Girls' Patriotic Clubs

From the North Wales Chronicle, 7th May 1915.

GIRLS' PATRIOTIC CLUB MOVEMENT.

APPEAL BY THE HON. MRS LAURENCE BRODRICK.

(To the Editor).
Sir,—May I, as I am deeply convinced of the need of this movement, ask your help in making known, through the columns of your valuable paper, the necessary work that is now in hand, for establishing Girls' Patriotic Clubs near Military Centres, of which we have some, and sadly require others.

The time that has elapsed since Lord Kitchener wrote his never-to-be-forgotten message to the troops, has but served to show the necessity for his warning.  It has brought to the women of England the realisation of their responsibility in helping the men to maintain the high ideal so necessary to the success of our arms.

The object of these clubs is to provide a place for social intercourse for girls and their men friends, which they lack owing to the absence of any accommodation large enough for a sudden military influx.  A canteen, where light refreshments can be obtained, is also essential.  Over twenty of these clubs have already been started, and are so much appreciated by the girls and men that requests from all parts are reaching the Central Committee for others without delay.  To enable them to do this an Alphabetical Scheme has been started, 26 ladies having consented to receive donations from a penny upwards, sent to 33, Park Lane, W.  For example, everyone whose name begins with E is to send to Lady French (Eleanor), with O to Lady Smith-Dorrien, and so on with each letter of the alphabet.  Already there is a keen competition between the alphabetic treasurers to secure the first place in their letter, and I am anxious that our county should do well.

Will all your readers help to make the effort a success in our county?  The London Press have loyally co-operated in giving prominence to the work with excellent results.  The following have joined me in this scheme, each of whom will be glad to receive the smallest subscription from anyone whose Christian name begins with the same letter as themselves.  Personally, I am confidently hoping on Denbighshire being first.

A. Adeline—Duchess of Bedford.
B. Countess of Portsmouth.
C. Duchess of Marlborough.
D. Countess of Malmesbury.
E Duchess of Sutherland & Lady French.
F. Frances—Lady de Lisle and Dudley.
G  Countess of Albemarle & Countess of Lanesborough.
H. Duchess of Hamilton.
I. The Lady Idina Hythe.
J.  The Lady Joan Verney & Lady Jellicoe.
K. Duchess of Leeds.
L. Duchess of Beaufort.
M. Countess of Selborne.
N. Mrs Astor.
O. Lady Smith Dorrien.
P. The Lady Phillida Shirley.
Q. The Lady John Kennedy.
R. Viscountess Ridley.
S. Countess Brassey.
T. Theodosia—Lady Boughey.
U. Miss Ursula Buckley.
V. Countess of Leitrim.
W. Winifred—Countess of .Arran.
X & Y. - Miss Yvone Fitzroy.
Z. Countess Zia de Torby. 

Yours, etc.,  GWENDOLYN BRODRICK.
Coed Coch,
Abergele,
April 30th, 1915.

[I don't know what Kitchener's "never-to-be-forgotten message to the troops" was.  (If I ever knew, I have forgotten, obviously.)

Some of these women have appeared in earlier posts.  Lady French had appealed for mufflers in October 1914, on behalf of the War Office, and Lady Smith-Dorrien (Olive) appealed here for bags for the personal items of wounded men.  Countess Zia Torby had been  raising funds for her father's fund for gloves and mittens for the troops, during the winter.   Nancy Astor was an American socialite living in London - she later became the first woman to take a seat in the House of Commons.   
The idea of raising money from women with the same initial seems an odd one, though a similar idea had been reported  in January, here.  In the competition between the treasurers, some were obviously handicapped from the start.   Collecting from women with initial Q must have been a thankless task - even Lady John Kennedy who was assigned Q seems to have been called Adelaide Mary, and not a 'Q' name.    Whereas  Rosamond, Viscountess Ridley, Maud, Countess of Selborne and maybe Violet, Countess of Leitrim, would have had a better chance.  I think my money would have been on the As, though.  

But I really don't understand how there could be a a geographical dimension as well - how could Denbighshire come first in a competition between first names?]

Entertaining the Wounded

From The Cleckheaton Advertiser and Spen Valley Times, 6th May 1915. 

THE CAMP ENTERTAINERS. -- The Camp Entertainers, a concert party formed recently by a number of young Wyke people, visited the Field House Military Hospital on Saturday afternoon, and provided a two hours’ entertainment of a most enjoyable character for the wounded soldiers who are now staying there.  The programme consisted of songs, recitations, and humorous items, and the efforts of each member of the party were very highly appreciated.  At the close of the concert, the Camp Entertainers took tea with the soldiers, and afterwards one of the wounded heroes expressed the very warmest thanks of the inmates of the hospital, not only for the delightful character of the afternoon’s pleasure, but also for the kind thought shown by the visitors, and for the gift of cigarettes they had taken.

Never Enough Socks

From the Portsmouth Evening News, 5^th May 1915

MORE SOCKS WANTED.

Appeal to Continue Knitting.

Although the Government has placed huge orders with manufacturers for the supply of socks for our soldiers and sailors, the supply does not approach the demand, and an appeal is made to the women of the country to help to make up the deficiency.  Lady French declares there can never be enough socks.  Each man requires a pair of socks a week, and no machine-made socks are equal to those knitted by hand, either for wear or comfort.
The advent of warmer weather has apparently given rise to the impression that no further woollen garments are required for our soldiers and sailors.  This is quite erroneous, and in the early hours of the morning, lying asleep in the open air, or during the night watches on board a war ship such comforts are keenly appreciated.
There are many hospitals, camps, and charitable institutions where gifts of woollen garments will be received with grateful appreciation.

From the Yorkshire Evening Post, 3^rd May 1915.

LEEDS RIFLES SHORT OF SOCKS.

Since going to the front the 8th West Yorkshire Regiment (Leeds Rifles) have done so much marching that they have worn out their socks.  In a letter to his wife, Major Alexander, the acting commanding officer, appeals to the public of Leeds to provide the battalion with a thousand pairs at once. Parcels containing wool or socks should be addressed to Mrs. Alexander, 29a, Bond Street (Basement of the Philosophical Hall), Leeds, and letters containing remittances—which should be made payable to Capt Illingworth—may be sent to the same address.  Mrs Kitson Clark has still some wool in stock, and ladies who are prepared to knit it into socks are asked to apply also at the above address.

From the Halifax Courier, 8^th May 1915

Many ladies have suspended their sock knitting in on the understanding that the Government supply was more than sufficient.  This is a mistake and the appeal is that women should make up the deficiency.  Lady French declares there can never be enough socks.

[There had been an official announcement from the War Office early in April that "there is now such a large stock of clothing, under-clothing, mufflers, &c., both overseas and at home, that no further supplies of warm clothing need be sent to the troops." Socks were then mentioned in the list of things that had been supplied by the War Office, with the implication that these were enough.  But Lady French was the wife of Sir John French, leader of the British Expeditionary Force in France, and had previously been asked by the War Office to collect a vast quantity of mufflers for the troops, so she must have based her appeal for more socks on sound evidence. The usual mixed messages and confusion.]  

Girl Guides in War Time

From the Stirling Observer, May 1st, 1915. 

WOMEN'S CHAT.

The Girl Guides, under the leadership of Miss Agnes Baden-Powell, are rendering national service at this juncture quite equal to that of the boys, but in different spheres of action.  They have rendered invaluable assistance to the British Red Gross Society in numerous directions but more especially in the cutting and rolling of bandages, in which every girl shows expert skill and speed.  In cycling, map-reading, and signalling they are as useful as the boys.  They also give voluntary help with invalid cookery for hospitals, and in the soup kitchens for the poor.  Many a tired mother is helped in the nursing of a sick child, and with her housework, mending, and darning.  Gardening also appears to come quite naturally to these girls, who have been trained to turn their hands to anything, and whose motto is "Be Prepared."  The chief need at present is for teachers, lieutenants, and captains, and girls from eighteen to twenty-one are required to fill these positions.

[Some of the work being done by the Boy Scouts was described here. ]

What Women Can Do

From the Halifax Courier, May 1st, 1915. 

WHAT WOMEN CAN DO?

LADY FISHER-SMITH POINTS THE WAY.

“Women’s part in the war” was the subject of an interesting address given by Lady Fisher-Smith on Thursday, at the Imperial Café, under the auspices of the Halifax Women’s Liberal Association.  There was a large attendance.

Mrs. J. H. Whitley, who presided, remarked that they were not at liberty, any single one of them, to just now stand aloof.  Non-combatants as well as soldiers, women and girls as well as men, had each one to take their part.

Lady Fisher-Smith, who handled her subject most ably, said that women must help at this great crisis.  They must help every man to serve his country in the fighting forces, wherever it was possible, and they must do their utmost to relieve men for the work of providing munitions of war.  In many spheres of agricultural work, and in dairy work, women could, after a little training, carry out the work equally as well as men.  Courses of instruction could be obtained at Garforth, near Leeds, under the auspices of Leeds University, and other centres.  She had it, however, from a woman who understood farming that the best training was to obtain experience on an actual farm.  Owing to the many farm labourers who had enlisted, farmers were going to experience very great difficulties in getting their work done, and there would be great opportunities for women to take up farm positions.
Another avenue for women's energies was poultry farming.  That would prove an agreeable occupation, and it could be made a profitable one, the demand for fowls and eggs was so great.

Women, again, could act as tram conductors.  They would, she was sure, do better than inexperienced boys, for they had discretion as well as the ability to perform the work.  For young women who had been governesses, or in similar occupations, the railway services afforded similar openings where they could relieve men for other pressing work.  In the civil service, in the museums and libraries, and as shop assistants, they could be utilised to advantage.  With regard to shop assistants, she felt strongly that, unless a man was somehow related to the proprietor, every male assistant ought to be released for war service and his place taken by a lady, because a woman could sell goods equally as well as a man.

What was wanted was, not to enlist in service women already in employment, but to get hold of entirely new women to release men, either to join the colours, or to assist in the manufacture of munitions of war.  They claimed the equal wage with men as a right, and associated with the demand was the consideration that, if the same wages were paid, there would be no temptation on the part of the employer to retain the women for cheapness afterwards, instead of reinstating the men.

Mrs. Whitley observed that; whilst Lady Fisher-Smith was making suggestions of spheres in which women could help, she noticed that many smiled.  Certainly it would be amusing to see Lady Fisher-Smith hoeing turnips, and Mrs Ccr. Seed milking a cow.  If, however, they took the matter seriously, they would remember that, in the Allied countries, there was scarcely a man of the military age, except such as were incapacitated, who was not fighting for his country, or making munitions.

Sir Geo. Fisher-Smith, called upon for a few remarks, suggested women barbers as another calling.  A woman, he was sure, could cut his hair as well a man.  This movement to bring in women in these various occupations was not with the idea of doing men out of employment, but simply as an emergency.  His opinion was, and always had been, that the first duty of a woman was to look after some man, make him comfortable, and run his home in a proper way.  None of them wanted to take women away from their proper duty in life.  In a grave emergency, however, they could do good service in relieving men, and allowing them to be put to harder work, or to join the King’s army.

On the proposition of Lady Fisher-Smith, seconded by Mrs Whitley, a resolution was adopted expressing high appreciation of the King's and Lord Kitchener's examples in excluding intoxicants from their households, and commending it to all members of the Association.

[I think that people were beginning to realise by this time that the war was going to have a much greater effect on the country as a whole than the wars of the previous century.  But many of the women who were not "already in employment" and would be willing to do manual work were those who had lost their jobs as a result of the war - they were willing to take a job on offer, I'm sure, but the difficulty was often persuading employers to take them on. 

Lady Fisher-Smith was evidently a competent and thoughtful woman.  I hope that Sir George was joking in suggesting that her first duty was to look after him, make him comfortable and run his home, but I fear not.]    

Fashions for May

From The Illustrated London News, May 1st, 1915.

FASHIONS FOR MAY.

The new modes are now settled, and it becomes plain that, as usual, evolution and not revolution is the order of the day.  Talk about skirts to measure six or eight yards wide at the hem proves to have been absurd; but the wider shirt has come to stay.  For the present, only a moderate “flare” is to be adopted, and the fulness is mainly around the lower part of the skirt.  Transparent and almost weightless fabrics are in the highest favour.  Ninon, voile, chiffon — and, above all, silk crepe-de-Chine — are used for afternoon and evening gowns, and full accordion pleatings and gathered flouncings in such dainty fabrics fall lightly and artistically into their own folds.  Two and a half to three and a half yards for the foundation skirt over-hung by these dainty transparent fabrics is the utmost measure of circumference allowed in the best houses; while the fragile fabric itself, if pulled out of its folds for measurement, will naturally be considerably wider. .....

The Mode of the Moment - A Charming Hat in Black and Grey

[Although in both cases, the new full skirt is the main subject, the gowns described here are in  different league from the plain, simple dress shown in the cover of the Woman's Own of the same date.  The construction is more complicated, and the fabrics used are finer, more expensive and much less practical. These gowns could only be worn by someone whose only role was to look decorative.]    

May Fashions in Woman's Own

From Woman's Own, May 1st 1915.

[The new fashion for full skirts, and shorter than the narrow skirts previously worn, had evidently percolated through to the penny weeklies.  (Just what you should wear for winding a skein of yarn, to knit socks for soldiers.)  This example is evidently aiming for a Puritan look.]