WWI V.A.D. VOLUNTARY AID DETACHMENT - CANADA PHOTO ALBUM NURSES + LETTER for Sale

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WWI V.A.D. VOLUNTARY AID DETACHMENT - CANADA PHOTO ALBUM NURSES + LETTER For Sale

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WWI V.A.D. VOLUNTARY AID DETACHMENT - CANADA PHOTO ALBUM NURSES + LETTER:
$349.99

[WWI, VAD - VOLUNTARY AID DETACHMENT, WAR MEDICINE, CANADA]

On offer here is an ORIGINAL VAD (Voluntary Aid Detachment) PHOTO ALBUM FOR A CANADIAN UNIT ACTIVE DURING WWI.
The album measures 7.0 in x 10.75 in and has a total of 47 photographs. Laid in the rear of the album is a later red booklet titled 'Active Service Canteen - Toronto 1939 - 1945'.
Some of the photos in the album are annotated on the image verso and we have indicated whatever relevant information is shown. The images seem to have been taken in both Canada and in theatre somewhere in Europe. There's even a photo of a bi-plane flying above. Shown are gunnery detachments, men in tents, etc. Most of the images seem as though they were taken in 1917 - 1918.
Some of the names we've found:
Sister Birkett-ClarkeNurse ChisholmNurse Alice MeKeonSister G. BrownNurse McWhorterNurse MurphyNurse Duulau (?)Nurse ChavellierNurse FortescueNurse CampbellNurse WauklyuCapt. RuddickCapt. Gilday
Also included is a letter tipped in for a 'Miss Cornielle' which accompanied some of the photographs (ostensibly) in this album. The letter closes w/ 'Yours HRC' a person familiar to Ms. Cornielle, but not to us. There is mention of a 'Grey Nunnery' which may be of some use to a researcher.
_______________________

Voluntary Aid Detachments first emerged in 1914 asCanada’s Militia Department made preparations at home, in anticipation of warin Europe. They were initially intended to create an emergency reserve oftrained men and women who would support military medical services in case ofinvasion on Canadian soil. Later, following the outbreak of the First WorldWar, the VAD program developed into a female volunteer nursing corps, as malerecruits were quickly drawn into the armed forces. Canadian VAD units weremodelled on a British system established in 1909, intended to supplementexisting army nursing reserves. These reserves consisted of both professionalnurses and civilian volunteers trained in first aid. While the British programutilized some 23,000 VAD nurses during the Great War, the Canadian program wasmore modest. Still, the number of women who enrolled as Canadian VAD memberswas considerable -- by the war’s end, some 2,000 had trained and qualified asVAD nurses. While the majority were limited to working in military convalescenthospitals on the home front, an estimated 500 Canadian VAD members served inBritish military hospitals overseas.

The first Canadian Voluntary Aid Detachments wereformed in Halifax, Québec City, and Saint John, because these ports wereexpected to be the first to receive wounded soldiers returning from overseas.These were later followed by units in Montreal, Ottawa, and Victoria.Initially, VAD members engaged in non-nursing activities distributing comfortssuch as chocolate bars and cigarettes to departing troops and wishing them asafe return home. As the war progressed, however, they helped to prepare, open,and staff military convalescent hospitals. This role became particularlyimportant as increasing numbers of sick and wounded soldiers returned to Canadain early 1915.

Many VADs were anxious to go overseas where the needwas greatest, but it was not until September 1916 that the first contingent ofCanadian VAD members left in response to a request from the British Red Cross.Although the Canadian Army Medical Corps (CAMC) refused to use voluntary nursesin its overseas hospitals, VAD nurses were welcomed into British militaryhospitals. Overall, St. John Ambulance in Canada supplied more than 360volunteers for overseas postings, while many other Canadian VAD membersfinanced their own passages to England and applied directly to British VADheadquarters in London. Working in the British military medical establishment,Canadian VAD nurses served as probationers (trainees) who were supervised byprofessional nurses. As was the case in Canadian convalescent hospitals athome, they assisted with various nursing tasks, such as making beds, preparingdiets for invalids, and ensuring the overall comfort of soldiers. In someinstances, VAD work approached that of trained nurses, as volunteers changedsurgical dressings and performed night duty in charge of wards. Like themilitary nurses under whom they served, Canadian VAD members posted in France,and more distant battle zones were exposed to frontline dangers and hardships.A number of volunteers were recognized for their bravery during enemy attacks.

Both at home and in overseas operations, VAD workvaried greatly depending on the location and hospital type. Detachment membersperformed any number of tasks, working as nurses’ aides, ambulance drivers,clerical staff, and in any other auxiliary capacity required of them during thewar.

VAD nurses also demonstrated their training and skillin the aftermath of the Halifax explosion in December 1917 and during the“Spanish” influenza pandemic of 1918. They provided crucial medical and nursingassistance during these two national crises.

Canadian VAD nursesserved for the duration of the Great War and beyond, helping to care forconvalescent soldiers well after the Armistice in 1918, and were officiallydemobilized in October 1920.
Please email any questions -