Fountain Pens Of Wwii

[Maurizio]

I just got as an early Christmas present "Snow & Steel: The Battle of the Bulge 1944-1945" by Peter Caddick-Adams. We know that the troops regularly sent & received letters from the field. This got me musing about what fountain pens they were using (since ballpoints weren't around yet).

 

Now I know, from the comfort of my armchair, that what PEN he may have used was likely the last thing on the mind of any man who survived that battle, but I thought, just maybe there might a few folks out there who may have some knowledge of what pens were used by the troops in the trenches. Perhaps a son or a daughter of a soldier might know this too. I'm curious to know how pens held up under the stress of field operations. Did any crack, were some reputed to be better than others; how did they manage to keep the pens dirt free; how did they ink them; how'd they keep the ink bottles from breaking etc.?

 

So - can anyone share with us any knowledge you may have of what fountain pens were used in the European theater during WWII? This question goes out to all Canadians, Brits, Aussies and absolutely includes all of our friends in Europe.

Edited December 22, 2014 by Maurizio

[jjlax10]

Maurizio,

 

There is this thread that involves speculation and some family accounts: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/280932-british-navy-gunner-buys-fountain-pen-nyc-ww2/?do=findComment&comment=3216211

 

Also, never knew you were in Bergen County. I will contact you back channel.

[Maurizio]

Thanks for the reply "jj". I'l look at it.

 

Please do.

[Maurizio]

I have changed the title to "WWII" to correct the typo 3 times, but it hasn't changed, or so it appears. My apologies for the typo.

[Ernst Bitterman]

For a lot more contemplation of the topic, from direct experience to semi-informed speculation (and you may see me in the latter role), there's also this thread.

 

...and the title capitalizer will do as it wishes. We've all been done over by it at some point.

[Tasmith]

I just got as an early Christmas present "Snow & Steel: The Battle of the Bulge 1944-1945" by Peter Caddick-Adams.

 

WWII magazine gave Snow & Steel and excellent review calling it a treasure.

[Tasmith]

US Marine Colonel Carlson of Carlson's Raiders. Looks like he used Parkers:

 

 

Edited December 22, 2014 by Tasmith

[Runnin_Ute]

I would imagine most enlisted men used pencil. No ink to worry about and easily replaced if damaged.

[Buckandball1842]

That's a good question, one I've wondered myself as I've gotten more into WWII and vintage pens these last couple months. In Rick Atkinson's book on the American invasion of Italy, he mentions a battalion commander who was saved from a shrapnel wound by a Parker fountain pen carried in his breast pocket(he doesn't mention what type).

 

He also has a picture of George Biddle writing with what looks like a Vacumatic in a field environment.

 

No idea how they cared for them, but they were out there.

 

[MKeith]

Here are a few ponder.

 

Sometimes a pencil

http://www.shorpy.com/node/17706?size=_original#caption

 

Skyline (brown?)

http://www.shorpy.com/node/16209

 

Parker Duofold or Esterbrook?

http://www.shorpy.com/node/18373?size=_original#caption

[Amberjack]

Ernie Pyle, perhaps the greatest of many great war correspondents, wrote of another creative use of a fountain pen in Here is Your War: Story of G.I. Joe...

 

"Lieutenant Richard Cole, of Worcester, Massachusetts, was commander of Company K. In midafternoon a German shell found him as he lay hiding with his men in the wheat. One leg got only a slight wound, but the other was shattered. Lieutenant Cole saved his life by using his head. He made a tourniquet of his handkerchief, and using a fountain pen for a lever he twisted the tourniquet and held it, and at the same time began slowly crawling to the rear."

 

I know of many pen models and colors that paid tribute to to the troops in one way or another. Wahl-Eversharp made Skylines in Marine Green, Army Brown and Navy Blue, and I have an ad from the first world war showing soldiers and sailors in uniform heartily endorsing the Parker, 'leakproof pen'.

 

Military regulations (enforced in garrison, rarely in combat) dictated that a pen in the chest pocket could not show. As a result, there were 'military' pen models that had the clip mounted to the top of the cap so that the pen could stay hidden under the pocket flap.

 

You might do a search on quartermaster and supply catalogs of the period as the volume of pens and ink purchased and shipped overseas was probably substantial. The Red Cross also may have played a role in providing writing materials for Joes to write their families.

 

Interesting question. Good luck!

 

Jack

 

P.S. - I'm a volunteer in service to the 10th Mountain Div.'s WW2 vets here in Colorado. Next time I'm with them I'll ask about letters home and their recollections of pens they might have used.

Edited December 22, 2014 by Amberjack

[jar]

My dad used his Vacumatic for some of his letters but by far the majority were pencil that was later photocopied for transportation. My grandad said the US soldiers in WWI mostly used pencils but the Brits and Italians (remember they were allies that time) used fountain pens.

[JimCouch]

I am fortunate enough to have most of the letters that my dad sent to his family (mostly my grandmother) when he served in WWII. He was enlisted and served in Belgium, France, and Germany. The majority are written in ink, some in pencil. I would guess that he at least used the pen hen he could, pencils when ink was not available. Unfortunately I do not know what he used for a pen.

[Toll]

Also, thanks for the lead about the book 'Snow and steel...' I hope to buy a copy today!

[Nihontochicken]

No telling whether the owners of these two pens "saw the elephant" in WWII, but I imagine there's a very good possibility, since I believe most all USMC personnel were combat troops. The quite worn first quarter '44 stacked coin band silver Vacumatic is personalized for T. R. HALE, U.S.M.C. The slightly better condition coin silver cap third quarter '42 blue cedar 51 is personalized for FRANK E. RATHKAMP, U.S.M.C. So two votes for Parker. As the saying goes, if they could only talk.

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v139/nihontochicken/IMG_0324_zps11f1a907.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v139/nihontochicken/IMG_0325_zps5a132216.jpg

[Maurizio]

Wow. Thank you all for the responses. So far, the evidence in this very unscientific survey is clearly for Parkers. There must be some photos of Shaeffers and Easterbrooks out there somewhere?

 

Ersnst, thank you for the link to the thread. I've read it, including the nasty fight between 2 posters.

 

Tasmith, thank you for that photo. It's one of those pictures that speaks volumes. Just look at that man; he's obviously in "fighting trim", with a stoic, battle-hardened expression. He's carrying not one, but three Parker pens! I guess he didn't have the luxury of an aide to write reports for him. Was he also dashing off orders to the front and reports back to the local command HQ?

 

Jack, thanks for asking your old WWII friends. Look forward to hearing any answer.

 

Jim, thanks for sharing your memories.

 

Nihontochicken, thanks for those great photos of the Marine Corp. Parkers.

 

So far, I'm really enjoying "Snow & Steel"; it's engagingly written. It's got me thinking about all those American heroes standing strong and freezing and dying for liberty.

 

Looking forward to some more responses.

 

God bless our veterans. (I hope that's not too politically incorrect to post here)

[Miz Black Crow]

"Lieutenant Richard Cole, of Worcester, Massachusetts, was commander of Company K. In midafternoon a German shell found him as he lay hiding with his men in the wheat. One leg got only a slight wound, but the other was shattered. Lieutenant Cole saved his life by using his head. He made a tourniquet of his handkerchief, and using a fountain pen for a lever he twisted the tourniquet and held it, and at the same time began slowly crawling to the rear."

 

This technique is taught to this day to EMTs and paramedics performing emergency tourniquet applications, pen and all. ("Fountain" usually is not unspecified )

 

ETA: Unfortunately, I have literally no knowledge of WWII fountain pens, but I *do* know that the title auto-capitalized US to Us in a recent post, so I don't think it likes all-caps (even when they're appropriate).

Edited December 23, 2014 by Miz Black Crow

[PS104]

God bless our veterans. (I hope that's not too politically incorrect to post here)

Those are great pics. Looks like Col Carlson had a lot of pull. Only person I ever heard of that had a Parker was Eisenhower

Re Maurizio. I can only hope that it IS politically incorrect and anyone who thinks so can resign from the FPN with my blessing

[penrivers]

but the Brits and Italians (remember they were allies that time) used fountain pens.

Hi Jar, Italians allies ?.

[penrivers]

Oh really sorry Jar, I tought you was talking about the second world war, you are right, I remember well my Hemingway´s Farewell to the arms paper back.