During the First World War, socks, books and food were included with other items in comfort parcels distributed by voluntary fundraising organisations to the NZ armed forces serving overseas and to British and Belgian citizens in need.  Voluntary groups and individuals also provided canteens and reading and writing rooms stocked with books and magazines in Soldiers' clubs, hostels, military camps, and hospitals for NZ troops.  Many soldiers expressed their gratitude for the parcels they received and the social amenities provided in the recreational clubs.  

Section 1:  Three remarkable women fundraisers on homefront

Section 2:  Fundraising organisations become regulated, 1915

Section 3:  Fundraising activities

Section 4:  Other voluntary organisations: Victoria League, NZWCA, YMCA, & Red Cross Society

Section 5:  Recreational facilities for NZ troops in  Soldiers' clubs,  hostels, military camps, & hospitals

Section 6:  Recognition of NZ war workers

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Section 1: Three remarkable women Fundraisers 

Many women, men and children were involved in volunteering their support for the war effort in various ways. 

The 'stories' of three of the many remarkable women on the homefront are shared below:

1A.  Lady Liverpool - Lady Liverpool League Fund

1B.  Mīria Pōmare - Māori Soldiers’ Fund 

1C.  Elizabeth Pinfold - British and Belgian Relief Fund 

1A. LADY LIVERPOOL

APPEAL TO NZ WOMEN for donations:

Two days after news of Britain’s declaration of war on Germany was received on 5 August 1914, Lady Liverpool published an appeal in newspapers for the forming of a network of women's committees to provide comfort parcels and support services for Kiwi soldiers on the front line.    

"Lady Liverpool urged women to sew shirts and pyjamas, donate materials, clothes, hold-alls (small bags containing items such as a knife, fork and spoon) and ‘housewives’ (sewing kits), and to knit socks, balaclavas, mittens, cholera belts (warm waistbands that were thought to help prevent cholera) and many other items." 

Source: https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/4p16/pomare-mildred-amelia-woodbine 

Lady Liverpool league fund formed:

Within a few days of Lady Liverpool's appeal, Women's Patriotic Associations or Guilds were established in Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago.  In Dunedin 800 women met to discuss establishing a Lady Liverpool Fund.  The number of voluntary organisations grew to over one thousand, and many of them collected money or goods for the Lady Liverpool Fund. These organisations undertook a range of fundraising activities to support New Zealand soldiers (abroad or returned), and Belgian and French civilians affected by the war.  

1B.  MIRIA PŌMARE  

Established Māori Soldiers’ Fund:

In 1915, Mīria Pōmare, the wife of Māori MP Māui Pōmare, launched the Māori Soldiers’ Fund with Lady Liverpool.  The Fund was established to support the soldiers of the Māori Pioneer Contingent, formed in September 1914, who were serving in Gallipoli, France and Belgium.

 "The primary objective of this organisation was to provide comforts for soldiers of the Māori Contingent: Māori food (such as dried pipi and preserved muttonbird), knitted garments and letters were sent overseas, receptions were held for returned servicemen, and wounded soldiers were visited in hospital...For her steadfast service to the community Mīria Pōmare was appointed an OBE in 1918. In 1922 Māui was appointed a KBE. That year the name of the Fund was changed to the Lady Pōmare Welfare Committee. In civilian life the organisation performed notable work in continuing to assist returned servicemen, providing for those in need during the depression, visiting borstals with clothing for girls, and finding employment for others who were on probation...She was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal in 1935 and a Coronation Medal in 1953." 

Source: https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/4p16/pomare-mildred-amelia-woodbine

By 1917, Lady Liverpool was president of the Māori Soldiers' Fund, ‘Lady Carroll vice-president, Mrs Grace chairwoman, Mrs Pōmare honorary secretary and treasurer, Mrs Mur[i]wai Mutu assistant secretary'. 

Source: Lady Liverpool Scrapbook, Vol. 5, April 1917–October 1917, pp. 41, 50.

1C. Elizabeth Pinfold

Promoted British and Belgium Relief Fund:

Elizabeth Pinfold (1859-1927) became involved in the war effort after reading about the plight of 11,000 Belgian refugees in London. She wrote to newspapers during September 1914 asking for donations of old clothing and asked for volunteers to form committees to collect the items. 

 AN APPEAL.

TO THE EDITOR 

Sir,—Please allow me, through your columns, to draw the attention of the women of Dunedin to a want which will be felt acutely during the coming winter in Great Britain. Refugees are flocking in from the Continent. The feeding and clothing will be a problem. We women of New Zealand could form ourselves into a "left-off clothing corps," and help greatly to lessen the suffering of ill-fed, poorly clothed humanity. A Central Women's Committee might be formed, also a committee of gentlemen to advise and finance the scheme, and sub-committees of women in the suburbs to collect, renovate, and revise left-off clean, warm garments, which would result in hundreds of warm, comfortable garments being available for distressed Belgians and British poor in the bitter months of winter. The Kaikorai women have taken the matter in hand, but the response to our appeal for old clothes has been so generous that unless we obtain more workers we cannot do all the good we wish to. Personally, I feel our effort is too great to be borne by one or two suburbs, and if only the ladies who pledged themselves, and have redeemed that pledge so nobly in their work of equipment of the forces, can see their way to band together in this work, I feel sure wr may do a good work.—l am, etc., 

E. Pinfold. September 12.

Source: Papers Past:  An appeal.  Evening Star, Issue 155596, September 1914, page 8 

The Commission for Relief in Belgium (CRB) in London was founded in October 1914 as a private organization to provide food for German-occupied Belgium.  The CRB was formed following meetings between Belgian representatives, the U.S. minister to Belgium, Brand Whitlock (1869-1934), his Spanish counterpart, Rodrigo Marquis de Villalobar (1864-1926), the U.S. ambassador to Britain, Walter Hines Page (1855-1918), and an American businessman and mining engineer, Herbert Hoover (1874-1964) who became the CRB’s director.  The CRB collected and rationed all locally grown food along with the imported supplies sent from countries, including New Zealand,  and shipped the foodstuffs to Belgium.  It's operations later expanded in April 1915 to include German-occupied northern France.   

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Section 2:  Fundraising organisations became                                      reGulated, 1915

To regulate activities, the Government introduced the War Funds Act 1915 which required the collection and disposal of funds in each province to be co-ordinated by a single patriotic society.  A permit system for collections and fund-raising events was also introduced. A national advisory board, the Federation of New Zealand War Relief Societies, was established to manage patriotic relief and eliminate the duplication of funds. The Patriotic Societies' Handbook set out what was required to comply with the law.  By 1920, New Zealanders had raised an estimated £5.7 million ($500 million) for patriotic causes. 

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Section 3: Fundraising activities

A variety of fundraising activities were carried out to obtain donated goods and money for the Lady Liverpool Fund, the Māori Soldiers' Fund, and the British and Belgian Relief Fund.

> Socks & other knitted items, & sewn garments:

> Money, clothing, Food, Books & other items:

Newspapers articles regularly listed items that had been donated: money, clothing, utensils, bandages, books, magazines, food and other goods. 

An extract: " A little maid of Halcombe has sent a tiny New Testament bound in red leather and enclosed in a case; and a little Seatoun girl sent by post her small gift of a card of buttons for one of the housewives. Small things these in themselves, but great as symbolising the self-sacrifice and eager service that is shown by everyone in these dark days." 

Source:  "Countess of Liverpool Fund" (26 Aug 1914), , Evening Post, Vol LXXXVIII, Issue 49, p.9 

>  FUNDRAISING Events:

A range of fundraising activities by women, men and children were held to collect money or goods for NZ troops and the British and Belgian citizens in need - street collections, fêtes, auctions of donated items, flower and vegetable sales, carnivals and shows.   In 1915, Lady Liverpool expanded the types of activities  for NZ troops to include support for sick and wounded soldiers.   

> Comfort parcels sent OVERSEAS:

Lady Liverpool Fund

The Lady Liverpool Fund sent several parcels to every soldier overseas, especially around Christmas. 

"The basic parcel contained two pairs of socks, a handkerchief, soap and a pencil. Often they included ‘home comforts’, such as shortbread and cigarettes, which were designed to remind the soldiers of New Zealand and impress upon them that they remained in the public’s mind. Those contributing a parcel could assign it to a particular soldier, and individualise it as they saw fit.  Lady Liverpool spent many days at the fund’s distribution centres in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch.  From 1916 the Dominion Parcels Scheme utilised spare shipping space to send on average 24,000 parcels to Europe each month.  "       

Source:  'Lady Liverpool Great War Story', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/video/lady-liverpool-great-war-story, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 4-Oct-2021 

Māori Soldiers' Fund

Money raised was used to send parcels containing letters, knitted garments, personalised tāniko, and foods such as strings of dried pipi and preserved mutton birds. 

British and Belgian Relief Fund

>   Letters of thanks received For parcels:

Letters of thanks from troops that were printed in newspapers were compiled in the Lady Liverpool scrapbooks, 1912-1920, Vol. 6 which is held in the manuscript collections of the Alexander Turnbull Library. 

‘Nothing like a parcel to cheer a Chap up!’, Christchurch Star, 23 February 1918: 

"The Lady Liverpool Fund is a New Zealand organisation composed of entirely voluntary workers which sends 24,000 parcels every month to our boys in the trenches – that is, a parcel a month for every man there. Every parcel is worth 7/6 here. To a soldier boy they’re worth untold gold. The food he was used to – the brands he knew – the “smokes” he used to enjoy. It brings “home” so close – brings the “home” touch with it – and home is beyond price. Thousands of appreciative letters from the “boys” encourage us to go on. “Nothing like a parcel to cheer a chap up!” says one. How characteristic of these letters … We have reached a point when we must appeal. This great work MUST be continued. Our boys expect it… With your help we can send more parcels – or bigger parcels."

Letter sent from G.P. Hanna, 2nd Light Trench Mortar Battery, NZEF, 30 October 1917, addressed to the secretary of the Lady Liverpool Fund, with a watermark reading ‘A merry Xmas, thank you all’: 

"Dear Madam, Great excitement outside among the boys, wild yells of approval. The skipper opined it was peace declared. I reckoned at least 10 Fritzy planes were washed down? – both wrong – your parcels had arrived!!! They are distributed now and all hands are investigating ’em with the same enthusiasm as we need to get into our Christmas stocking with, in other days. You wished to be assured that the gifts were given to the boys in the trenches – but trenches they are a luxury we have not had for a long time – shell holes filled with the best Flanders mud are the fashion in this country this season. We have been out of it now three days, having a rest – licking our wounds…. But today your parcels! and all you asked was that we acknowledge the receipt of them (a small return). Please give our most gracious salaam’s to Lady Liverpool and all the sweet ladies who must have worked so hard to provide such a number of dizzy gifts on behalf of the 2nd Light Trench Mortars. Yours faithfully, G.P. Hanna, 2nd Lt."

>  Regular progress reports given in newspapers:

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Section 4: Other voluntary organisations

The war effort was supported by a range of voluntary organisations and societies, including the following:

4A.  Victoria League

4B.  The New Zealand War Contingent Association (NZWCA)

4C.  YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association)

4D.  New Zealand Red Cross Society

4A. Victoria League

The Victoria League for Commonwealth Friendship, a voluntary charitable organisation, was formed in London in 1901, named after the late Queen Victoria who had died on 22 January. The aim was to foster Commonwealth friendship and understanding throughout the British Empire through education and hospitality. Membership was open to both men and women, however, the membership was predominantly women.  

The first branch of the League established outside of Britain was in Tasmania in 1903, followed by  Otago in 1905 and Canterbury in 1910. Sir Heaton Rhodes's wife was the first president of the Canterbury branch. Other branches were then opened in NZ.

Find out more: University of Canterbury: Canterbury's imperialism: The Victoria League

Fundraising activities during the War were estimated to total £750,000. Soldiers were provided with reading material such as magazines and books, and published pamphlets. In 1916 the League expanded its operations to focus on activities such as lectures and exhibitions.  The League also donated a motor ambulance (£750) to the Red Cross. Hospitality for Commonwealth servicemen included the British branches opening clubs and hostels in London and Edinburgh and providing 282,000 beds for servicemen on leave. The League also became a receiving centre for overseas gifts for distribution to soldiers and relief organisations. 

4b. THE NEW ZEALAND WAR CONTINGENT ASSOCIATION        (NZWCA) in london

Within ten days of the outbreak of war, the New Zealand High Commissioner Sir Thomas Mackenzie proposed New Zealanders in London help and care for NZ troops. The New Zealand War Contingent Association (NZWCA)  was formed at the meeting held at the Westminster Palace Hotel, Victoria, London on 14 August 1914.  Lord Plunket was elected chairman of the NZWCA executive committee. Lady Anne Islington, whose husband had been Governor of NZ from 1910-1912, was the Chair of the women's committee. Honorary secretary was Sir Mackenzie's daughter Helen McKenzie. During the first two years, funding was obtained chiefly by private donors and by the NZ patriotic societies.      

> NZWCA Established 'New Zealand Walton Hospital',       1 July 1915:

To meet the demand for hospital beds in England by the NZ Expeditionary Force, the NZWCA  opened the 'civilian-run' Walton Hospital on 31 July 1915 at the Mount Felix estate in Walton-on-Thames. By the end of 1915 there were 3000 sick and wounded New Zealanders in British hospitals or in Walton Hospital.   

4c. YMCA (YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION)

The YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association), which had been founded in England in 1844, was first formed in New Zealand in Auckland circa March 1855. The National Council of the YMCAs of Australia and New Zealand was formed in 1886, affiliated to the World Alliance of YMCAs.  During World War I, YMCA units were attached to troops to provide social, religious and physical recreation programmes. The YMCA organised accommodation in London for NZ soldiers who also stayed at the New Zealand Soldiers' Club; organised recreational facilities for convalescing soldiers; and provided field services in France. The NZ Red Cross helped channel parcels, gifts and money to run YMCA canteens in the training camps in New Zealand, England, Egypt, France and Belgium. In 1916, NZ withdrew from the joint Council and formed its own national body. 

Find out more: YMCA history: https://ymca.org.nz/ymca-history/  

From March 1917, the YMCA assisted with educational classes at the NZ hospitals and convalescent homes. In 1918, educational and vocational courses were introduced with funds and equipment provided from regimental funds and the YMCA. 

4d. NEW ZEALAND RED CROSS SOCIETY

Governor Lord Liverpool arranged a meeting on 10 November 1915 to form the New Zealand branch of the British Red Cross.  The outcome was the establishment of the New Zealand Red Cross Society and the Order of St John. Both organisations worked together throughout the war to raise funds for soldiers and civilians, and provide medical supplies for Allied forces, including equipping hospital ships. Women also volunteered as nurses. The Red Cross also helped with sending food and clothing to soldiers overseas, and liaised with the families of missing and captured soldiers on their whereabouts and well-being.    

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SECTION 5: RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR NZ TROOPS in                     Soldier's Clubs, military camps, hospitals,                     & hostels  

Voluntary individuals and groups, including the Victoria League, NZWCA and YMCA, provided recreational facilities for NZ troops that included canteens and reading and writing rooms stocked with books and magazines. Activities also included providing writing paper, sports equipment, film showings, religious services, concert parties, folk dancing, and educational lectures.  

5A.   Recreational clubs in England & Scotland

5B.  Recreational facilities for NZ troops in other countries

5A.  RECREATIONAL CLUBS IN ENGLAND & Scotland

A variety of recreational clubs for NZ troops were established in military depots, hospitals, convalescent facilities, hostels and clubrooms in various locations in England and Scotland.   

The recreational clubs were established by voluntary individuals and organizations, including the following:  

>  Soldiers' Clubs established by Williams family

New Zealander Miss Hilda Temple Williams. (1867-1939) who was the granddaughter of Archdeacon Henry Williams, had arrived in England in 1913 with family members.  Hilda and her family established 'The Dug-Out' in December 1915, the first canteen for New Zealand troops in Victoria Street, London. Hilda's brother Arthur and his wife had also opened a club in Epsom for soldiers at the nearby Woodcote Park Convalescent Home. 

Source:

• Layers of London 
• Papers Past:  "Clubs for New Zealand soldiers. Dominion, V.9, Issue 2670, 17 January 1916, p.6 

> Hostel for Māori soldiers at Acton in London:    Scott family

Mrs Scott and her husband provided accommodation at their home in Acton for up to 15 members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force:

"The following arrangements have been made by the High Commissioner's office for the care of sick and wounded Maori members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force who may be in England:— When Maoris are in hospital they are visited by a sergeant attached to the Record Office so that their requirements may be ascertained and comforts supplied. When they are discharged from hospital they are met at the railway stations in London and sent, in the majority of cases, to Mrs. Scott's house at Acton. Mrs. Scott is a half-caste Ngapuhi lady whose husband is in charge of a wireless telegraphy school, and she has a large house, which has been specially fitted up to receive Maori men as boarders. There is accommodation for twelve to fifteen members, and it is not thought likely that there will be a larger number of Maoris than this in London at one time. The Rev. Mr. Fraer and Captain Tahiwi, of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, visit them regularly, and Corporal Warbrick, who is a quarter-caste Maori, and has been before a Medical Board and declared fit for light duty only has been appointed to the Record Office specially to keep in touch with all Maori men on furlough, and, as far as possible, to keep them from getting into difficulties."

Source: Papers Past: "Wounded Maori soldiers", Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 3, 4 January 1916, Page 8.

> NZ Command Depot's recreational Hut at grey    towers in Hornchurch, Essex

 At the outbreak of WWI the British Army Council took over Grey Towers, a large country mansion, and its 85-acre grounds for a military depot.  A hutted camp was erected by November 1914 in the grounds as the Battalion Headquarters. It was used by the 23rd Royal Fusiliers until June 1915, followed by the 26th Middlesex Regiment from November to December 1915.  In January 1916 Grey Towers was selected to be the first Command Depot for the New Zealand Contingent in England.  

>  NZWCA's Soldiers' Club (Te Puni Whare) at     Beethoven House In hornchurch, April 1916

As the number of NZ troops increased at Grey Towers, the voluntary organisation NZWCA established the Soldiers' Club which was officially opened on 10 April 1916 by Major Dawson. The Club was sited in Butts Green Road at Beethoven House, which was once the Metropolitan Academy of Music. The building was renovated with the help of soldier carpenters and renamed "Te Whare Puni" (The Meeting House). The project was overseen by New Zealander Miss Hilda Temple Williams who'd established 'The Dug-Out' in London which was financed by the Williams family.  Hilda, her mother Anne & sister Ethel Russel  also became founding members of  New Zealand War Contingent Association (NZWCA) in London.

• Layers of London  
• Papers Past:  "Clubs for New Zealand soldiers. Dominion, V.9, Issue 2670, 17 January 1916, p.6 

>  Reading room at NZ Hornchurch Convalescent     Hospital, July 1916

When large numbers of wounded began arriving in England during April and May 1916, the decision was made to use the NZ Command Depot as the New Zealand Convalescent Hospital from July 1916 onwards. The nearby hotel of Oatlands Park was also converted into a hospital for medical, limbless and tuberculosis cases.  As well as continuing to being involved in the Soldiers' Club 'Te Puni Whare', Hilda Williams raised funds and organized specialists to purchase and fit artificial limbs for soldiers.    

>  NZWCA's SOLDIERS' CLUB IN LONDON for 'well' men,     Aug 1916

Hilda Williams and her sister Ethel had proposed to the High Commissioner and to NZWCA that a hostel be established in London for New Zealand soldiers for rest and recreation when on furlough. A Hostel Committee was formed under the auspices of  the NZWCA which liaised with the NZ military to acquire the use of four houses in Bloomsbury - three in Russell Square and one in Upper Bedford Place - for converting into a hostel. The house in Bedford was owned by Sir Arthur Rendel who had married Eliza Hobson, the daughter of Governor Hobson.  

The hostel was officially opened on 1 August 1916, and was known as the New Zealand Soldiers' Club. Facilities included a canteen, bedrooms, reading and writing room, music room, and a billiards room.   The Soldier's Club was staffed by members of  the Williams' family and their friends.    

>  YMCA Shakespeare Hut, London, 11 August 1916

The YMCA Shakespeare Hut opened on Keppel Street in London on 11 August 1916  to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death and to entertain New Zealand troops on leave from the World War One frontline. 

>  Clubhouses at NZ Military hospitals

When the New Zealand Division began fighting in France, a military-run British medical base for New Zealanders became increasingly needed.  Three military-run hospitals were established  during 1916 at Brockenhurst, Walton-on-Thames, and Codford.  The former NZ military depot at Hornchurch in Essex was used by the NZ military as the 'Hornchurch Convalescent Hospital' from July 1916.  The wounded who arrived at Dover were taken to Walton; those sailing into Southampton usually headed to Brockenhurst. As the men recovered, they went to Hornchurch to convalesce and then to Codford to be ‘rendered fit again for service’. Those who were unable to fight again were sent home to New Zealand on hospital ships. 

A cablegram was received in December 1916 by the Minister of Defence (Hon. Allen) from the High Commissioner asking for money to erect clubhouses for sick and wounded in the four New Zealand hospitals at Brockenhurst, Walton-on-Thames, Codford, and Hornchurch.  Cabinet granted the sum of £6490 for the four clubhouses.    

>  NZWCA's Mahutonga Club at Hornchurch, Feb 1917

Recreation huts, including the Mahutonga Club at Hornchurch, were provided by the New Zealand War Contingent Association from Patriotic funds.  

>  YMCA RECREATIONAL HUTs at hospitals

The YMCA provided recreational huts at Walton-on-Thames and Hornchurch, which was similar to the NZWCA's Mahutonga Club. 

5B: Recreational facilities for NZ troops in other        countries

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Section 6: Recognition of NZ war workers

In addition, King George V made 67 appointments to the Order of the British Empire for services in connection with World War I. For a list of the recipients announced on 4 October 1918, see Wikipedia: 1918 War Honours (New Zealand) . 

In 1916, the Belgian government instituted the Médaille de la Reine Elisabeth (Queen Elisabeth Medal) to honour Belgian and foreign women who had performed exceptional services to Belgium in the relief of the suffering of its citizens.  In New Zealand, 33 women received the medal for fundraising for the Belgian Relief Fund and sending clothing and comforts to those in need. For a list of recipients see:  'Supporting Belgium: Queen Elisabeth Medal', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/supporting-war-effort/queen-elisabeth-medal, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 8-Dec-2020 

Find out more:

'Supporting the war effort, 1914-1919', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/supporting-war-effort, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 22-Dec-2014 

'Who were the volunteers?', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/supporting-war-effort/the-volunteers, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 1-May-2020 

'Lady Liverpool Great War Story', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/video/lady-liverpool-great-war-story, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 4-Oct-2021 

'Mīria Pōmare', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/miria-pomare, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 26-Mar-2019 

'Elizabeth Pinfold', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/elizabeth-pinfold, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 11-Aug-2017 

'Mary Wick', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/mary-wick, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 24-Feb-2017 

Papers Past: 'Obituary: Miss Hilda Williams, O.B.E.' Evening Post, V. CXXVII, Issue 149, 21 December 1939, p.16