General Service Section consisting of a General Service Superintendent Assistant Superintendent, bookkeepers, domestics and many there not Brigade members, but for a short time recommended by the Women’s Aid Department of the Brigade.
(c) Before the Women’s Aid Department came into effect five members had served at the Nova Scotia Sanatorium in the tent Colony for tubercular soldiers.
(d) During the Influenza epidemic of 1918 six members assisted the depleted staffs in the Victoria General, the Dartmouth Emergency for two months, two members at Infants Home for two months, also for two months in the homes of the sick, at the Emergency Hospital, Hazelwood Hospital, St. Mary’s Emergency Hospital, and for three weeks at Brocton Field Hospital, Mass. During the epidemic in the spring of 1919 a diet kitchen was organized and conducted and proper nourishment prepared and delivered to all asking for it, in the majority of cases no charge being made. The Brigade responded to requests for diet from the Victorian Order of Nurses, City Board of Health, Social Welfare Bureau, etc.
(e) The hospital work performed after the explosion is mentioned separately.
(f) Miscellaneous duties performed in hospitals include mending each week at the Station Hospital, emergency bedmaking at Camp Hill and hospital train service.
(b) MISCELLANEOUS WORK
At the Clearing Depot, Pier 2, a splendid work was accomplished. Over 13,000 beds were made for soldiers disembarking at this port. At very short notice members in sufficient numbers quickly responded to a call from the C.O. to prepare the beds required (at times as many as 800 beds were needed) in readiness for the men.
An important work carried on at Pier 2 was the serving of meals three times daily for over a week to 150 men.
Boats were met by the Lady District Superintendent, who, assisted by the members, welcomed and assisted when necessary any V.A.D.’s returning to Canada from Overseas duty.
A very interesting and important service rendered by the organization was in connection with the vocational re-education of the soldiers. For eight months two members read daily to blinded soldiers, assisting them in this way with their study. Four other members also performed like service for five and a half months. Ten members took a special two months’ course in weaving and basketry, nine of whom were able to instruct patients at Camp Hill Hospital for from one to seven months.