This group of Voluntary Aid Detachment women are posing for the photographer in Machattie Park in August 1918 during World War One. The group obviously brought in folding chairs which allowed the two front rows to sit. The second row stood on the ground and the back row stood on the chairs.
The Voluntary Aid Detachments, commonly known as the VADs, was a voluntary organisation of women which had been formed originally by the British Red Cross Society in 1914.
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Some Australian women decided to start a group here in 1916 to work in Australian Army hospitals and military convalescent homes.
A branch was formed in Bathurst as aides to the Australian Army nurses at “Hathrop”, the old Webb family home which had been taken over by the Australian Army administration after making arrangements with the Webb family. After the First World War, it was sold and eventually became St Vincent’s Hospital.
Soon after war was declared in 1939, and under the guidance of Captain Otto Brown, 54th Militia Battalion, a VAD group was formed with Miss Margaret Cutler as Commandant.
Section leaders (NCOs) were Miss L McDonald, Miss M Stephens and Miss Gladys Howard.
The girls did the job in their own spare time and at their own expense and were required to attend instruction classes and examinations in first-aid and home nursing as well as obtaining certificates in both to qualify for voluntary work in civilian and army hospitals.
All costs incurred as a VAD, including their uniforms and other dress apparel, training and travel costs, were entirely out of their own pocket.
In 1940, when the Bathurst Army Camp on Limekilns Road opened, the local VADs were well and truly ready for their work in the Army Camp Hospital.
The group of Bathurst VADs was made up of young working single or married women. In addition to their hospital work, they carried out clerical and typing work for the army, including on the records of those troops leaving Australia.
The VADs also helped with cooking, cleaning and waiting on tables at the canteen in the old school in Howick Street, which had not long been vacated.
Peter Wellington was one of those who was in the 8th Battalion who met a VAD at the canteen in Howick Street. Peter and his mate “Shorty” Cannon called in for a meal, ordering a pie, sausages and two cups of tea, which cost them sixpence each.
The men were served by Vera Stephens and Leah Gordon. Vera and Leah worked together in the old AMP office in William Street and looked striking in their fetching blue VAD uniforms.
It seemed that Peter and Vera “clicked”, as they ended up going next day to a Sunday service at the Presbyterian Church on the corner of Howick and George streets. Their relationship was to last as Vera wrote to Peter while he was overseas.
She corresponded with her future husband once a week as there was a good airmail service to Malaya. He was to later become a prisoner of war.
Leah had a brother, Keith, who lost his life in Singapore with the 2/20th Battalion.
When Peter became a prisoner of the Japanese, Vera kept busy with her volunteer work. Vera regularly attended or assisted with VAD classes which were held in the Red Cross Hall.
These classes started at 8pm and were conducted by the Commandant, Miss J Priddle, who could be contacted by phone on 319.
These classes covered a wide range of topics; many were of a practical nature.
Courses of lectures and practical work in home nursing were also given.
The VAD ladies had three uniforms: white for hospital work, blue for parades and a different shade of blue for canteen duties.