Red Cross Workers Wanted

From The Times 17th September 1918. 

RED CROSS WORKERS WANTED.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,—May I ask leave to plead in your columns for further aid for the Central Workrooms?  During the three years of our existence we have, through our working parties, home workers, and workers in the Central Workrooms, been able to supply over 30 million garments and hospital necessaries to the joint stores of the British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John in Pall-mall, and to Red Cross hospitals in all the fighting areas.  It is, however, in the Central Workrooms at Burlington House that help is primarily needed.  Whenever a sudden demand for any special necessary arises it is to these rooms that the stores department first turns.  For instance, a thousand sand-fly and mosquito-proof sleeping suits were urgently needed in hospitals in Mesopotamia.  These were made by our workers at the rate of 250 a week.  Many such examples could be cited, and now that the autumn is here and the sick and wounded are daily increasing in number, we need more and more ladies to come and help us.  Machinists are especially welcomed, but all who can help are invited.  May we ask that many will volunteer for a certain number of days or half-days each week, remembering that this is an urgent national work, for the wounded will not be restored to health without the necessary comforts and appliances? 
Yours, &c.,
LOUISE GOSFORD.
British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John, Headquarters Central Workrooms, Royal Academy, Piccadilly, W.1.

Knitted Comforts for the Troops

From The Times, September 16th 1918.

WINTER COMFORTS FOR THE TROOPS.

REGULAR KNITTERS WANTED.

Sir Edward Ward has sent a circular letter to the Press, in which he says:— "The approach of a fifth winter of war with our Armies still occupying the field casts an even greater duty and responsibility than ever upon those of us who are left at home.  Thanks to the loyal support of large numbers of workers who have continued to knit during their summer holiday, I have already been able to meet practically in full the entire requirements for warm comforts of the Expeditionary Forces in all theatres of war except France, but it is in France that great numbers of articles will be required.  I have no hesitation in entrusting to the workers affiliated under the Army Council's scheme the privilege of once more helping our soldiers to those creature comforts which mean so much to the fighting men.  Under the scheme, thanks to the associations and individual workers who for the past three years have continually and generously supported my Department, both our Army and our Allies have benefited to an extent far greater than those who were responsible for the scheme ever dreamed of.
"It needs but a small sacrifice for every knitter to send to the depôt of their local voluntary organization or to the Comforts Depôt, 45, Horseferry-road, Westminster, S.W.1, regular contributions of knitted comforts each week during the next three months.  Such support will provide all the articles required, and I am convinced our great home army of voluntary workers will see to it that 'nothing is wanting.' "

Missions to Seamen

From the North Wales Chronicle, 6th September 1918.

MISSIONS TO SEAMEN. WORK IN THE NORTH WALES STATION. 

The annual report for the North Wales Station of the Missions to Seamen, just issued, states that the past year has been full of interest, and not the most confirmed "grouser" could complain of monotony or lack of opportunity.  Both at Bangor and Holyhead the work presented many new problems.

At Bangor the work on the T.S. [Training Ship] "Clio" had gone on under the happiest conditions, and the chaplain (Rev. C. W. Barlow) states that the ship has provided him with many a happy hour and oft-times proved a veritable tonic.  To meet an unusual demand, a Sailors' Club has been established in Bangor, under the auspices of the Missions.  The club is housed in a building admirably adapted for the purpose and lent rent free by the Dean and his committee, while for the usual accessories they thanked willing and generous friends.  All the men on the mine-sweepers were supplied with woollen comforts by the Bangor Women's Patriotic Guild.

Holyhead had provided much scope for, as the naval base grew, so the work of the chaplain (now appointed by the Admiralty as hon. naval chaplain) increased in like ratio.  It had been made possible by friends of the Missions to meet several of the more pressing material needs of the sailors, and, during the Christmas period, some seven to eight hundred warm articles were distributed to them, as well as some sixty plum-puddings.  In addition, a circulating library of five hundred to six hundred books had been established, and a number of gramophones loaned out to the ships in turn. The Stanley Sailors' Home at Holyhead had proved a great boon to many a sailor whose ship had been torpedoed.  It was not allowable to state the number of men cared for there; but, when the time came that such information could be made public, it would be seen that the Home had played no mean part in helping those who were in distress through the perils of sea and of war.  The Stanley Sailors' Hospital had also provided many opportunities for ministering to the needs of the sailors.