War was declared in 1914 and by 1915 people began to realize how serious the war was.  Appeals were sent out by the Red Cross, Patriotic Fund, the Recruiting League.  Most communities had a Red Cross branch.
Cheapside Red Cross 1916 Overseas Xmas boxes

Preparing Boxes
A meeting was held at the house of Mrs. S. Britton on Tuesday afternoon October 31st.  Five large fruit cakes were made and baked in biscuit boxes, and thirteen dozen confectionery candies.

Nov 7, 1916
It was decided at the Women's Institute that the Red Cross purchase the following:
26 blue hankerchiefs
13 pkg spearmint gum
13 pkg tobacco

Also it was decided upon that they ice the cakes at Mrs. Britton's that night and to meet the following Thursday evening to pack the boxes.  This plan was cancelled and the boxes were packed and sent tuesday Nov. 14, 1916 to the following boys: (boys in the trenches)
Pte. Wm O. Hamilton
Bert Long
Bert Crawley
Lom Hitchcock
George Waterman
Consisting of the following:
1 pkg spearmint gum
1 pkg tobacco
1 pkg cigarette papers
1 tin sardines
1 pr socks
1 pr turkish towels
1 can honey
1 fruit cake
pkg raisons
2 handkerchiefs (blue and bordered)
confectionery
chocolate bars

It was decided upon as to send boxes to boys in trenches first and 114th later.


Boys with the 114th:
Boxes were packed to the following boys on Wednesday Nov 22, of the 114th:

1.  Cecil Hare
2.  Rev G. J. Shields
3.  Sam Oueue
4.   Will Butler
5.  Will Maxwell
6. Ralph Townson
7.  Will Waire
8.  George Bamford

Army Post, London Eng.

The boxes consisted of the following:
2 handkerchiefs blue and bordered
1 pkg tobacco to all with the exception of Mr. Shields and W. butler, they received oxo
1 pkg spearmint gum
chocolate bars
1 pr turkish towels yellow with blue borders
pkg raisons
fruit cake
socks omitted
confectionary consisted of equal parts dates, raisons, walnut meats ground through chopper, mixed together and make in balls rolled in confectionary sugar (icing sugar) and then rolled in waxed paper and twisted at ends (similar to kisses)

1918
The Red Cross Branch of Cheapside Women's Institute have sent up till today the following:
79 suits of pyjamas
201 prs socks
24 doz bandages
1 doz slings
4 binders, 1 towel
1550 mouth wipes
175 face clothes
13 night shirts
17 pillows
39 sheets, flannel and cotton
147 prs pillow cases
17 pads
25 vermin suits
30 helpless shirts
11 quilts flannelette
also large quantity of old linen and cotton
besides money and soldiers boxes