The 24th Kent Regiment Chapter IODE was formed in 1913 at the request of the Kent Regiment Commanding Officer, Colonel HD Smith, to support the soldiers of the Regiment, their families and the women and children of our community. The Chapter adopted the motto of the 24th Kent Regiment: “Unto the last ditch” and 95 members were enrolled. The first President, known then as a Regent, was Mrs. AC Woodward. We are the oldest IODE Chapter in Chatham-Kent.
During WWI, members worked tirelessly to support the soldiers and sailors at the front, and their families. The total value of their war work was $58 080.40. By 1918, the Chapter had generated more money for patriotic purposes than any other IODE Chapter in Canada. An early project was the purchase of a set of colours (flags) for the Kent Regiment, at a cost of $400. In 1915, The Colours were officially presented to the Regiment with Sir Sam Hughes, Minister of Militia present for the occasion. Today, these flags rest in Christ Church. On 11 August 1914, shortly after war was declared, the Chapter held an emergency meeting to fulfill an urgent request from the National IODE Chapter, to contribute funds towards a hospital ship. $ 200 was immediately sent to this cause and the money was taken from funds that had been set aside for a proposed isolation hospital.
Prior to leaving Chatham for the front, each soldier was provided with a full equipment kit, consisting of a sweater coat, cholera belt (knitted or flannel belt worn around the abdomen for warmth), 2 pairs of socks, Footease (antiseptic healing powder), 2 handkerchiefs, housewives (sewing kit with wool, thread, needles & buttons, beeswax), gum, chewing and smoking tobacco and an emergency kit.
The work was conducted at weekly meetings and fundraising was ongoing. The Chapter members contributed the following in “war work”:
- Knitted 13 718 pairs of socks (27 436 individual socks)
- Sewing of 1363 trench caps
- Thousands of trench candles
- 2899 comfort boxes for the soldiers
- Equipment kits
- Writing letters to soldiers
- Sewing of quilts, pyjamas, sweaters, hospital supplies & comforts
- Soldiers Christmas boxes shipped to the front
- Hosted parties for the men prior to their leaving for the front, also Christmas and New Year’s parties for soldiers and their families
- Looked after the needs of the wives and families of soldiers
- At Christmas ensured that each soldier’s family received a Christmas tree and treats, supper and entertainment at the Armouries
- $200 towards the purchase of a field kitchen for the 18th Battalion
- Supported purchase of a motor field ambulance
- Supported the Belgian and French Relief efforts
- Adopted a French orphan for 3 years
- Supported relief for Halifax explosion victims, hospital supplies and comforts
- Sent $ 1001 to Shorncliffe and Folkstone military hospitals
- Started a Khaki club for soldiers
- Prepared comfort boxes for Nursing sisters
- Cared for returned men and their families
- Provided comforts to pensioners
- Christmas cakes and puddings sent to soldiers in the London military hospital
- Books and games were donated for use by the men on shipboard as they were traveling overseas
- Contributed funds to both the Canadian Red Cross Society and the Canadian Patriotic Fund
Fundraising efforts were creative and included:
- Flag and Tag days
- Door to door canvassing of women only, for funds
- Members donated 10 cents each in response to an appeal
- Members donated 1 cent per day, paid monthly (30 cents)
- Received donations from individual citizens
- Hosted teas, recitals, shows
- The Metropolitan store donated ½ of the proceeds for an entire day
- Chatham musician, Mr. Lorriman, wrote a song about IODE and donated 5 cents for each copy sold
- Sold 6 000 copies of a special commemorative issue of the Chatham Daily News, on the occasion of King George V’s birthday
In 1914, one of the first projects undertaken by the Chapter was the purchase of a set of Colours, for the 24th Kent Regiment, at a cost of $400.
Members also helped found 2 local IODE chapters – in 1914, the Catherine McVean Chapter of Dresden and, in 1915, the Major George Smith Chapter, which was named after an early fallen hero of the Kent Regiment.
In 1917, it was necessary to appoint a committee to inspect the quality of the work of the knitted socks, as the knitting had become rather sloppy. In this year, 1406 -1/2 pounds of wool were purchased for knitting. The Books of Remembrance were started to document the contributions of our Chatham and Kent County heroes. By 1918, the women of the Chapter reported being “war weary” but “will contribute to the success of our fighting men ‘Unto the Last Ditch’”. Member, Mrs. John Anderson was the first woman appointed to public office in Chatham.
After the war, in 1919, the city presented a home to Mr. & Mrs. Miner in recognition of the bravery of their son, Corporal Harry Bedford Miner, who received the Victoria Cross. The 24th Kent Regiment Chapter joined other IODE chapters to furnish this cottage, which still stands on Stanley Ave today. Also, the Books of Remembrance were completed and placed in the Armouries. The Books were inspected and signed by Lord Byng of Vimy and pronounced the “best he had seen”. In 1922, $1000 was donated towards the erection of a Great War Monument, and the Kent County Cenotaph in Chatham was completed and unveiled on Armistice Day in 1923.