Monument record 7198/420 - Modern clothing factory

{1} re service uniforms from Wallis and Linnell Ltd, Kettering. "During the war the firm manufactured over 200,000 garments, mainly for the services, including the first WAAF uniform."Exact location unknown.

{2} WW1; "On the economic front, the War did wonders for Ketterings industries- footwear, clothing, engineering and iron-making."
.."Clothing businesses such as Wallis & Linnell and Co-Operative Clothing Company received huge orders for Khaki uniforms and other other items of clothing and equipment." Ten million boots are estimated to have been made by 1918 in the town's 34 factories.
WW2; "..Kettering's footwear industry played an important part in the war effort, producing around 75 million pairs of boots for the armed forces, including three million pairs for the Russians." Other production included "manufacture of 100,000 'silk yellows' by the Corset Societ factory, to be worn on the back of their uniforms by allied troops 'for identification purposes' had the country been invaded in 1940, to tens of thousands of more conventional military uniforms.."

<1> 1978, Northamptonshire at War 1939-45: A Selection of Photographs, P. 72 (Document). SNN43419.

<2> Greenall R.L., 2003, A History of Kettering, P. 187; 205-206 (Book). SNN103938.

Record last edited

Jul 9 2008 12:09PM