Remembering

In this month of November when we focus on remembering all those military and civilian deaths which were a result of two world wars and numerous other military actions, we face a set of sobering statistics.

In World War 1          61,000 Canadians were killed, another 172,000 were wounded

In World War 2          45,000 Canadians were killed., another  55,000 were wounded

These are dreadful statistics for a country of a population in 1914 of only 8 million!

On the home front, women's organizations did what they could to help the men overseas through writing letters, packing and sending parcels to the fighting men. Meanwhile, those women who were on farms operated the farm and found ways to support the fighting men. It was not enough that they held things together, many of them had children to raise and support while the international conflicts went on for 4 years (WW1) and for nearly 6 years (WW2)

Most Women's Institute contributions in World War 1 were by donations to the Red Cross. Parcels were sent directly to servicemen from their own communities as well, but remember  the  Women's Institutes in British Columbia had only been functioning for 5 years when the first war began, and were not as prepared then for international conflicts as they were in 1939.

World War 2 was a different matter. The records here are by and large among the Institute papers and are more available to me. I will only mention a few of the more notable donations:

Jam for Britain                                              162.35 tons

Red Cross                                                     $19,000.00

Milk for British Children                               $1,165.00

Knitted Articles Made                                       84,613

Quilts for the Red Cross                                   1,714

Wool filled Comforters                                       8,284 – filled with BC wool

Made over articles of clothing                        59,968

Congratulations to BC Women's Institute members!

73 Canadians were awarded the Victoria Cross “for most conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy” (World War 1)  and another 16 also received this honour in World War 2.  These were were given in gratitude for the recipient's sacrifice -- let us remember them with gratitude and respect.

Wear your poppies proudly – remember those who went to fight but did not come home again; and remember, too, those who did come home, but were so shattered that they paid for the remainder of their lives. We have much to remember, and so much more for which to be thankful.

Yours for Home and Country, Ruth Fenner, Provincial Historian, British Columbia Women's Institute