1914-09-02 (Part One)

A meeting was held at the board of trade rooms yesterday afternoon for the purpose of reorganizing the Hamilton Red Cross society, at which a large number of ladies and men were present and much enthusiasm displayed.”

Hamilton Spectator.  September 2, 1914

There already had been a chapter of the Red Cross society in Hamilton. However, early in September 1914, in light of the outbreak of war, it was felt necessary to reorganize and revitalize that organization:

“Mr. John Gibson gave the reasons for calling the meeting, and read an account of the work done by the local society during the Boer war, and of the statements presented by the officers of their work.

“In connection with the balance of money in hand, he mentioned that this had been handed by resolution to the Red Cross society of Great Britain at their suggestion”¹

¹“Prepared for Work of Mercy : Hamilton Red Cross Society Has Been Organized:

Hamilton Spectator.   September 2, 1914.

The meeting on September 1, 1914 was mainly focused on the nuts and bolts necessary to reorganize the Hamilton Red Cross society. To that officers were elected to the posts of president, First Vice-President etc. An executive committee and finance committee were also assembled.

The men and women at the meeting also enthusiastically endorsed the following resolutions:

“ 1. That the Hamilton branch of the Red Cross society be reorganized, with the object of helping the sick and wounded during the present war, through the Canadian Red Cross society, and in affiliation with the British society.

“ 2. That the membership should consist of all those willing to pay a fee of not less than $2, with a separate class of associates with a fee of $1.” ¹

It took just a few weeks for the Hamilton Red Cross to be fully mobilized with a substantial number of paid up members and a headquarters, 67 King street west.

On September 22, 1914, the Hamilton Spectator carried the following as an introduction to the first major initiative of the revitalized Hamilton Red Cross society:

“On the blood-drenched fields of Europe, the Red Cross goes patiently on with its duty of ministering to the stricken. Their work is tremendous.

“The mind of the men at home can scarcely the awful vastness of it. One report states that, in officers alone, the British loss has been nearly eight hundred so far, to say nothing of the losses in the ranks.

“In a letter to London, Ont., comes the story that a Red Cross nurse on duty in Belgium had both hands cut off by the enemy while attending to the wounded.

“Thousands of sturdy men have dropped in their ranks, felled by bullet, shrapnel and sabre. Only then does one appreciate the greatness of the task required of the Red Cross.

“It needs money to carry on its work, It has made its appeal. The Spectator carries the official request on another page of its tonight’s issue. Everybody is asked to subscribe – if nothing more than a mite.

“ ‘Give all you can’ is the Red Cross prayer, ‘and help us in our work.’ ”¹

The Canadian Red Cross society was requested to raise sufficient funds to equip five field hospitals, consisting of two general hospitals of 520 beds each, one clearing hospital of 200 beds and two stationary hospitals of 180 beds each.

The executive members of the Hamilton Red Cross society felt that the need for financial contributions was so compelling and although an intense effort to elicit donations would be made, it would not be necessary to hold any mass events :

“Although there would be little direct canvassing, there is every hope among the local members that the subscriptions will be large and numerous – they believe that the noble purpose of the campaign will in itself be sufficient to arouse to the utmost the generosity of the citizens.

“Everybody is asked to help. Everybody can give a little. All cash subscriptions may be sent either to the society’s headquarters on King street or direct to any of the officers.”¹