Berkshire and The War: the "Reading Standard" pictorial record. Volume 4. p 951

[COMPLETED: 18/02/2015: 1234]

Red Cross Work in the County -€” continued.

Twenty-seven hospitals were provided by the branch and four more were placed under my jurisdiction for certain purposes. I am able to testify to the extraordinary zeal which animated all ranks, and I take the opportunity of recording my admiration of the solicitude with which they tended the wounded committed to their care. I invariably found that the men were attended most carefully, that they were well fed, happy and contented, and displayed a grateful appreciation of the services rendered to them. All the hospitals were carefully and economically administered, and reflect great credit on the commandants, quartermasters and staff. The medical officers were Indefatigable. The total number of men treated to the present date Is 23,255.

A very complete system of food control was instituted, which worked most successfully owing to the cordial co-operation of those concerned. I am indebted to the Rev. C. Durham for valuable assistance in this direction. The sugar ration has been administered, as before, by the commandant, Miss Durham, and thanks are due to Mr. Sime, manager, Reading Ice Factory, who, with his staff, voluntarily carried out the distribution.

The Society is especially indebted to the Lord Lieutenant, the late Dame Edith Benyon, and Mrs. Crawshay for providing hospitals free of cost to the Government; and to Miss Barnett, Miss Blair, Mr. and Mrs. Cole, Mr. and Mrs. Elliot, Mrs. Rivers-Moore and Miss Power, who lent their houses. Others lent their residences for varying periods during the war, these including Miss Hall, the Lady Violet Henderson, Mrs. Murdoch, Sir Henry and Lady Vansittart Neale and the late Sir Richard Sutton. The rent of others was paid by Miss Russell, the Executors of Mr. Fidler, Mrs. Merton, Mrs. Friedlander and Mr. Wiggett. The trustees of the Grand Stand, Ascot, lent a portion of the Stand, and the Board of Education the Technical Institute, Maidenhead. Other benefactors include the Rev. J. Brown, Didcot; St. Luke's Parish, Reading; the Trustees of Woodclyffe Hostel and Hall, Wargrave; Sir William Gain, and Trustees of Church House, All Saints'€™ Parish, Wokingham; "Care and Comforts" and the Supply Depot, Reading, deserve mention for their valuable services; and finally, the general public materially assisted in many ways, both pecuniarily and as voluntary workers. The Branch is also indebted to many ministers of religion who acted as hon. chaplains.

On demobiiization a committee was formed to deal with the equipment and monies of the auxiliary hospitals. A depot is formed at No. 1, Bath Road, where the equipment will be distributed to nursing homes, hospitals, convalescent homes and similar institutions as far as practicable. The convalescent home lent by Lady Wantage at Ardington was moved in December for greater convenience to Harts Leap, Sandhurst, and accommodation for 21 nurses is provided. It is well administered by Mrs. Cotton, Commandant Reserve, and I was able to report satisfactorily to Headquarters after my last inspection on January 28th, when I found it full of patients.

The Convoy Service has now terminated and I cannot speak too highly of the services rendered by the Commandant, Mr. Thake, and the members of Berks 13 V.A.D. 484 convoys have been attended and 31,474 wounded men moved. The Ambulance Squad of Nurses under Commandant Henderson also deserve favourable mention. The Transport Department is under the command of Captain Cyril Tubbs, i.c. Officer.

All collecting boxes have been called in, and this department has been closed. £341 was collected in this way. The allowances to members have been very little called-for, only one grant from Headquarters being necessary. Berkshire holds a very satisfactory position in this respect.

A County Rally was held in the Town Hall on Feb. 15th, which was attended by over 850 members. The opportunity was taken to present five Special Service Crosses t o members who had earned them by meritorious deeds. Other honours and awards to date
comprise 2 D.B.E., 1 C.B.E., 4 O.B.E., 5 M.B.E., 4 R.R.C., and 58 "mentions".
€
The British Red Cross in general and the Berkshire Branch in particular have suffered a severe loss by the death of our Lady President, Dame Edith Benyon, on the 28th inst. Also I deeply regret the death o f the late County Secretary, Mr. C. J. Haviland. The deaths o f the following members on service also occurred during the current year and were duly reported: - €”Miss Dumford, Berks
66; Mrs. Goodliffe, Berks 54; Mrs. Gore, Berks 42; Miss Roper, Berks R.; and Miss Wilder, Berks 18.

Miss Waltham was promoted to be Assistant County Director in November, 1918.

The Branch now number 35 women'€™s detachments and 6 men'€™s, with a personnel of 1,214 and 200 respectively, a combined total of 1,414.

The future o f the B.R.C.S. is as yet undetermined, and for the present the necessity of remaining in the organization until it is settled cannot be too strongly emphasised. There is no doubt that its energies can be directed in several most useful ways which would be quite in keeping with the aim of our organization. For example, one of our Auxiliary Hospitals - ”Sutherlands, in Christchurch Road, Reading - has been transferred to the Ministry of medical treatment. It provides 35 beds and is staffed by a commandant and members of the Red Cross under my jurisdiction. Berks 44 V.A.D. has opened a club at Newbury for the relief pensioners [sic] where men can get treatment and meet old comrades.

Finally, I desire t o express how deeply I am indebted to my colleagues for their cordial support, and to all commandants, officers and members for their zealous performance of their duties.

The accounts showed a balance in hand of £878 8s. 4d.

Mr. W. MOUNT alluded to the great loss the Society had sustained by the death of Dame Edith Benyon, who was the founder and originator of the Red Cross in Berkshire, and of its devoted secretary, Mr. Haviland. No fewer than 23,255 men were treated by the Berks Detachments. He appealed to the V.A.D.'s to continue their good work amongst the civilian population in future.

Mr. E. A. RIDSDALE paid a warm tribute to Admiral Fleet. He said that if it had not been for Admiral Fleet's excellent organisation and direction their valuable services in the county would not have reached so successful a conclusion. In response to an appeal from Devonshire House, Berkshire had sent over 300 members to take up duties overseas during the war. They would be pleased to assist in the provision of cottage hospitals in Berkshire and help to equip them. Their motor ambulances would also be available, and there was no reason why their members should not generally look after the welfare of the sick and suffering.

THE NATIONAL KITCHEN IN TUDOR ROAD.

[photo, exterior] At the request of the Ministry of Food, in order to save fuel and labour, a National Kitchen and Restaurant was opened in Tudor Road, Reading, in December. The kitchen was open for the sale of cooked food for dinner every day (except Sunday) from 11.30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

[photo, portrait] Lieut. W. S. HOLLAND, "Redriff", Sonning Common. - Mentioned in Gen. Allenby'€™s Palestine despatches for devotion to duty.

[photo, portrait] The late Gnr. A. W. WARD, R.G.A., 7, Blenheim Road, Reading. -€” Died from broncho-pneumonia.