|
|
|
Volunteerism
The war effort was underpinned by a huge civilian volunteer movement. The most
prominent expression of this was the Newfoundland Patriotic Association. But volunteerism
expressed itself in many other ways.
The church-affiliated cadet corps played a vital role in the formation of the Newfoundland
Regiment, though they became less important as time went on.
Catholic Cadet Corps drill on St. George’s Field, St. John’s, ca. 1910.
Courtesy of the Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador (PANL VA-33-73), St. John’s,
Newfoundland.
(33 Kb)
|
|
|
The Women’s Patriotic Association mobilized the immense energy of women (and
children) to support the troops overseas and at home. Women also joined the Red Cross and were
active fund raisers. Similarly, the longer-established and more traditional fraternal organizations
recognized a responsibility to assist recruitment and to “look out” for those of their members who
joined up.
|
|
Making supplies, ca. 1915.
Women’s Patriotic Association, St. John Ambulance Division,
making supplies at Mrs. Browning’s.
Courtesy of the Centre for Newfoundland Studies Archives (Mary Southcott Collection 190),
Queen Elizabeth II Library, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Newfoundland.
(20 Kb)
|
For all the stresses and strains that war placed on Newfoundland society, and there were
many, there was at the same time a remarkable degree of community solidarity focused on the
colony’s soldiers and sailors.
|
|
|
