Chapter LII 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 | |