Cheapside Red Cross overseas Xmas boxes

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 quanti cotton

besides money and soldiers boxes

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