_RED CROSS SOCIETY, WILLING WAR WORKERS, GREEN FEATHER SOCIETY, AND
CATHOLIC LADIES SOCIETY._
The Red Cross has been the Angel of Mercy to the soldier lying on his
fevered couch in hospital, for it brought to him succor and a message of
hope and cheer. But coming in contact with it at a time when he was
least able to apprehend the efforts which brought the help so sorely
needed, he is apt to regard the Red Cross as a field institution and
fails to appreciate the labor and sacrifice of the women at home who
made its work of mercy possible.
The work of the Nova Scotia Branch of the Canadian Red Cross Society has
been the raising of money, manufacturing and distribution of goods,
visiting and supplying the needs of hospital ships, trains, military and
convalescent hospitals, and arranging concerts, drives and
entertainments at private homes for returned men. Its work did not
terminate with the declaration of peace but still goes on in almost as
great a measure as in time of war, and will continue to do so as long as
one returned soldier remains in our hospitals.
Many Nova Scotians, as well as returned men, do not appreciate the
magnitude of the task accomplished by the Nova Scotia Branch of the
Canadian Red Cross, and it is only possible here to give a brief outline
of its activities. The women of every city, town and village in the
Province gave the best of their thought, substance and action in order
that the citizen soldier of Nova Scotia, whether in the fighting line or
in hospital convalescing from wounds might have every possible comfort.
At the end of 1915 the Province had thirty-one chartered and two hundred
and sixty-eight auxiliary branches of the Red Cross. Every village and
hamlet had its workers who contributed a steady stream of supplies and
an enormous amount of labor devolved upon the Provincial Branch at
Halifax, which acted as a Clearing House for all branches throughout the
Province.
The officers of the Provincial Branch during the War, with slight
changes of office but not of personnel, were as follows:
_Patrons._
His Honor Lieutenant-Governor and Mrs. Grant.
_President._
Mrs. William Dennis.
[Illustration:
MRS. DENNIS.]
[Illustration:
MRS. CHARLES ARCHIBALD.]
_Vice-Presidents._
Mrs. F. H. Sexton.
Mrs. F. B. McCurdy.
Mrs. Chas. Archibald.
Mrs. Hector McInnis.
Mrs. M. A. Curry (Hon.)
_Hon. Secretary._
Miss Margaret Brown.
_Hon. Treasurer._
H. E. Mahon, Ess.
_Executive Committee._
Mrs. T. Benson.
Mrs. A. W. Jamieson.
Mrs. G. S. Campbell.
Mrs. F. Woodbury.
Mrs. W. J. Armitage.
Mrs. E. A. Kirkpatrick.
Mrs. N. Duffus.
Mrs. A. Costley.
Mrs. W. E. McLellan.
Mrs. F. B. McCurdy.
Mrs. H. W. Cunningham.
Mrs. L. J. Donaldson.
Mrs. G. A. MacIntosh.
Mrs. W. R. Foster, Dartmouth.
Mrs. A. P. Scarfe, Dartmouth.
Mrs. Crathorne, Dartmouth.
Mrs. W. S. Munnis.
Miss Jean Forrest.
Miss Constance Bell.
Mrs. Sedley Thompson.
Miss Ella Ritchie.
Mrs. McKay McLeod, Sydney.
Mrs. M. A. Curry.
Mrs. T. S. Rogers.
Mrs. Frank Hope.
Mrs. J. A. Clark.
Mrs. I. B. Schaffner.
Mrs. P. J. McManus.
Mrs. W. T. Allen.
Mrs. J. W. Longley.
Mrs. Geoffrey Morrow.
Also the President of each Chartered Branch.
_Provincial Representatives on Central Council at Toronto._
Mrs. William Dennis.
Mrs. Charles Archibald.
J. L. Hetherington.
H. E. Mahon.
_Advisory Board._
Mr. J. L. Hetherington, Chairman.
Mr. J. A. Neville.
Mr. H. E. Mahon, Treasurer.
Mr. C. C. Starr.
Mr. Chas. V. Monoghan.
Mr. Emil Gaboury.
Mr. R. Corbett.
Mr. H. McF. Hall.
Mr. W. H. Dennis.
Mr. F. A. Gillis.
The annual report of the Provincial Branch for the year ended October
31, 1916, shows a balance on hand at first of year of $10,961.26 and
receipts for the year of $52,667.62. Disbursements amounted to
$56,584.89, of which the principal items were:
Remittances to Head Office, Toronto $29,278 38
Remittances to endow 50 cots in Princess Patricia Hospital 2,500 00
Material for surgical dressings and garments, and wool for
socks 18,163 17
Office maintenance and expenses at Shipping Pier 1,388 12
Clayton Military Convalescent Home 1,993 67
Contributions to Special Objects 1,141 21
The sum of $9,405.25 was collected for Prisoners’ Relief Account and
$8,800 sent to England for expenditure. In addition to the above amounts
the people of Nova Scotia subscribed $1,500 to the Duchess of Connaught
Prisoners’ Fund and $78,433.03 to the British Red Cross.
Two thousand four hundred and seventy cases of goods were sent Overseas
during the year, including 78 cases furnished No. 7 (Dalhousie)
Stationary Hospital, 112 cases to No. 9 (St. Francis Xavier) Stationary
Hospital, 11 cases to Serbia and 60 to France.
During the year ended October 31, 1917, the following amounts were
collected:
For General Purposes $62,179 80
For Prisoners’ Fund 18,790 22
For French Red Cross 21,897 63
British Red Cross Collection 100,000 00
———————————
$202,867 65
The principal items of expenditure were:
Purchase of materials, hospital supplies, etc. $39,674 84
Sundry supplies 1,318 60
Marine and Fire Insurance 2,351 50
Contributions to Special Objects 4,706 51
Tobacco, fruits and comforts at Pier 2 and City Military
Hospitals 3,963 05
Remittance to Head Office, Toronto 32,020 70
Office Expenses 2,055 66
Forwarded to England for support of prisoners 12,000 00
Forwarded to Toronto 2,000 00
Forwarded to England for books for prisoners 100 00
Two thousand and ninety-nine cases of goods were sent Overseas, and a
greatly enlarged demand for goods was made on this side of the water
owing to the increasing number of returned men and the opening of the
new convalescent hospitals as well as the arrival and departure of
hospital ships and trains. The following institutions were supplied with
goods on their requisitions:
Clayton Military Convalescent Home.
C.E.D. Corps.
Discharge Depot.
Hospital at Pier 2.
Pine Hill Convalescent Home.
Rockhead Hospital (Soldiers’ ward).
Infectious Hospital.
Military Hospital, Cogswell Street.
Hospital Ships.
Hospital Trains.
Kentville Sanitarium.
Dalton, P.E.I.
Camp Hill Hospital.
Truro Military Hospital.
Aldershot Field Hospital.
[Illustration:
MRS. F. B. M‘CURDY.]
Visitors were always on hand on the arrival of hospital ships and the
departure of hospital trains to welcome the returning men and to see
that they had every comfort necessary for the remainder of their
journey. A room was given to the Red Cross Society for the storing of
supplies at Pier 2. This was found most useful, as boats and trains were
despatched as soon as possible—only a few hours’ notice being given for
the filling of requisitions, which work, however, was speedily and ably
done by Mrs. Sexton and her committee, Mrs. F. B. McCurdy and Mrs. W. T.
Allen, the latter of whom carried on the work to the termination. Many
returned men were detained for days at Pier 2 until they went before
their medical board. For these, concerts and entertainments were
provided every evening by the Y.M.C.A., the Red Cross Society and the
Churches. A special Y.M.C.A. Musical Club was formed in this connection
which gave entertainments at a few hours’ notice.
Two exhibitions of Red Cross work were held during the year, one at the
Nova Scotia Provincial Fair, and another at the Exhibit of War Trophies,
held in the Armories.
A Committee on Sphagnum Surgical Dressings, under the able supervision
of the Secretary, Miss Margaret Brown, was appointed. Dalhousie
University very kindly gave the use of a fine laboratory, where boxes of
sphagnum, collected from various points along the sea coast of the
Province were prepared for use.
[Illustration:
MISS MARGARET BROWN.]
[Illustration:
MISS JEAN FORREST.]
Miss Jean Forrest was appointed Superintendent of Supplies at the
Technical College and distributed parcels of yarn and cut-out work at
wholesale prices, to some one hundred and thirty branches who found it
difficult to obtain supplies locally.
The cost of maintaining a prisoner of war at this time was $15 per
month. The Nova Scotia Red Cross assumed the burden of two-thirds, or
$10 per month for 270 men, the Canadian Red Cross paying the additional
$5. The monthly sum required from Nova Scotia for the support of
prisoners was therefore $2,700.
Receipts for the year ended October 31, 1918, amounted to $408,482.66,
of which $334,176.40 was raised by a Provincial Red Cross drive for
funds during the second week in July.
The Canadian Red Cross Society at their Annual Meeting, held in Toronto
in 1917, decided to ask the different Provinces to raise certain sums of
money during the year. Two hundred thousand dollars was named for Nova
Scotia, but the Finance Committee knowing full well that the people of
the Province would gladly contribute to the Red Cross War Fund raised
the objective to $250,000, and then started to work under the able
direction of Mr. J. L. Hetherington and Mr. H. E. Mahon. Committees of
citizens were formed in all the counties, and a complete organization
arranged, with the result that every county “went over the top,” and the
total amount contributed was $343,701.77. From this was deducted
$9,525.37 for expenses in connection with the campaign, leaving the net
amount of $334,176.40 to the Red Cross Society. Never did men and women
from one end of the Province to the other work more enthusiastically,
and never did our people contribute more liberally than to this appeal
from “the Greatest Mother in the World.”
The following amounts were raised in the several counties:
Counties—
Annapolis $9,713 54
Antigonish 5,598 33
Cape Breton 42,150 29
Colchester 20,444 29
Cumberland 20,196 46
Digby 4,464 04
Guysboro 5,521 24
Halifax (City) 110,416 87
Halifax (County) 15,425 31
Hants 10,340 00
Inverness 2,903 67
Kings 10,650 00
Lunenburg 14,446 47
Pictou 40,235 27
Queens 6,341 61
Richmond 2,332 47
Shelburne 7,500 00
Victoria 2,463 38
Yarmouth 11,510 36
Special 1,048 17
———————————
Total $343,701 77
Expenses 9,525 37
———————————
Final Total $334,176 46
The expenditure for the year 1918 included:
Purchase of materials, hospital supplies, etc $38,700 04
Sundry Supplies 1,218 32
Comforts to City Military Hospitals and Hospital Ships 9,331 67
Special objects designated by remitters 4,158 53
Remittances to Head Office, Toronto 325,931 70
Office Expenses and wages at Pier 2 2,746 49
During the year 1918 the public maintained their interest in the
Prisoners of War Department of the Red Cross. The amount collected was
$20,943.01, of which $19,013.00 was forwarded to headquarters in London,
England, for the support of prisoners. The food rations of each prisoner
of war were despatched regularly three times every fortnight, which,
considering there were 270 men on the list, was no light undertaking. In
addition to the food supply the prisoners received two complete outfits
of clothing, including everything from shoes and socks to overcoats.
After the signing of the Armistice the work of repatriating prisoners
went steadily on, and each steamer brought men who had spent many weary
months in the prison camps, and they all testified to the value of the
work done by this Society and declared that it was solely due to this
that they were enabled to return to their homes. This department of Red
Cross work has been most ably conducted by Mrs. Charles Archibald, nobly
assisted by Miss Ritchie and Mrs. Longley.
The beginning of this year was marked by the terrible Halifax explosion,
by which 1,635 persons lost their lives and 10,000 people were rendered
homeless. Much generous help was received by the stricken city. Everyone
knows the splendid aid sent by the American Red Cross, and the people
and Government of the United States in despatching to Halifax train
loads and boat loads of supplies, together with surgeons and nurses.
Their neighborly kindness will never be forgotten.
But the help rendered by our own Canadian Red Cross is perhaps not so
widely known. The Chairman of the Executive in Toronto wired to the
shipping agent in St. John to render every assistance possible in money
and goods. The agent, Mr. Milburne, immediately requisitioned a special
train, and brought with him all the Red Cross goods he had ready for
shipment Overseas, making two car loads in all. This train was the first
assistance from outside the Province to reach Halifax. Hearing that some
of the injured had been conveyed to Truro, Mr. Milburne put off cases of
hospital necessaries for their use at that station. A medical supply
committee of the Canadian Red Cross Society was immediately formed with
the sanction of the Halifax Relief Committee, Mr. Milburne being
appointed Chairman, and Mrs. Sexton, Vice-Chairman, with a Staff of
forty-four voluntary workers. Twice daily all the emergency hospitals
were visited and their wants noted and supplied the same day. The number
of these hospitals, dressing stations, etc., amounted to sixty-two.
At the same time, gifts of clothing, food and money poured in from Red
Cross Branches all over Canada. Ottawa Branch shipped in one day eight
carloads of clothing. The Nova Scotia Branch, under its President, Mrs.
Dennis, co-operated heartily, practically every Branch and Auxiliary in
the Province sending substantial and generous aid.
Special mention must be made of the work of the President of the Windsor
Red Cross, Mrs. P. M. Fielding, who organized a special train which
arrived the evening of December 6th, bringing doctors and nurses from
Kentville, Windsor, Truro and neighboring towns. The Windsor Red Cross
alone spent $422.74 on Red Cross supplies and provisions for this trip,
Hantsport and other Branches also providing hampers of food, so that the
doctors and nurses had their meals en route and arrived in Halifax ready
to go to work without an instant’s delay, thereby saving many lives.
Mrs. Fielding remained in the city, established and equipped three
dormitories, which accommodated in all seventy-five nurses. What this
meant to the stricken city will never be computed, and the Red Cross
feels that all who helped can never be sufficiently thanked.
It was not until the end of March that the Red Cross was able to resume
its work for returned invalided soldiers. By that time the hospital on
Pier 2, wrecked by the explosion, had been repaired. The hospital ships
once more made their trips, and the Red Cross storeroom on the pier was
re-stocked. Large requisitions were filled each month; sometimes only a
few hours’ notice was given to get the supplies on board—sometimes only
a few minutes’ notice in the case of a hospital train. On one trip the
ship docked in the morning, landed her men and went out again with her
new supplies in the afternoon. At another time 1,400 shipwrecked men
from _S.S. City of Vienna_ were visited and supplied with filled kit
bags, containing toilet necessaries, pipes and tobacco. Directly after,
the Committee were called upon to minister to 300 influenza contact
cases. This necessitated the workers going into quarantine for two days,
very busy days, too, the telegrams alone requiring upwards of 300
telephone calls. The Y.M.C.A. and the Knights of Columbus Musical Club
were always at hand to cheer up men who were detained by the Medical
Board, arranging for their benefit concerts, entertainments, motor
drives and teas at private houses.
One thousand seven hundred and sixty-eight cases of goods were sent
Overseas, and the distribution of supplies on this side grew very
greatly during the year owing to the increasing number of returned men
and the opening of new convalescent homes.
The financial statement for the year ended October 31, 1918, shows
receipts of $36,848.65. Expenditures amounted to $41,804.01, including
the following items:
Purchase of materials, City and Provincial Hospitals $12,172 04
Kentville Sanitarium 1,014 42
Soldiers’ Reception Committee 9,000 00
Cigarettes 2,456 51
Soldiers’ Comforts 2,260 23
Libraries 319 79
Nurses 378 10
Furnishings 2,201 36
Clayton Hospital 175 00
Rental and Expenses at Headquarters, 314 Barrington St. 3,858 89
Office Expenses 1,789 85
X-Ray Machines, Kentville 2,396 43
Hospital Ships 823 63
No salaries whatever were paid to officers of the Red Cross Society. The
only persons connected with the work who received anything for their
services were the shipper at Red Cross warehouse at Pier 2, who was
responsible for the receiving and sending forward of our boxes, and the
Office Secretary who took charge of the correspondence, kept the books,
etc. She was assisted by a large corps of voluntary workers.
With the signing of the Armistice great changes naturally took place in
the daily work of the Nova Scotia Red Cross. Workers decreased in
number, and those who remained faithful had to work extremely hard, as,
although it was considered that the stores already sent would be
sufficient for all Overseas demands, the reserve stock of stores for use
in the hospitals in our own Province had to be kept up.
At the time of the Armistice the surgical sphagnum dressings were still
very greatly needed. Special efforts were put into this work, which
continued till free transportation ceased on March 31st. Forty-five
boxes of the dressings were sent Overseas. An eminent Surgeon-Colonel in
one of the Overseas hospitals gave it as his opinion that sphagnum
dressings had saved the situation.
Work for refugees of the devastated area of France was then taken up,
sanctioned by the Head Office in Toronto, who provided samples and gave
permission to use Red Cross materials for this good work. The patterns
were duplicated in our office and distributed to Branches throughout the
Province. The work was carried on for two months and 217 boxes of
garments were sent over.
Change of quarters for the Red Cross became imperative. The Technical
College, which had sheltered Red Cross workers during the four years of
the War, and had so generously allowed them the use of valuable
equipment of every kind, was now overcrowded with its own work for
returned soldiers. It was therefore decided to take over the lease of
No. 314 Barrington Street from the American Red Cross, which had
occupied it for the last year.
It was thought best to continue the Canteen which the American Red Cross
had established until such time as the Y.M.C.A. should take up this
work. This Canteen, under the management of Mrs. Sexton, had a wonderful
success, becoming a happy and home-like centre for returned men and
greatly appreciated—especially the hot Sunday dinners served by devoted
workers. Much regret was expressed when, at the end of three months, it
was closed and the work handed over to the newly-opened Red Triangle Hut
next door.
The principal work throughout the year was supplying the needs of the
hospitals. Mrs. Munnis, who worked so faithfully as the Convener of the
Hospital Committee resigned and was replaced by Mrs. Sexton. An enlarged
committee was formed and a large staff of visitors began their duties,
each having a special ward assigned to them.
Twelve sun parlors at Camp Hill Hospital were furnished for the use of
convalescents and made as comfortable and home-like as possible. The
estimated cost was $500 each, subscribed for by the following Red Cross
Branches: Amherst, Windsor, Wolfville, Westville, Trenton, Glace Bay,
Halifax, Truro, Hazel Hill, Joggins Mines, New Glasgow and North Sydney.
A brass plate, bearing the name of the donor, was affixed to the wall of
each parlor. The cost exceeded the estimate by $240 each, which excess
was paid from the central treasury.
From November 11, 1918, until September 30, 1919, 220,000 men passed
through the Port of Halifax, and 92 ships were met and as far as
possible these men had the use of the Red Cross rooms at the pier. The
Port Committee was on hand day and night to help make their landing on
Canadian soil (many of them after years of service) a great home-coming.
In the first days of disembarkation all men for Canada were held at
Halifax for documentation. Later the military authorities changed their
plan and it became their ambition to disembark and entrain these men in
the shortest possible time so that only Maritime men waiting for local
trains or men held for hospital treatment came under the care of the
Committee.
Later on the Repatriation Department of the Canadian Government
requested the Red Cross to undertake the care of the returning soldiers’
families. About 5,000 soldiers’ dependants passed through Halifax and a
fully trained nurse was placed on each train containing soldiers’ wives
and children.
Hospital equipment was provided at Pier No. 2 for any women and children
who were unfit to travel after landing from boat, or whose husbands were
military patients and could not proceed. Often their luggage was not
obtainable, and the Red Cross was called upon to supply such necessaries
as infants’ outfits, women’s pyjamas and bath robes, towels, soap,
combs, hot water bottles, medicines, etc.
In March when the Canadian Government decided to send the hospital ships
to Portland, Maine, instead of Halifax, Col. Noel Marshall requested
that a Committee of our Port Workers should inaugurate the work at the
new port. Mrs. W. T. Allen, Mrs. J. L. Hetherington and Mrs. F. B.
McCurdy accordingly proceeded to Portland and very satisfactory
arrangements were made whereby the Canadian Red Cross continued to fit
ships with hospital stores, while the American Red Cross very
courteously and generously provided canteen facilities and served
refreshments to all the wounded.
Perhaps no department of the Red Cross has developed more enthusiasm or
been more splendidly supported than the work of Prisoners’ Relief. From
a very small beginning it grew to be work of great importance, and one
in which the people of Nova Scotia have abundantly shown their practical
interest. It did not draw upon the general Red Cross Funds but appealed
for a special offering from the public or from friends of men who were
prisoners of war and found a most gratifying response, no less than
$41,448 having been contributed for this special purpose.
Approximately 270 Canadian prisoners of war in forty-one different
internment camps in Germany were maintained wholly or in part through
the kindness of the people of Nova Scotia, at a cost per head of $10 per
month. Almost all these men were “adopted” by friends or societies; that
is, such persons or societies agreed to pay a certain sum per month
towards their maintenance, two dollars and fifty cents having been fixed
as the minimum amount. The name and address of the adopted was given to
the man, and his name, number and prison address to the adopter, and
letters and cards were exchanged between them, often arousing a deep
personal interest on the one hand and a sense of gratitude and
appreciation on the other.
Mrs. Archibald and Miss Ritchie were brought in close contact with the
homes and families of prisoners of war. The amount of correspondence was
very considerable, and the system used entailed a lot of bookkeeping.
The name and number of each man, date of capture, prison camp and any
details that could be gathered were registered on a card index. The name
of the “adopter” was also registered both here and with the Prisoners of
War Department in London.
[Illustration:
MRS. W. M‘K. M‘LEOD.]
[Illustration:
MISS CLARA DENNIS.]
Close touch was kept with the Department of “Missing Men,” conducted in
London and in a few instances it was possible to convey reassuring news
to sorrow-stricken friends of the “missing men,” although, too often, it
became necessary to deprive them of the hope they so touchingly clung
to. Yet even the bad news was softened somewhat by details of the death
or capture of a man, obtained under the system inaugurated by Lady
Drummond of “Searchers” in hospitals who sought out wounded men of the
same Platoon or Battalion of the person enquired for. These men, if able
to write, would themselves send a few words telling when and where they
had seen their less fortunate comrades. Even these meagre details were
of some comfort to the mourning ones. Some of the heart-broken letters
received were very hard to reply to, but when news was good and food
parcels arrived safely showers of “acknowledgment cards” flowed in; and
when, as often happened, the mail brought a personal letter from some
grateful mother or a few words from some of the poor boys behind barbed
wire “somewhere in Germany,” or when a rapturous letter came from some
poor fellow transferred from his prison as “totally unfit” and sent to
the free air of Switzerland, the ladies conducting this Department felt
more than happy in being permitted to participate in such a work of
mercy. Mrs. Archibald, Miss Ritchie, and their co-workers possessed in
no small degree the confidence of the prisoners’ friends throughout the
Province and deeply appreciated their attitude toward them and their
loyalty and patience with the many unavoidable delays and mistakes.
During the last two years of the War, as the work became heavier, this
Department had associated with it Mrs. W. McK. McLeod, who acted as
Secretary for Cape Breton, and Miss Almon. Special mention must also be
made of the work of Miss Clara Dennis in meeting and welcoming home
repatriated men who had been prisoners of war. During 1918–19 one
thousand and eight of these men were met and greeted by Miss Dennis. To
each man was handed a card of welcome from the Red Cross and a box of
confectionery. He was asked to record his name, regimental number,
German prison camp, and his home address in a book specially prepared
for the purpose. That the men appreciated this informal but hearty
welcome home is abundantly proved by the fact that Miss Dennis has since
received from them hundreds of letters of thanks.
It is impossible to give in detail the names of the many thousands of
devoted and faithful voluntary workers throughout the Province of Nova
Scotia who sought no reward for their labors but the joy of knowing that
the Society achieved its aim—the alleviation of the sufferings of our
fighting men.
_Red Cross Chartered Branches._
Place. President.
Amherst Mrs. W. R. Fishleigh.
Arichat Mrs. C. D. Terrio.
Antigonish Mrs. D. G. Kirk.
Baddeck Mrs. F. W. McCurdy.
Barrington Mrs. Wilson Crowell.
Berwick Mrs. Alex. Anderson.
Bishop’s Mountain Mrs. C. O. Downie.
Brass Hill Mrs. F. Nickerson.
Brule Mrs. A. C. Cook.
Barney’s River Mrs. Wm. McDonald.
Boulardarie Mrs. J. Fraser.
Canso Mrs. C. O’Donoghue.
Cape North Miss Grace Gwynn.
Chester Dr. C. O. Hebb.
Dartmouth Mrs. W. R. Foster.
Dominion No. 6. Mrs. Anna B. Wight.
Goldboro Mrs. Edgar Silver.
Glace Bay Mrs. P. E. Ogilvy.
Halifax Mrs. Wm. Dennis.
Hazel Hill Mrs. Dunning.
Hantsport Miss Marcia Braine.
Lawrencetown Mrs. D. M. Balcom.
Lawrencetown S.S. Mrs. J. F. Brown.
Moser’s River Mrs. Walter Smith.
Mulgrave Mrs. L. C. Dixon.
New Glasgow Mrs. P. A. MacGregor.
North Sydney Mrs. J. J. Pallen.
Pictou Mrs. A. S. Stalker.
Port Morien Miss C. Macaulay.
Port Bickerton Mrs. George Taylor.
Point Tupper Mrs. James Swaine.
St. Peters Mrs. J. Kemp.
Sydney Mrs. H. A. Nicholson.
Sydney Mines Mrs. B. Archibald.
South Berwick Mrs. G. R. Nichols.
Tancook Island Miss Beulah Wilson.
Trenton Mrs. C. W. Stromberg.
Truro Mrs. Harold Putnam.
West Quoddy Mrs. Alex. Gamnon.
Westville Mrs. R. Fraser.
Windsor Mrs. P. M. Fielding.
Wolfville Mrs. Harold Barss.
Woodlawn Mrs. Jane Nauffts.
Westchester Station Mrs. W. O. Webb.
Yarmouth Mrs. W. D. Ross.
_Red Cross Auxiliaries._
Avondale Miss Bertha Crossley.
Advocate Harbor Mrs. L. L. Hill.
Athol Mrs. J. W. Boss.
Aylesford Mrs. C. N. McIntyre.
Apple River Mrs. E. Slocum.
Billtown Mrs. C. R. Bill.
Bayhead Mrs. James Johnson.
Baxter’s Harbor Mrs. Fred Ells.
Bayfield Mrs. F. C. Gass.
Bedford Mrs. E. Butler.
Blandford Mrs. C. Woods.
Bear River Mrs. L. J. Lovitt.
Bridgetown Mrs. O. T. Daniels.
Baccaro Mrs. G. L. Crowell.
Barney’s River Mrs. (Rev.) McDonald.
Barronsfield Miss Nettie Baker.
Beacon Hill Mrs. E. H. Langille.
Big Baddeck Mrs. Alex. Anderson.
Birch Grove Mrs. D. B. McDonald.
Brooklynn (Queens) Mrs. W. P. Godfrey.
Brandford Mrs. C. Woods.
Broughton Miss Ida McLeod.
Centre Burlington Mrs. F. G. Brown.
Clarke’s Harbor Mrs. George Phillips.
Central New Annan Miss A. McIntosh.
Cherry Brook Mrs. Mary Grosse.
Chignecto Mines Mrs. F. M. Blenkhorn.
Clam Harbor Mrs. J. B. Homans.
Collingwood Mrs. Davies.
Cook’s Brook Mrs. Warren Cook.
Caledonia Mrs. B. Lempton.
Canaan Miss Bessie Shipley.
Central Grove Mrs. Byron Melaney.
Centre Gore Mrs. N. Grant.
Centre Rawdon Mrs. J. E. Wood.
Centreville Rev. H. M. Manzer.
Clementsport Miss L. Hicks.
Cleveland Mrs. D. A. McLeod.
Conquerall Bank Mrs. Angus Weagle.
Dalhousie East (Kings) Mrs. M. Oickle.
Dalhousie East (Annapolis) Mrs. John Long.
Dean Mrs. Campbell Brown
Deep Brook Mrs. G. Marsters.
Diligent River Mrs. W. W. Lamb.
Digby Mrs. Eber Turnbull.
Durham Miss Janet Blaikie.
Ellershouse Mrs. H. D. Archibald.
Elmsdale Mrs. Chas. Thompson.
East Walton Mrs. Levi Lake.
Economy Mrs. P. Huntley.
Five Islands Mrs. Calvin Corbett.
Fenwick Mrs. F. B. Dickinson.
Freeport Mrs. Egar Ring.
Five Mile River Mrs. H. Hennigar.
Fraserville Mrs. Gaius Fraser.
Glenville and Claremont Mrs. C. A. McCabe.
Grand River Mrs. McDonald.
Guysboro Mrs. G. E. Buckley.
Glengarry Miss Christine Fraser.
Granville Ferry Mrs. W. Patterson.
Giant’s Lake Miss K. A. McLean.
Goldenville Mrs. L. Fraser.
Goshen and Argyle Mrs. J. A. Sinclair.
Great Village Mrs. C. B. Spencer.
Greenwood Mrs. Chas. Neilly.
Hammond’s Plains Miss S. Schmidt.
Hubbards Mrs. Bessie McLean.
Harmony (Kings) Mrs. C. S. Spinney.
Hemsford Mrs. James Falconer.
Inverness Mrs. E. Brassett.
Joggins Mines Mrs. R. J. Bell.
Kingston Station Mrs. G. G. Power.
Karsdale Mrs. G. W. Chisholm.
Lake Ainslie Mrs. M. A. McKay.
Louisburg Mrs. A. L. Bates.
Liverpool Mrs. John More.
Lunenburg Mrs. Emily Smith.
Lower Selmah and Sterling Brook Miss Lena Spicer.
Lochaber Mrs. John Brown.
Latties Brook Mrs. W. J. Macdonald.
Liverpool Mrs. John More.
Lockhartville Miss F. McInnes.
Londonderry Mrs. J. G. R. Smith.
Lower Granville Mrs. George Anthony.
Lyons Brook Mrs. A. Hogg.
Lockeport Mrs. Churchill Locke.
Mosherville, Stanley and Clarkeville Mrs. H. B. Smith.
Milford Station Mrs. Pooley.
McPhee’s Corner Mrs. James McPhee.
Margaretsville Mrs. A. B. Coulstan.
Marriott’s Cove Mrs. Rupert Millett.
Middle River Mrs. Mary MacDonald.
Mabou Mrs. E. S. Bayne.
Maccan Mrs. (Dr.) Forbes.
Mahone Miss Nettie Zwicker.
Malagash Mrs. Jacob Treen.
Malagawatch Mrs. Hudson.
Manchester and Port Shoreham Mrs. W. Bruce.
Mapleton Mrs. G. E. Fletcher.
Margaree Harbor Mrs. A. R. MacDougall.
Melvern Square Mrs. E. F. McNeil.
Merigomish and Piedmont Mrs. T. B. Olding.
Middleton Mrs. W. Gwillim.
Mill Village (Hants) Mrs. Hattie Wallace.
Mira Gut Mrs. J. J. Philips.
Moose Brook and Tennycape Mrs. W. F. Stevens.
Millsville Mrs. R. MacKay.
Mount Uniacke Miss Sadie Robinson.
Nappan Mrs. Robert Donaldson.
Neil’s Harbor Mrs. Ed. Dowling.
New Annan Miss Agnes McIntosh.
New Port Mrs. J. F. Rathburn.
North Dartmouth Mrs. C. V. Vernon.
New Campbellton Mrs. W. McKinnon.
New Germany Mrs. H. P. Chesley.
N.E. Margaree Mrs. J. H. Tulston.
Noel Shore Mrs. E. S. Main.
North Kingston Mrs. H. J. Neily.
Oxford Mrs. J. R. Gilroy.
Owl’s Head Mrs. J. E. Parker.
Oxford Junction Mrs. S. Colburne.
Port Maitland Mrs. E. H. Porter.
Port Greville Mrs. R. S. Kerr.
Pleasantfield Mrs. Charles Arnburg.
Paradise Mrs. H. P. Layte.
Port Medway Mrs. Grace Andrews.
Parrsboro Mrs. F. A. Rand.
Pentz Miss Alberta Smith.
Port Dufferin Mrs. E. W. Dunlop.
Port Hawkesbury Mrs. D. Gillis.
Port Hood Mrs. Daniel McLennan.
Port La Tour Mrs. D. Snow.
Port Hilford Miss Isabella Reid.
Parker’s Cove Mrs. H. Anderson.
Plainfield Mrs. W. A. Graham.
Princedale Mrs. Forman Wright.
Ragged Island, East Side Mrs. Chas. Matthews.
Richmond Mrs. A. G. McIntosh.
River Herbert Mrs. T. Shipley.
Rockingham Mrs. W. J. Clayton.
Rodney and Windham Mrs. M. Y. Boss.
River John .Mrs. C. W. MacKintosh.
River Philip Mrs. G. L. King.
Rossway Mrs. Bessie Crowell.
Sandy Point Mrs. Anzo Long.
Sandy Cove Mrs. E. D. Morehouse.
Shag Harbor Mrs. N. C. Nickerson.
Shelburne Mrs. Martha C. Morton.
Ship Harbor Lake Mrs. Alvin Webber.
Shubenacadie Mrs. A. E. Culton.
Smith’s Cove Mrs. Edward Winchester.
Southampton Mrs. Victor Brown.
Spencer’s Island Mrs. Edmund Spicer.
Sackville Mrs. Robinson.
South Athol Mrs. L. D. MacKeen.
Seal Island Mrs. John Smith.
St. Croix and Sweet’s Corner Mrs. J. F. Rathburn.
Stake Road Dr. Barbara McKinnon.
Sutherland’s River Mrs. Dwight Burns.
South Side Cape Sable Island Mrs. E. C. Nickerson.
South Farmington Mrs. Wilkins.
Springhill Mrs. David Stewart.
Stellarton Mrs. George Gray.
Stewiacke Mrs. Rachel Pollock.
Stony Island Mrs. S. L. Brannen.
Sydney River Miss Sarah McDougall.
Selmah Mrs. Cyrus Weldon.
South Rawdon Mrs. W. H. Lawson.
South Bay Mrs. T. A. Young.
Torbrook Mrs. A. B. Payson.
Tupperville Mrs. L. H. Chipman.
Tatamagouche Mrs. D. A. Cunningham.
Upper Burlington Mrs. Harry B. Sandford.
Upper Lakeville Mrs. Margaret Webber.
Upper Musquodoboit Mrs. W. B. Hutchinson.
Upper Economy Mrs. C. F. Lewis.
Upper Rawdon Mrs. J. E. Weatherhead.
Upper Port La Tour Miss Rosa Snow.
Wallace Mrs. A. S. Murphy.
Wilmot Mrs. J. B. Kilton.
West New Annan Mrs. W. Wilson.
Westport Mrs. E. C. Bowser.
Wallace River Mrs. Chas. Fisher.
Waterville Mrs. D. R. Pineo.
Waverley Mrs. E. Fauchea.
West La Have Mrs. Clarence Wambolt.
Welton’s Corner Mrs. P. A. Smith.
West Apple River Mrs. Robert McWhirter.
West Berlin and Eagle Head Mrs. B. Conrod.
THE WILLING WAR WORKERS, GLACE BAY.
An organization that blazed a new and unique track in the War, and
accomplished great results, especially in the colliery districts of Cape
Breton, was the Willing War Workers of Glace Bay.
[Illustration:
MRS. G. S. HARRINGTON.]
A number of the mothers, sisters, wives and sweethearts of the boys
“over there,” finding that other Societies lacked the personal touch,
banded themselves together to send parcels every week to their own home
boys in France, and kept up the good work enthusiastically until
Armistice Day, when they disbanded.
Mrs. Gordon S. Harrington, wife of Colonel Harrington, Deputy Overseas
Minister, was the first President, and Mrs. Stuart McCawley, of Glace
Bay, the Secretary-Treasurer.
Mrs. Harrington went to England in November, 1916, and became actively
interested in war work for Canadian soldiers in that country,
particularly at the Beaver Hut, Strand, London, and St. Dunstan’s Hostel
for blinded soldiers.
THE GREEN FEATHER SOCIETY LADIES’ AUXILIARY OF THE 185TH BATTALION.
The Society was organized on March 9, 1916. The aim of the Society was,
first, to aid recruiting; second, to look after the comfort of the men
while quartered at Broughton, and as far as possible after they had gone
Overseas; third, to assist in every possible way the wives and families
of the men enlisting.
OFFICERS ELECTED:
Mrs. E. J. Johnstone, _President_.
Mrs. J. A. McLellan, _Vice-President_.
Mrs. O. Leiers, _Treasurer_.
Miss Daniels, _Secretary_.
From the time of the Society’s organization until the 185th Battalion
was disbanded, the Society raised the sum of $2,075.36, which was
devoted entirely to the use and comfort of the Battalion. In addition to
this, Mr. Walshaw, of the D.T.S. Co., collected the sum of $70.00, and
the North Sydney Branch of the Green Feather Society also donated the
sum of $43.00. These amounts were sent to England for the purpose of
procuring Christmas dinners for the men.
The visiting committee of the Society did very good work in looking
after the wives and children of the men who had gone Overseas.
At the close of the War there was the sum of $12.00 in funds, which was
presented to the G.W.V.A. after their organization.
THE CATHOLIC LADIES’ PATRIOTIC SOCIETY, SYDNEY.
This Society was organized the second year of the War by the ladies of
the Sacred Heart Parish, Sydney, and was intended to supply the
religious needs of the Cape Breton soldiers and Chaplains, and to send
comforts direct to the soldiers in the trenches. However, as the War
went on, the Society enlarged its scope and embraced all kinds of
patriotic work. The work of the Society was carried on by packing tin
boxes with fruit cake, candy, cigarettes, socks, khaki shirts, and other
things too numerous to mention. These were addressed to each soldier and
acknowledged in due time.
The success of the Society was in no small measure due to the activity
of the President, Mrs. V. F. Cunningham, who held that office during the
four years of the Society’s existence.
The following short statement will give some idea of the work of the
Society:
RECEIPTS.
Total amount received from general city collections $2,058 89
Amount from other sources 975 80
—————————
$3,034 69
EXPENDITURE.
Paid supplies for boxes sent Overseas $2,153 79
Paid Chaplain’s supplies 250 00
Paid Catholic Hut Fund 200 00
Paid Hospital supplies 305 90
Paid Local Hospital, Khaki Club, etc., etc. 125 00
—————————
$3,034 69