CGG Museum Artifact – THE GILLETTE ‘KHAKI SET’ CANADIAN ISSUED SHAVING KIT DURING WW2

THE GILLETTE ‘KHAKI SET’ CANADIAN ISSUED SHAVING KIT DURING WW2

By Lieutenant Michael A. Hayes-Rivet, retired.

An original 1932 model Gillette Canada Khaki set shaving kit issued to members of the

22^e Canadian Armoured Regiment during WW2 currently on display at the Musée Canadian Grenadier Guards Museum – Montreal, PQ, Canada

Sometimes the smallest and most common military items can hold some amazing and detailed connections to our regimental past. Such was the case while researching a very common WW2 Canadian Army issued piece of field kit – The 1932 model Tech Razor ‘Khaki Set’ manufactured by Gillette Canada.

Recently a team of researchers were in the process of uploading photos and descriptions of artifacts currently held in the vaults of the Canadian Grenadier Guards Museum for the on-line museum site, content when the team came across this rather simple shaving kit. It is a fine example of a World War II Canadian Army original field (Khaki Set) model 1932 razor shaving Kit manufactured for the Canadian Army by Gillette, Canada located in Montreal, Quebec.

The artifact contains a 1932 model Gillette khaki razor handle. Original Gillette razor head with triangle guard slots, and 4 Gillette Razors. The field Mirror is inside or attached to the inner cover. There is an alpha numeric identifier (R-189737) marked on the outside bottom of the case but sadly does not correspond to any WW2 Canadian Soldier Service Number. This type of kit was used by Canadian Army personnel from 1939-1952

It is fair to say that there were few military issued field kit items that would have been so widely used by almost every Canadian Soldier during both WW1 and WW2. What makes this particular Gilette razor kit artifact amazing is that it was designed to be used almost on a daily basis and with such wear and tear, few original issued examples remain in near mint original condition.

ABOUT GILLETTE CANADA:

The Second World War reduced Gillette’s blade production both domestically and internationally. As a result of the war, many markets were closed off, German and Japanese forces expropriated the company’s plants and property, and Gillette’s plants in Boston and London were partially converted for weapons production. By the end of the war, servicemen had been issued 12.5 million razors and 1.5 billion blades. Gillette also assisted the Allied, Canadian and U.S. Army, in military intelligence by producing copies of German razor blades for secret agents venturing behind German lines so that their identities wouldn’t be compromised by their shaving equipment. The company also manufactured razors that concealed money and escape maps in their handles, and magnetic double-edge blades that prisoners of war could use as a compass.

THE CANADIAN GRENADIER GUARDS CONNECTION WITH THE GILLETTE COMPANY:

The Gillette Canada Company had several members serve with The Canadian Grenadier Guards including the Executive Vice President of Gillette, Private John Edward Hastie, who enlisted and served with the 1^st Regiment, Grenadier Guards of Canada (CGG) from 1912-1915 until he was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. He was responsible for the entire operational delivery of Gillette products to The Canadian Army during WW2 and was also the Great Uncle of another CGG Officer.