With the signing of the Armistice great changes naturally took place in the daily work of the Nova Scotia Red Cross. Workers decreased in number, and those who remained faithful had to work extremely hard, as, although it was considered that the stores already sent would be sufficient for all Overseas demands, the reserve stock of stores for use in the hospitals in our own Province had to be kept up.
At the time of the Armistice the surgical sphagnum dressings were still very greatly needed. Special efforts were put into this work, which continued till free transportation ceased on March 31st. Forty-five boxes of the dressings were sent Overseas. An eminent Surgeon-Colonel in one of the Overseas hospitals gave it as his opinion that sphagnum dressings had saved the situation.
Work for refugees of the devastated area of France was then taken up, sanctioned by the Head Office in Toronto, who provided samples and gave permission to use Red Cross materials for this good work. The patterns were duplicated in our office and distributed to Branches throughout the Province. The work was carried on for two months and 217 boxes of garments were sent over.
Change of quarters for the Red Cross became imperative. The Technical College, which had sheltered Red Cross workers during the four years of the War, and had so generously allowed them the use of valuable equipment of every kind, was now overcrowded with its own work for returned soldiers. It was therefore decided to take over the lease of No. 314 Barrington Street from the American Red Cross, which had occupied it for the last year.
It was thought best to continue the Canteen which the American Red Cross had established until such time as the Y.M.C.A. should take up this work. This Canteen, under the management of Mrs. Sexton, had a wonderful success, becoming a happy and home-like centre for returned men and greatly appreciated—especially the hot Sunday dinners served by devoted workers. Much regret was expressed when, at the end of three months, it was closed and the work handed over to the newly-opened Red Triangle Hut next door.
The principal work throughout the year was supplying the needs of the hospitals. Mrs. Munnis, who worked so faithfully as the Convener of the Hospital Committee resigned and was replaced by Mrs. Sexton. An enlarged committee was formed and a large staff of visitors began their duties, each having a special ward assigned to them.
Twelve sun parlors at Camp Hill Hospital were furnished for the use of convalescents and made as comfortable and home-like as possible. The estimated cost was $500 each, subscribed for by the following Red Cross Branches: Amherst, Windsor, Wolfville, Westville, Trenton, Glace Bay, Halifax, Truro, Hazel Hill, Joggins Mines, New Glasgow and North Sydney. A brass plate, bearing the name of the donor, was affixed to the wall of each parlor. The cost exceeded the estimate by $240 each, which excess was paid from the central treasury.
From November 11, 1918, until September 30, 1919, 220,000 men passed through the Port of Halifax, and 92 ships were met and as far as possible these men had the use of the Red Cross rooms at the pier. The Port Committee was on hand day and night to help make their landing on Canadian soil (many of them after years of service) a great home-coming.
In the first days of disembarkation all men for Canada were held at Halifax for documentation. Later the military authorities changed their plan and it became their ambition to disembark and entrain these men in the shortest possible time so that only Maritime men waiting for local trains or men held for hospital treatment came under the care of the Committee.
Later on the Repatriation Department of the Canadian Government requested the Red Cross to undertake the care of the returning soldiers’ families. About 5,000 soldiers’ dependants passed through Halifax and a fully trained nurse was placed on each train containing soldiers’ wives and children.