Associated Field Comforts

Collectivité

Associated Field Comforts

1914-1918

Associated Field Comforts was established in 1914 as a local branch of the larger Canadian War Contingent Association, which formed in London, England at the beginning of the First World War at the request of the British government, to collect and distribute supplies of field comforts from a central warehouse to the soldiers and sailors serving in the Canadian Expeditionary Force and the Royal Canadian Navy. There were various branches of the Canadian War Contingent Association in Canada, including the Hamilton branch, which was originally a committee of the Women’s Patriotic League, but was then officially established by Mary Elizabeth Hawkins under the name Associated Field Comforts, to encompass all the different local clubs, societies, women’s institutes, and knitting groups, that engaged in the war work. The headquarters was initially in a house at Hughson and Young streets, and then in 1917, the organization moved to 118 James Street South near Bold Street. Many individuals as well as various societies, clubs, businesses and churches contributed money to purchase items such as canned food, candles, candies, tobacco products, soap, handkerchiefs, toothbrushes and toothpaste among many other items, while groups of women within these organizations knitted woolen articles such as sweaters, socks and gloves. Associated Field Comforts, with the help of the Canadian Red Cross Society, shipped the parcels to the Canadian War Contingent Association’s warehouse in London, England, where they would be unpacked, inspected, repacked and forwarded to the men at the Queen’s Canadian Military Hospital, which was operated and maintained by the Canadian War Contingent Association, as well as to the men at the base camps, those serving at the front, and to sailors serving in the navy. Letters from soldiers expressed their deep appreciation for the war work done on their behalf and for the comforts they received. War work on the home front was very important during the First World War because government issued articles sent to the soldiers were not always sent regularly, were often of poorer quality, did not always meet the needs of the men, and didn’t contain the kinds of comforting personal messages, so essential to boost morale. Members of Associated Field Comforts understood how important their war work was to the soldiers of the Canadian Expeditionary Force through their motto: “What every man needs, when he needs it,” and continued their patriotic efforts until the end of the war.

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

War work

The following material was used as sources of information for the archival description of the fonds:

Administrative history and series descriptions sourced from material within the fonds.

Bailey, Thomas Melville et al. Dictionary of Hamilton Biography, Vol.3, p. 26-27. Hamilton: W.L. Griffin Printing Limited, 1992. – Library Call Number R971.3520922 DIC
Farmer, Mary H. “Letters and reports on war work done in Hamilton, Ontario mainly by ‘Associated Field Comforts’ for shipment overseas to ‘Canadian War Contingent Association’ in London, England from 1914-1918,” Calendar Finding Aid, Hamilton Public Library Reference Department (LHA), 1966.