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| Notice for Women of Empire Exhibition held Thames November 2015 - photo courtesy Chris Ball 2015 |
Visiting the Women
of Empire Exhibition being held at Thames, New Zealand for ten days during November 2015 ,
was an awesome experience - having an opportunity to see the costumes worn by
women in that era, see the memorablia and read the stories of those women who stepped
outside the square and did incredible service as doctors, nurses, farm work,
running businesses . Not only did New Zealand Women fufill these rolls but in
addition to, many at the same time took part in fundraising activities via town
groups, the Women's Patriotic League, the Victoria League, the Navy League , NZ
Branch British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John.
This Women of Empire
Exhibition at Thames was thought provoking, for those in
own family who as with many many New Zealand families, had family
members away fighting - some never to return. These women as with many other
women in many families took up roles that were outside their usual role.
One of the first of
these fundraising and support groups was the small town of Cambridge in the
Waikato, where under the auspices of Alice Rochfort, then matron of Te Waikato
Sanitorium, a Women's Patriotic League was formed in 1910. One of this group's first
activities was to raise £70 towards a
battleship's bell.
A year later at a
meeting of the Waihi Patriotic League, it was decided to form a ladies
committee with the mayoress ( Mrs Newth)
being first convenor . Those
Patriotic League Groups established after the Boer AKA South African War
continued on into WW1.
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| Waihi Railway Station where soldiers in WW1 were farewelled and welcomed home to Waihi - photo 2000 courtesy Chris Ball |
The Auckland star reported in May 1915 that a Red Cross Committee headed by Mrs G R Bloomfield was being supported by Mrs Parkes and Mrs Coleman of Auckland City, Mrs Eliot Davis of Parnell , Mrs Oliver Nicholson of Mount Eden, Mrs Ernest Bloomfield of Remuera, Mrs Edger of Ponsonby, Mrs J B Macfarlane of Epsom, Mrs W R Wilson of Takapuna, Mrs Mclean of Mount Albert, Mrs Napier of Devonport and Mrs W Lloyd of Otahuhu.( Auckland Star 22/05/1915) What then would have been a good coverage of Auckland Area.
My own great grand
aunt, Edith Mary Macfarlane ,threw her energies into fundraising for the
hospital ships Maheno and Marama,
along with many other women. They followed on with fundraising for medical
supplies for these ships and the hospitals such as Brockenhurst in England and
the Red Cross hospital at Malta -
wheelchairs, bandages, beds and equipment. Edith was very active in the joint Red Cross
/ St. John Committee formed in New Zealand by Lord and Lady Liverpool in 1916
.
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Typical of the many
women left to keep things going, Edith as with her brother in law in
Christchurch , enlisted other family members to assist. My paternal side great
grandmother, Henrietta Stewart, sister- in- law of Edith, became involved in
bandage rolling, Red Cross stalls and knitting. Other relatives in the country
areas of the Auckland Province - the Hanna's of Paeroa- were also coopted to do fundraising
activities and providing comforts for the soldiers. No doubt encouraged on as
with many other families by the many sons, nephews, cousins and three nurses away
serving on the war fronts. ( the nurses being Annie Moody, Ethelwyn Carruth and Mary Ethel Mandeno)
There was plenty to
do - hampers of home comforts for soldiers which required packing. By the
end of 1915 the country areas of the then Auckland Province had become
galvanised with the fundraising activities and competition of a Queen
Carnival. The grand sum of £900 was
raised at Waikino at a gala and fete when Miss M Vercoe was duly crowned Queen
. At today's real price value in 2015 , this would equate out at £64,410.00.
The money received from the country areas of Coromandel / Hauraki for the Patriotic Fund was plentiful, with
that raised sent to Auckland. The New
Zealand Herald reported in the same article as that raised from Waikino,
Paeroa £500,Thames £4500, Turua £560 Whitianga £300 Thames
Valley Dairying Company £1000, £200
Waikato Farmers' Union , Karangahake Bowling Club £70.
Tairua - a small
settlement on the Coromandel's Eastern Seaboard were reported as contributing a
monthly subscription to various funds that supported the sick and wounded, home
comforts. With twenty five families said to be involved in bush work and logging
and only able to donate a small amount, the plan was felt successful. ( NZ
Herald 09/04/1915 p 6)
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In Tripp, L.0.H. 1923. The War Effort of New Zealand. Auckland: Whitcombe and Tombs Limited p 184 photo courtesy NZETC under creative commons |
The New Zealand
Herald reported a Red Cross shop opened by July 1916 and continued with until 1918:
During this time the shop cleared the remarkable sum
of £12,000, credit for which is given to the splendid support given by country
members. The branches at Kokukoku, Mangonui, Kaitaia, Awanui, Warkworth, Parua
Bay. Tairua, Hirini, Puhoi, Te Puke, Ohaeawai, Manurewa, Orini, and Paeroa gave
great assistance in making up garments and their help in other" ways was
invaluable. The total number of garments sent away is over 70,000, apart from bandages and
other' smaller articles. The approximate amount of money received has been
£20,000, which-has gone in buying material for making up and in donations.
To the British Red Cross a donation of
£50 a month was given." ( Auckland Star 19/07/1919 p 9( supplement)
) Noted is the contributions from Tairua
and Paeroa.
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| photo courtesy Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19150527-44-6 |
The Paeroa Ladies
Committee, Paeroa Patriotic Committee and
The Paeroa District War Relief Association. The new Paeroa District War Relief Association was formed in
August 1916 with President, W. J. Towers; Secretary, A. H. Wilson; Treasurer,
R. W. Evans., mata North, Mrs Alexander/; Paeroa Central, Capt. Gill Inglis;
Western side of railway (including Puke and Junction Roads), J. W. Graves
Northern side of the railway from Station Road, and including the whole area of
Thames Road to Komata Stream, J. L. Hanna; Southern side of river, F. A.
Balcke; from Thames Road, extending to the eastern boundary of the Borough, Mrs
H. Bush. Another eleven elected were L. Cassrels J. Cochrane, J. Couper, D. W. Dunlop, Mrs D.
J. Evans, Mrs Frogley, M. J. Harris, Nurse Odgers, W. J. Potter, W. Turner, Mrs
A. H. Wilson.
Throughout the war
the women of Paeroa kept the soldiers of the 6th Hauraki supplied with parcels
of home comforts. There was a 6th Hauraki Comfort Committee with many women of
the area involved -Mesdames Porritt, Poland, Dean, Usher, Taylor, Lamb, Conolly,
Cassrels, Quick, Hanna and Misses Hackett, McWatters, D. McWatters, E. Thorp.
James Blyth
Macfarlane writing to his father James Buchanan and mother Edith Macfarlane in
1917 from the war front asked if
something could be done for the Auckland
Regiment based on the support received by the 6th Hauraki men from the Paeroa
6th Hauraki Comfort Committee.
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| James Blyth Macfarlane |
—"I was wondering if you could do anything in
the way of getting funds sent out to the. Auckland regiment. You see it is this
way. Each battalion has a fund drawn chiefly from canteen profits, which seem
to be getting less and less lately. Owing to the extreme cold, we have been
providing extra soups and beef tea for the men on duty at night in the front
line', out of battalion funds, which funds will not last very long as things
are now. This tea and stuff is really necessary now at present, as the snow has
been on the ground for a fortnight, and it is so cold, that breath freezes as
it conies out, and drops off in large chunks. Up to the present, Auckland has
done practically nothing in the money line for the men representing them out
here. Certainly they have done very .much good work in connection with the
wounded, but the men who are still fighting, are in need of comforts, just as
much, if not more and the best way to do this is by sending money to the
battalion, which provides the soups and other things most required. I think we
out here know better than anyone, what things are best, and most welcome, to
the men. The Hauraki people have been in the habit of sending periodical
cheques for their men, which have been paid into the battalion funds. We other
company commanders feel it is not right for the Hauraki people to provide for
the whole battalion: Major A., who is at present in command, and also the
Padre, are writing to various people on this matter. The army ration although
very good is only sufficient for three meals. All men admit that the rations
are marvellously good for war
conditions. Any funds are to be spent on extra vegetables, and also
dried soups mentioned before. I do not think the average person realises the
conditions under which the men are at present working. If they did, I think
they would give willingly, The men are splendid, always cold and always
cheerful, and worth giving, too. I might mention that officers reap no benefit
whatever out of this, as we pay for everything we get." ( letter and in Ohinemuri Gazette, 04/04/1917 p3)
The volunteer
support by the many many women at home did not halt with war's end but
continued. There were memorials erected, sick and injured soldiers nursed and
support of families in the back blocks. That is another story also a huge part
of the past NZ History as was the war time support.
Reference:
- Tripp, L.0.H. 1923. The War Effort of New Zealand. Auckland: Whitcombe and Tombs Limited.
- WOMEN'S PATRIOTIC LEAGUE Press, 14 June 1910, Page 2
- COUNTRY NEWS. New Zealand Herald, 25 September 1911, Page 9
- NURSES FOR FRONT. New Zealand Herald, 9 April 1915, Page 6
- THE MALTA HOSPITAL. Auckland Star, , 22 May 1915, Page 6
- THE QUEEN CARNIVAL. COUNTRY ACTIVITIES. New Zealand Herald, 22 November 1915, Page 7
- PATRIOTIC MEETING. Ohinemuri Gazette, 7 August 1916, Page 2
- IN THE TRENCHES. Ohinemuri Gazette, 4 April 1917, Page 3
- Patriotic War Work Auckland Star, 19 July 1919, Page 9 ( supplement)
- PROMINENT AUCKLAND WOMEN. Auckland Star, 10 May 1930, Page 14
- New Zealand History Net http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/video/lady-liverpool-great-war-story
- NZDB Te Ara Story: Macfarlane Edith Mary http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/3m7/macfarlane-edith-mary
- NZDB Te Ara Story : Statham, Edith Mary http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/3s32/statham-edith-mary
