadership, as they had no prior experience in this area. There was significant uncertainty regarding whether this responsibility belonged to Ordnance or the Medical Corps, leading to delays in the formation of these units. On 15 November 1940, confirmation was received from NZEF liaison staff in London that Laundry and Bath services were indeed an Ordnance responsibility.[9]
Discussions continued throughout 1941 on the formation of Laundry and Bath units, with the main issue being whether these units should be created, equipped, and trained in New Zealand before being sent to the Middle East or formed from within the existing structure of the NZEF. Despite these ongoing deliberations, the NZEF Order of Battle was updated on April 17, 1941, to include the following units as part of the NZEF:
Divisional Mobile Laundry and Forward Decontamination Unit.
Divisional Mobile Bath Unit.
Authorisation for the formation of these units under the New Zealand Ordnance Corps (NZOC) was granted on August 31, 1941. The Mobile Bath unit was scheduled for formation on September 3, 1941, while the Mobile Laundry and Forward Decontamination unit was set to be formed on September 22, 1941.[11] This marked the official commencement of these critical units’ establishment and operations.
Equipping the laundry unit proved to be a protracted process, and it wasn’t until March 1942 that the remaining transport and trailers required for the unit were received from British Army stocks. However, the challenge of finding an adequate number of personnel to man these units persisted. Personnel were sourced from the New Zealand Ordnance Corps (NZOC) reinforcements and Training Group reinforcements.
During this period, the Laundry and Bath Units remained under the command of HQ Maadi Camp. Here, they conducted their training and familiarized themselves with the new equipment. Once sufficiently trained and ready for deployment, they were transferred to the command of the New Zealand Division.
On March 27, 1942, a suggestion was put forth by the 2 NZEF Deputy Director of Ordnance Services (DDOS). Given that the original title, “NZ Divisional Mobile Laundry and Forward Decontamination Unit,” was rather lengthy, and considering that the decontamination function of the unit was not operational, it was proposed to simplify the unit’s name to the “NZ Divisional Mobile Laundry.” This name change was officially implemented and published as NZEF Order 935 shortly thereafter.
Vehicle Tactical Sign, NZ Division Mobile Laundry (1941)
The Mobile Laundry Unit had its first operational deployment when it was tasked to support the New Zealand Division, which was stationed in Syria at the time. Setting up its operations at an old flour mill located near the small village of Burj al-Arab in north-western Syria, the Mobile Laundry Unit faced a steep learning curve during its week-long deployment in May 1942. This was due to the relatively recent acquisition of its new equipment, which had only been received two months prior.
Operating around the clock with three daily shifts, the unit managed to launder and dry over seven thousand blankets, in addition to the entire division’s winter clothing. By the conclusion of this initial week of operations, the Mobile Laundry Unit had significantly improved its efficiency and was capable of processing two thousand five hundred sets of battle dress uniforms daily. To assist with the workload, three hundred and fifty locally employed civilians were hired to handle tasks such as mending and ironing. This successful operation marked a substantial increase in the unit’s capacity and effectiveness.[12]
Vehicle Tactical Sign, NZ Division Mobile Bath Unit (1940)
While operating in support of the NZ Division, the Mobile Bath and Laundry units were deployed forward to play a crucial role in controlling the spread of typhus in Libya [13]. In addition to their vital medical functions, these units provided a much-needed respite for the soldiers serving in the frontlines.
For instance, a soldier from Whangarei who served in the NZ Divisional Cavalry wrote a heartfelt letter to his parents describing their experiences. He mentioned that they had finally been withdrawn from the firing line after an extended period of service. Despite their modest self-assessment, the soldiers had received commendations from various Generals for their dedicated work. He expressed their gratitude for the hot shower they had received from a mobile bath unit, describing it as a grand experience that helped them shed weeks of accumulated dirt. He admitted that this was the first proper wash they had enjoyed in nearly nine weeks, with the only prior attempts involving a few rough sponges and a small amount of water. Many of them hadn’t even removed their clothes for over five weeks.[14]
In June 1942, questions arose regarding the necessity of maintaining the decontamination functionality within the units. Finding an additional fifty-two Other Ranks to fulfill this role proved to be a challenging task. Given the uncertainty of whether the unit would be required for immediate service, it was suggested that the activation of this capability be delayed.
By August 1942, doubts began to emerge regarding the overall utility of both the Bath and Laundry units. It was believed that the effectiveness of these units depended heavily on the Division’s location and the availability of water resources. Despite their establishment, these units had only provided four months of service to the Division. The prevailing indications suggested that their effectiveness would not significantly improve in the future. Given the narrow front of operations in North Africa, it was determined that laundry services could be more efficiently provided by RAOC facilities or local contracts. Similarly, bath services could be adequately covered by RAOC assets, natural water sources, and temporary installations constructed as needed. Consequently, it was decided that the NZEF laundry and bath units should be disbanded.
Regarding the laundry equipment, due to its specialized and technical nature, it was intended to be returned to the British Ordnance. This would allow for a full credit to be extended to the New Zealand Government, effectively covering its entire cost. On the other hand, the bath equipment was retained as an asset of New Zealand and stored at the NZ Base Ordnance Depot, anticipating potential future deployment in other theaters of operation.
On 22 August 1942, forty-seven Other Ranks from the Laundry Unit and eleven Other Ranks from the Bath Unit were transferred back to their respective depots. Meanwhile, the two Officers and twenty-five Other Ranks of the laundry unit, as well as the Other Ranks of the bath unit, were to be transferred to other branches of the NZOC. It was understood that if the capabilities were to be regenerated, these personnel would be released to train and have the unit fully operational within a matter of days.
The formal disbandment of both the NZ Divisional Mobile Laundry Unit and NZ Divisional Mobile Bath Unit occurred on 30 September 1942.
1942 -1943
Amid the challenges posed by wartime conditions, acquiring new stocks of essential items such as battledress, blankets, greatcoats, shirts, and woollen underwear became increasingly difficult. To address this issue and make more efficient use of available resources, there was a proposal to utilize the mobile field laundry to renew partially worn articles. Consequently, on 30 September 1942, as the NZ Divisional Mobile Laundry Unit was disbanded, the NZ Base Laundry was established as a unit within the NZEF.[15]
Assuming responsibility for the equipment previously used by the disbanded Divisional Mobile Laundry unit, the NZ Base Laundry was situated at Maadi camp in Cairo, Egypt. The unit had an establishment comprising one officer and 20 Other Ranks. It was projected that over the course of twelve months, the NZ Base Laundry could process the following quantities of items for both Non-Divisional and Divisional units within the NZEF:
Following the capture of Tripoli in January 1943, the NZ Base Laundry Unit experienced an influx of ten additional personnel. Subsequently, a laundry section was dispatched from Maadi to Libya, a journey spanning a considerable 1,600 miles (approximately 2,574.95 kilometers). The forward section, despite the logistical challenges, managed to launder and replace a significant portion of the NZ Division’s clothing and bedding.
This section had only just established itself when the division received urgent orders to relocate and continue the campaign. Nevertheless, many soldiers from the NZ Division had already been provided with fresh and clean battledress, thanks to the forward section’s efforts. The previously worn battledress was properly cleaned and repaired, rendering it ready for further use.[17] Throughout this period, the Base Laundry Unit remained committed to supporting the NZ Division, especially as the division underwent a phase of refitting and reorganizing in the aftermath of the Axis defeat.
On 30 September 1943, the NZ Base Laundry Unit was officially disbanded. Just one day later, on 1 October 1943, the NZ Mobile Laundry was established as a new unit within the NZEF.[18] During the same month, in October 1943, the NZ Division, along with the newly formed NZ Mobile Laundry Unit, conducted a covert move from Egypt to the southern regions of Italy. On 18 October 1943, in Italy, the NZ Mobile Bath Unit was also created, becoming an integral part of the NZEF.[19]
1943-1945
Vehicle Tactical Sign 2 NZ Mobile Laundry and Bath Unit (1944)
In November 1943, the NZ Division ADOS expressed the intention to streamline administration by placing the Mobile Bath Unit under the command of the Officer Commanding the Mobile Laundry Unit. This move aimed to achieve greater efficiency in the management of both units.
On 16 February 1944, the NZ Mobile Bath Unit was disbanded, and concurrently, the NZ Mobile Laundry Unit was rebranded as the NZ Mobile Laundry and Bath Unit. This restructuring aligned the New Zealand organisation with the British Army War Establishment II/293/1 of December 1943, categorized as a Type B: Mobile Field Laundry and Bath Unit. It became officially known as the 2NZ Mobile Laundry and Bath Unit (2NZ MLBU). Throughout the Italian campaign, 2NZ MLBU played a vital role in supporting the NZ Division, often deploying detachments to provide frontline units with essential services. The unit continued its service until it was disbanded as part of the NZEF on 8 December 1945.[20]
Mobile Laundry Equipment
Mounted on 9 Trailers, the mobile equipment of the laundry consisted of;[21]
Four Trailer Type A – This was the washing trailer which carried the following equipment;
1 X Bradford Rotary washing machine,
1 X hydro extractor,
1 X soap boiler,
1 X ventilation fan,
hot and cold water, steam and electrical equipment.
One Trailer Type B – This was a drying trailer and carried the following equipment;
1 x Rotary Dryer,
steam, condenser and electrical equipment.
One Trailer Type C – This was a drying trailer and carried the following equipment;
1 X continuous drying machine -The continuous drying machine was a line which went through a series of pulleys. Items to be dried were pegged to the line which was slowly pulled through a chamber which blew hot air in one end and extracted it at the other. No ironing was done,
steam, condenser and electrical equipment.
Two Trailer Type D – With two of these per unit, these trailers provided hot water and hot air. It carried the following equipment;
1 X Clarkson steam boiler,
1 X calorifier,
1 X cold water tank,
1 X feed water tank,
1 X oil storage tank,
1 X centrifugal pump,
1 X feed pump,
piping, fittings and electrical equipment.
One Generator Trailer – This was a standard generator trailer with;
1 X Fowler Sanders or Lister 22/24Kw Fowler Sanders Diesel Generator
1 X switchboard
2 X distribution boxes
Distributed amongst all the vehicles for water supply and disposal were;
2 X 205 litre (45 gallons) per minute pumps with motors
effluent tanks
piping
water testing apparatus
The Washing machine and Dryer trailers were positioned back to back alongside another pair. Platforms were mounted between the trailers, with a canvas canopy over the top, this can be seen in the picture below.
For operation, the Mobile laundry required;
firm standing with an area of 19 meters (60 feet) by 19 meters (60 feet)
a water supply of 163659 litres (36,000 gallons) a day
a good access road
as much cover as possible,\\ although the laundry section was designed to operate in the open air
The Mobile laundry could wash 16000 blankets or 12000 sets of personal clothing a week.
RAOC Mobile Laundry at work 1944/45 (RAOC, public domain)
Mobile Laundry Video
Canadian Army Newsreel No.3: A short video showing a Canadian Ordnance Corps Laundry unit in action in Northwest Europe 1944/45. View Here
Mobile Bath Equipment
The Mobile Bath Unit consisted of two pieces of equipment;
The Mobile Bath equipment, and
The Disinfector equipment.
Bath Unit
The Bath Unit was mounted in a 1 ton 2 wheeled trailer and consisted of the means to heat water and pipe it to the showers, and included;
Hot water boiler,
oil burner,
semi-rotary pump,
couplings and fitting
The showers consisted of;
tubular metal shower trestles,
five or six shower heads,
pipework and fittings
The capacity was based on each man taking five minutes to shower,
A Subsection could bathe 60 to 70 men in an hour,
A section could wash 120 to 140 men in an hour,
The shower equipment was designed to be used in the open, but tents were provided for the showers and for changing rooms if necessary. Commonly showers were sited where changing could be in a building. A bath section requires a firm site, 18 meters (60 feet) by 12 meters (40 feet), and a water supply of 38641 litres (8,500 gallons) of water a day.
Canadian Army mobile bath. Wouenhaus, 8 April 1945. Photo by Alexander M. Stirton. Department of National Defence / National Archives of Canada, PA-198131.
Disinfector equipment
The primary purpose of the disinfector was to eradicate lice infestations, a pervasive issue in the challenging base and field conditions that soldiers had to endure. Despite regular bathing and laundering of underwear, lice remained a persistent problem. To effectively combat this issue, the disinfecting process involved using steam to eliminate both lice and their eggs from outer garments.
This disinfector equipment was mounted on the deck of a 4 X 2 ton lorry with drop sides. It featured two disinfecting cylinders, each equipped with an oil-fired heater and a water supply, cleverly positioned between the cylinders.
These unique disinfecting cylinders were ingeniously designed with a central hinge, enabling them to pivot 90 degrees for loading and unloading in a horizontal position. Afterward, they could be rotated into a vertical orientation for the actual disinfection process. It’s important to note that clothing was placed into the cylinders while dry, eliminating the need for wetting. Once the disinfection process was complete, the clothing was ready to wear almost immediately.
Truck 3-ton 4 x 2 Disinfector (Morris commercial)
Mobile Bath Video
Mobile Bath Unit (Western Desert): A short video showing a Mobile Bath unit in action in the Western Desert. View Here
Post-war the 1950’s
In the post-World War II period, the New Zealand Army was dedicated to deploying a division for service in the Middle East. As part of this commitment, the Royal New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps (RNZAOC) was responsible for providing Ordnance Divisional Troops, which were commanded by the Chief Royal Army Ordnance Corps (CRAOC). According to the Order of Battle for the New Zealand Army in 1953, the Ordnance organization under the NZ Division HQ CRAOC consisted of the following units:
An Infantry Division Ordnance Field Park.
A Mobile Laundry and Bath Company, which included:
Headquarters
Five Laundry Sections
Five Bath Sections.
Org Chart from “Org & Duty of RNZAOC in NZ Div” CRAOC 5.1 of 1 Sept 1953. National Archives of New Zealand
The primary purpose of the Mobile Laundry and Bath Company was to provide bathing facilities for soldiers and launder their underclothing. To support the laundry function, the company maintained a stock of underclothing, allowing each soldier to receive a clean set after bathing. The soiled underclothing was then washed and repaired as needed before being returned to stock for future use. The company was equipped with sewing machines to facilitate these repairs as part of the clothing exchange process.
The company’s structure was designed to operate double shifts, and in addition to troop accessibility, the main consideration for its placement was proximity to a water source. The Bath subsection required 400 gallons (1800 liters) per hour, while the Laundry Subsection required 300 gallons (1360 liters) per hour.
The 1950s shower units were ruidementary and considted of a GMC truck that had been modified with a water tank boiler and 16 shower heads. The process was also basic with once 16 men had stipeed doawn and assembed under the shower heads the shower operator issued the commands “Soap up after we give you an initial dousing”, then “Rinse yourself for the next thirty seconds.” The challange for the operator was to synchronise the pump handles back and forth to get the streams of hot and cold water to the showerheads at an acceptable temperature, if this was not acheived there were often loud and specific cries of protest.
Members of 1 Battalion, Wellington Regiment enjoying a field Shower, Daba Camp, Waiouru, Summer 1952-53 (7WnHb Regt, Public domain)
Showering in Korea, May 1952. Alexander Turnbull Library
The 1960’s and 70’s
In the 1960s, the 1st Composite Ordnance Company (1 Comp Ord Coy) of the RNZAOC included two specialised platoons for Laundry and Bath services: 5 (Laundry) Platoon and 6 (Bath) Platoon.
Laundry unit, single, trailer mounted. M-532
Introduced into service in 1967 and initially utilised during the 2 General Hospital (2GH) and 1 Casualty Clearing Section (1CSS) Annual Camp in March 1968, 1 Comp Ord Coy’s 5 (Laundry) Platoon was outfitted with two American Laundry units, single, trailer-mounted M-532.
The M-532 was a self-contained trailer mounted unit which consisted of;
A 2½-ton capacity, 2-wheel trailer.
A washer-extractor,
A Tumble Dryer,
A water heater,
An electric generator,
An air compressor, and
water pump.
The unit was able to furnish a complete (wash and dry) laundering cycle at a capacity of 120 pounds (54kg) per hour.
Two M-532 units were used by the New Zealand Army, of which one unit is now held by the National Army Museum at Waiouru, New Zealand.
LAUNDRY UNIT, M532 (US Army, public domain)
LAUNDRY UNIT, M532 (US Army, public domain)
Sgt Brian Quinn instructing National Servicemen on the Laundry Unit in the mid-1960’s. Photo taken in Kuku Valley Ammunition area, Trentham Camp. RNZAOC School.
Bath Unit, Portable, 8-Showerhead M1958
1 Comp Ord Coy’s 6 (Bath) Platoon was equipped with the American Bath Unit, Portable, 8-Showerhead M1958. The M1958 was a compact unit with various components, including:
A 20-gallon (75-liter) water heater.
A 3/4-horsepower water pump.
Two shower stands, each equipped with four nozzles.
A 3-kilowatt generator set.
A 55-gallon (209-liter) fuel drum.
All necessary ancillary equipment, including hoses and fire extinguishers.
The M1958 had a water consumption rate of approximately 960 gallons (3600 liters) per hour, and it could draw water from various sources such as tanks, mains, rivers, or ponds. This portable unit was capable of providing continuous bathing support for up to 3,000 troops.
M1958 Bath Unit Equipment layout (US Army, public domain)
The January 1972 edition of the RAOC Gazette made mention of the M1958 in service with the ANZUK Force.
” ANZUK Ordnance Depot” The unit has raised a Field Support Detachment, and under the command of Capt J Clarke supported by SSgt’s Ashdown and Shepard, it is supporting 28 ANZUK Brigade in the Mersing area of Malaysia.
The bath unit of the detachment is using an amazing American equipment which requires a brave man to peer through a peephole until combustion. Fortunately, the unit has such a man in Corporal Smith of the RNZAOC”
and this from the February 1972 issue of the RAOC Gazette:[22]
” The Bath section apparently run by Corporal Smith RNZAOC, succeed in bathing all comers and, in spite of water shortages, operated almost nonstop for twelve days.”
Schematic view of shower equipment from 1 Field Supply Company, RNZAOC, Standing Operating Procedures, December 1984M1958 set up receive water upstream of the unit, with the wastewater disposited downstream of the unit. (practice long discontinued due to environmental concerns). The two buried bucket like items in the foreground were known as ‘Chufffers’. Chuffers were a Diesel/Kerosene fuelled device for heating water in this case probably for shaving purposes. Robert Mckie Collection
The 1980’s and 90’s
The retirement of the M-532 laundry unit in the early 1980s marked the end of an era, leaving the Bath Unit M1958 as the sole survivor. While the Bath Unit faced challenges related to support and maintenance, it soldiered on until the later years of the 1980s. I distinctly remember witnessing one in action during the Triad Exercise of 1984 when I was stationed at Baggush Camp in Waiouru, learning under the guidance of Warrant Officer 2 Smith. It was a testament to the resilience and resourcefulness of the unit and its personnel
FW-37 Trailer Mounted Field Laundry Unit
FW-37 Mobile Laundry Equipment. RNZAOC SchoolFW-37 Mobile Laundry Equipment. RNZAOC School
The Replacement for the Laundry unit, M-532 was purchased in the early 80’s, it was the West German FW-37 Trailer Mounted Field Laundry Unit.
The FW-37 was a self-contained field laundry unit mounted on two trailers.
Washer Trailer, the washer trailer consisted of.
Two washing machines,
Hydro extractor,
Water pump,
Two Diesel/Oil Burners,
Hoses, electrical cables and other ancillary connections
Dryer Trailer, the Dryer trailer consisted of;
A single drying machine,
One Diesel/Oil Burner,
3 Phase generator,
Hoses, electrical cables and other ancillary connections.
The FW-37 and could be run by either mains power or by its own generator, Water could be supplied from a mains supply, water tank or local water supply such as a river or a pond.
The suggested layout of Laundry Unit from 1 Field Supply Company, RNZAOC Standing Operating Procedures, December 1984
Kerrick Shower Unit
As the M1958 Bath Units became worn out in the mid-1980’s, a replacement item was provided by Kerrick Industries. Utilising many of the M1958 Bath Units components, such as the hoses and shower stands the Kerrick was an electric powered, Kerosene fed unit.
Karcher Shower System
In the early 1990’s the NZ Army procured several Karcher Multi-Purpose Decontamination Systems (MPDS). Essentially a high tech Steam Cleaner the NZ Army systems were configured as either a;
A shower system, or
A decontamination System (used only by RNZE units, not RNZAOC).
Karcher MPDS (Karcher, public domain)
The Karcher-field shower 15 Person, was designed to give a shower for personal hygiene or decontamination for 15 persons at the same time. The Karcher-fieldshower was an entirely self-contained system, powered by its own engine and able to suck water from a local source such as a river or from a holding tank fed by mains water. The shower system was capable of showering 15 persons at the same time.
General Plan of Karcher Fieldshower. Karcher Fieldshower Operating Instructions
[1] The War Office, Ordnance Manual (War) (London: His Majestys Stationery Office, 1939), Appendix 1.
[2] “Administration within the Division,” in Administration in the Field (London: War Office, 1951).
[3] A. D. Carbery, The New Zealand Medical Service in the Great War, 1914-1918: Based on Official Documents (Uckfield, East Sussex: Naval & Military Press, [2006?], 2006), Bibliographies, Non-fiction, 176.
[4] W.H. Groom, Poor Bloody Infantry: A Memoir of the First World War (W. Kimber, 1976).
[6] “History of the Great War, Medical Services, Diseases of the War, Vol. I,” American Journal of Public Health (New York, N.Y. : 1912) 13, no. 6 (1923): 138.
[7] Gregory M. Anstead, “Historical Review: The Centenary of the Discovery of Trench Fever, an Emerging Infectious Disease of World War 1,” The Lancet Infectious Diseases 16 (2016): 168.
[8] A.H. Fernyhough, History of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps 1920-1945 (Royal Army Ordnance Corps, 1958), 121.
[9]2nzef – Organisation and War Establishments – Ordnance – Field Item Idr20107590 Record No Da 1/9/Sd81/21 (Wellington: New Zealand Archives, 1941).
[10] The New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps was the permanent Corps in New Zealand and the NZOC the tile of the Expeditionary Force Ordnance Corps.
[11]2nzef – Organisation and War Establishments – Ordnance – Field
[14] “Divisional Cavalryman’s Adventures,” Northern Advocate, 25 June 1942.
[15]2nzef – Organisation and War Establishments – Ordnance – Base, Item Idr20107591 Record No Da 1/9/Sd81/22 (Wellington: New Zealand Archives, 1941).
[16][16] Major J.S Bolton, A History of the Royal New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps (Trentham: RNZAOC, 1992).
[17] “Clothing for NZ Troops,” Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24011, 28 July 1943.
[18]2nzef – Organisation and War Establishments – Ordnance – Base.
[19]2nzef – Organisation and War Establishments – Ordnance – Field
[20] Robin Kay, “From Cassino to Trieste,” in Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–45 (Wellington: Historical Publications Branch, Department of Internal Affairs 1967).
[21] WWIIReenacting, “Mobile Bath and Laundry Unit Raoc,” in WWIIReenacting (2006).
[22] RAOC, “Anzuk Ordnance Depot,” RAOC Gazette, January 1972.
