CHERTSEY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9658, 15 July 1919, Page 5

CHERTSEY.

A very pleasant "At home" was given to the lady workers of the Chertsey Red Cross in the hall by Mrs R. Croy, of " Snapham," on Friday afternoon. The day was fine, and there was a good attendance. Mrs Croy, in welcoming her visitors, said how pleased she was to have this opportunity of calling together her fellow-workers for what she hoped would prove a very pleasant and profitable afternoon. After a short musical programme, items being , given by Mesdames Halliday, Macale, A. Croy, and R. Croy, and Misses Halliday and Tucker, Miss Taylor, V.A.D. of the. New Zealand Red Cross, gave a short address on woman's war work in England. In the course of her remarks she told of the large part girls had played in the making of munitions and their work on the land. She also spoke of the W.A.A.C.'s, and emphasised the difficulties of the housekeepers, those splendid mothers who kept the fires burning with the very small quantities of coal the Controller would .allow them, who parted first with their sons, then with their daughters, who in turn took up their various war work, then with their maids for the same purpose; and all in spite of the terrible shortage of food that people in this country can. scarcely realise, and with a tired and war-weary husband who was trying to do the work of several men at once. Miss Taylor spoke of her own work as a V.A.D. in 1914. and 1915 in the Imperial hospitals, when things were not properly organised and trained sisters scarce. She also gave a description of the splendid work done by the V M C.A., with which association she had been a hut leader in 1916. The value of the work done by the V.M.C.A. cannot be over-estimated. In 1917 Miss Taylor was manageress of a canteen and grocery bar on a Yorkshire aerodrome which provided 650 officers and men of the Imperial and American armies with rations. She spoke with great warmth of her staff of girls, who had the one aim in view—that of helping the boys in every way within their 'power, and of the gratitude of both officers and men with whom they came in continual contact. In. 1918 the opportunity occurred for Miss Taylor to help her own countrymen —for Miss Taylor is a born New Zealander, being brought up at Ruapuna. It was a great joy to her and her sister to be allowed to help at Walton-on-Thames Hospital as V.A.D.'c. She said that this hospital was a very happy place to be in. The boys were splendid—always cheery and most helpful in every way. She said only those who know what they came through can appreciate how vory proud we ought to be of our boys. Unlike 1915, there seemed to bo plenty of trained sisters, who were also New Zealanders, aft were also the medical officers. The boys had every attention, and much entertainment in the form of boating in the summer, dancing and concerts in the veinter, also trips every week throughout the year. It was with regret "that she left her work at Walton-on-Thames to return to" New Zealand in the Tainui.

At the conclusion of her- address a dainty afternoon tea was served,, and

after ample justice had been done to the good things provided, a very hearty vote of thanks was proposed by Mrs R. Gill, seconded by Mrs Wilkinson, to Mrs Croy arid Miss Taylor for the pleasant afternoon.