Helping On The Home Front In Vermilion

On Sept. 10, 1939, Canada declared war on Germany, one week after Britain had done the same. Like with the previous world war, the people of Vermilion quickly did what they could to start helping with the war effort.

On Sept. 12, only two days later, 20 women in Vermilion offered their volunteer services to the Canadian Red Cross Society to help with war work.

That decision sparked an idea to start up a local branch of the Red Cross in Vermilion to help the war effort from the community and get more people involved.

About two weeks later, that Red Cross branch was established in Vermilion on Sept. 25, 1939.

A public meeting was held at the Memorial Hall to organize the Red Cross branch in the community. About 50 people attended and Mrs. J.J. Knoll was elected president, while Mrs. H.J. Clarke was selected as the vice president.

The executive of the Red Cross in Vermilion was formed from various groups that had a long history in the community including the Women’s Institute, IODE, the Women’s Auxiliary of the Canadian Legion, Order of the Eastern Star, the Rebekah Lodge and the Home Makers Club.

On hand for the creation of the branch was Mayor Morrison, who spoke briefly outlining the necessity of organizing and felt that it was the duty of every citizen to contribute his best efforts in aiding the country in the Second World War.

Mayor Morrison believed that the establishment of a local Red Cross would do just that and would help eth war effort at home and overseas as Canadians started to ship over to Europe to serve.

The Red Cross in Vermilion wasn’t the only thing locals were doing to help. The Vermilion Agricultural Society offered several of their large building, as well as their gym and rink, for use by the Department of Defence for any military purposes that may have been required. In the previous world war, the grounds were used for training the 151st battalion.

The Canadian Legion in Vermilion also looked to see how it could help. Over 50 ex-servicemen attended a meeting on Sept. 27 to discuss the war and Canada’s part. A number of resolutions were passed dealing with the war, including sending a letter to Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King about the need to have the country go all-in on the war effort.

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