Thursday, January 5, 2012

World War I Historical Apron – Dated Just Weeks After the Signing of the Armistice Peace Agreement


This beautiful apron reflects a story as part of strategic World War I history.  It is embroidered with the date 1-1-19, as well as “U.S.S. Ossipee” and “Ponta Delgada Acores.”  It also has two embroidered flags, one the United States flag, and the other the flag of Portugal, an ally of the U.S.A. in World War I.


The embroidered date of 1-1-19 was just 6 ½ weeks after the end of World War I.  Germany had signed an armistice with the Allies on November 11, 1918.  

 
Ponta Delgada is a location in Portugal, and the U.S.S. Ossipee is a ship originally designed as a cruising cutter, capable of extremely long voyages for vessels of their size. 


However, on April 6, 1917, she was transferred to the U.S. Department of Navy.  She was painted the regular war color, and continued working with the Patrol Forces until orders were received to prepare for duty overseas in the war zone.  On September 3, 1917, she joined her first convoy as a “Danger Zone Escort.”  This duty generally lasted several days. On outbound convoys, the Danger Zone Escort would escort the convoy to a meeting with the "Ocean Escort" at sea.  Later she also took on the duties of an “Ocean Escort,” securing convoys all the way to their International destinations.

http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/179884.htm
 While this cutter was within the war zone, she had convoyed 596 vessels. In 23 of these, she served as the ocean escort. The Ossipee observed submarines, or evidences of their presence.  As a war escort ship, she helped convoys which were often attacked, with the loss of some merchant ships which were sunk.  Ossipee, herself, was attacked once, barely escaping destruction as the torpedo missed her by 15 to 20 feet.
So who might have made this historically significant, beautiful apron that is now 92 years old?  Since the location is in Portugal, could it have been made by the wife of an ally Portuguese sailor?  The U.S.S. Ossipee later served in World War II and was eventually retired from war service.  Who would the family have been who rode the waves and fought the fights to defend their country from the ravages of war?  Probably one fine lady who prayed every day for her husband, taking care of the children, working at home in the kitchen, wearing an apron, sewing another, dating it 1-1-19.  Or maybe a proud mother whose son had gone off to war, and she celebrated his return home with this lovely, meaningful, apron.

4 comments:

  1. Wonderful, insightful writing Miz Di........words to make us think of what has come before us.

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  2. Love all of these aprons. I remember that my mom always wore an apron and I also like them, in fact one of my daughters gave me one for Christmas. Difficult to find the old ones, hope aprons come back and even if they don't I like them. Your newest follower...Lu

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  3. Hi Lu! I'm looking forward to receiving your Etsy covered hangers! They're beautiful! I looked at your blog, and it's a fun read! I enjoyed looking at all the photographs of clocks that your husband took. He's a great photographer with an eye for the unique. I would like to learn how to have a few of the gadgets you have on your blog. I look forward to visiting with you more again soon. Thanks for following! Blessings, Dianne

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  4. Hi! I have an apron just like yours that is dated May 5, 1918 for the USS Bridgeport. My understanding is that it was a souvenir apron that a sailor could purchase in the port of call to send home to his sweetheart... at least that is the story that goes along with our family heirloom. Our aprons are very similar, with just a few different details in the embroidery and slightly different lace. Contact me if you would like to see a picture of the one I have. One of the things I have always found interesting is the size of the waist of my apron... it was made to be worn by a lady with a tiny waist, one probably held tight with a corset.

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