Point Edward Red Cross and the WW1 Effort

Canadian Red Cross Society – Point Edward – 1916 – 1926

The Canadian Red Cross Society was founded on October on October 12, 1896. It was affiliated with the British Red Cross which was founded in 1870. The CRCS continued this relationship until the year 1919 when the CRCS was granted independent status as a member of the League of Red Cross Societies. The CRCS was incorporated in 1909.

On August 7, 1914, shortly after the outbreak of WW1 a message was despatched to all Canadian Red Cross branches:

“Following the declaration of war, the society has resumed activities. Call together your committees and arrange for a meeting for the collection of funds for the relief of Canadian and British sick and wounded.”

At that time there were 180 local branches throughout Canada. August 21, 1914, the following cable was issued to the British Red Cross:

“The Canadian Red Cross is thoroughly organized and is establishing branches throughout Canada. Please advise fully by cable in what way we can best help as to men, nurses, hospital material and money.”

The first major call to the Red Cross came in 1914. Thousands of soldiers were being killed and injured in the fierce fighting. In November of 1914, Major Astor, offered his residence, the Clivedon House, as a hospital for Canadians.

The Astors were the most powerful and influential of local families. In 1914 when the Canadian Red Cross was invited to construct a military hospital over the existing tennis courts and the bowling alley next to Taplow Lodge. It was named The Duchess of Connaught Red Cross Hospital, and during this time, over 24,000 soldiers were treated at the hospital.

The Information Department

This Department was formed in 1915 under the direction of Lady Drummond of Montreal. The object of this department was to follow-up on the sick and wounded among Canadian soldiers as they passed from hospital to hospital, and to gather information as to their condition and needs. Information was readily furnished to their loved one back home.

The Visiting Department

A body of volunteers, mainly women, whose duty it was to visit hospitals to which they were assigned and to report weekly to Lady Drummond. In 1915 there were a total of over 6,000 Canadian soldiers hospitalized.

Parcels Branch

A sub-committee of the Visiting Department whose responsibility was to send parcels of Red Cross comforts to the soldiers who were scattered throughout hospitals in Britain.

Prisoner-of-War Department

This department was destined to become one of the Red Cross’s largest and most important fields of operation. After the Battle of Ypres, more than 400 Canadian soldiers found themselves to be German prisoners-of-war. The department’s task was to locate and visit these soldiers and offer them comforts: food, clothing, medical supplies, books, amongst other comforts. They would also furnish information for their loved ones back home.

Many difficulties were endured by this department due to frequent regulation changes governing, food, clothing and comforts to prisoners. Obviously this brought confusion and grief to their families at home. In May of 1917 there seemed to be a resolve where exactly 30 ponds of food for prisoners fortnightly was approved. 100 parcels of clothing was despatched daily making life for ~ 2,700 Canadian prisoner-of-wars a bit more tolerable.

The January 1916 financial report seen a total of 304 new branches across Canada with 88 of those new branches being in Ontario. The Point Edward Red Cross was included in these 88.

Canadian Red Cross Society – Point Edward – 1916 – 1918
The Point Edward division of the Canadian Red Cross Society had its beginning in the year 1916 during the midst of the Great War: WW1 1914 – 1918. Meetings minutes of the official branch opening have been lost. The Point Edward branch of the CRCS officially closed at year’s end 1926.

Women – who were not allowed to participate in the military at this time – were especially active in their support for the Red Cross, and the knitted “comforts” (socks, scarves, sweaters, etc.) and medical supplies (ex. Bandages) they produced became a symbol of women’s contributions in wartime.

Volunteers also packed food parcels for Prisoners of War, and by the end of the war volunteers were also producing jam and other canned foods for invalid soldiers overseas.

Appendix A are excerpts from the committees meetings May 25, 1916 – April 16, 1918.

The actual meeting minutes can be seen at the Point Edward Public Library located at 220 Michigan Ave, Point Edward.

Canadian Red Cross Society – Point Edward – 1921 – 1926

After the Great War – WW1, came to a halt and peacetime arrived the Canadian Red Cross Society refocused their efforts on the health and welfare of the public.

These were hard times for returning soldiers and their families. Factories that had been supplying the war effort closed or greatly reduced production. Women and men, whom had been working in those factories now found themselves without a means to support themselves and their families; further raising the numbers of the unemployed.

The Canadian Red Cross established outpost hospitals and nursing stations, created well-baby clinics and mobile dental clinics for remote areas. The CRCS established health nurse training programs at several universities, promoted the Junior Red Cross; a program teaching school children the principles of good health, service and citizenship. The CRCS began training the ordinary citizen in First Aid and Home Nursing techniques. They offered relief / comforts and sheltered employment to needy veterans and their families.

The Point Edward branch of the CRCS played a key supporting role in a number of these endeavours.

A letter addressed to Mrs. Crees dated; February 27, 1927 was received from Assistant Director: Maude L. MacKenzie, acknowledging the disbanding of the Point Edward Red Cross in 1926.

Appendix B are excerpts from the committees meetings May 4, 1921 – January 6, 1922.

The actual meeting minutes can be seen at the Point Edward Public Library located at 220 Michigan Ave, Point Edward.
Appendix A:

Minutes: Canadian Red Cross Society – Point Edward – 1916 – 1918

The following are excerpts from the actual hand written minutes of those meetings held so long ago. The dedication of these women, men, boys and girls of Point Edward during these trying times was remarkable.

This is but a small glimpse of life during those times.

The actual meeting minutes can be seen at the Point Edward Public Library located at 220 Michigan Ave, Point Edward.

May 25, 1916:

Chairman : V.P. Mrs. Sanborn

$60.00 for June supplies
Foster nominated as Chair of Buying Committee
B.H. Robinson, Mrs. Foster, Mrs. McCleister, Mrs. Crees – packing of supplies

June 29, 1916:

Chairman: President (?)

A lawn social to be held July 21, 1916
Oakes & Mrs. Blackwell to be Buying Cmt.
Crees to chair Packing Cmt.

October6, 1916:

Chairman: President (?)

Society to donate $100.00 to furnish two beds to be used in the Canadian Hospital (Princess Patricia), England
Clark and Miss Livingstone to purchase supplies for next shipment.

October 26, 1916:

Chairman: V.P. Mrs. Sanborn

Waste papers to be sold to Lampel.
Supper to be held November 9, 1916
Supper committee: Mrs. Oakes, Mrs. Blackwell, Mrs. Murray
Costs for supper: $0.25 for Adults, $0.15 for children
Expenditure of $25.00 for socks

November 10, 1916

Election of officers:

President – Mrs. Sanborn
1^StP. – Miss Elliott
2^nd VP – Mrs. Clark
Secretary – Mrs. Crees
Treasurer – D.J. McDongall

November 30, 1916