The Ladies Auxiliary To West Vancouver Branch 60
Ladies Auxiliary History
The Ladies Auxiliary (L.A.) Charter was signed on October 23, 1930. The majority of the members were wives of veterans.
During these early days, the L.A., with great enthusiasm, began their long commitment for raising monies, no matter how small, through whist, bingo, teas, bazaars, etc. These monies were used to help the Branch, less fortunate and needy in our community.
One of these members, Mrs. B. Batchelor, was chosen to attend the province-wide organization known as L.A. Command as an Executive Member. Through her involvement and the growing desire to help during the Depression, the “Milk Fund” was started. Donations came from such organizations and businesses as the I.O.D.E., Dairyland and Palm Dairies, which enabled each and every child in school to receive free milk at lunch. In West Vancouver, the L.A. and the Branch also provided fresh vegetables, eggs, and needed clothing for those less fortunate. This pulled the community together and has continued in some ways today.
West Vancouver celebrated May 24th as “May Day”. All schools, churches and organizations took part in this celebration. The Legion and the L.A. manned the refreshment tent at Ambleside Park. Mr. & Mrs. Barnett were instrumental in spearheading this undertaking and it continued into the 1960’s. Each school child received a ticket for a refreshment, all thanks to the L.A. and the Branch.
During the war years, the L.A. again took a leading role in encouraging the ladies of West Vancouver to support the Red Cross’ call for knitted socks, mitts, scarves, etc., to send to the troops. We opened our hall and three days a week got together for a concerted effort to provide these things. The L.A. enjoyed the company and friendship and therefore accomplished far more knitted goods than by staying at home.
The L.A., through Command, sent members to meet the trains when the wounded came home and supplied comforts with a smile.
Members of the L.A. attended Shaughnessy Hospital and the Red Cross Lodge to visit veterans and take their turn serving soup and sandwiches to those veterans recuperating in the hospitals. In the 1980’s and the 1990’s, our L.A. had volunteer members attend Evergreen House at Lions Gate Hospital at the same time when Branch members looked after the bar on their Happy Hour evenings. The volunteers spent time with the patients, imparting friendliness with a smile.
During the floods in 1947-48, the L.A. and the St. John’s Ambulance provided soup, sandwiches and coffee for the volunteers, firemen and police.
After the war, with a surge of newer and younger members in both the Branch and the L.A., they spread their wings and continued to raise money by starting to hold much larger teas, bazaars, dances, rummage sales and dinners, etc.
Each November 11th, the L.A. hosted a dinner for all veterans and continued this popular event for many years. In the 1980’s and 1990’s, this was held at noon and again at 1:30 p.m.
They also provided soup and sandwiches on Poppy Tagging Days and after the Sunday cemetery service. After the demise of the Branch L.A., former members carried on this tradition.
It should be noted here that the L.A. supplied all the appliances, dishes, silverware, pots and pans for the original kitchen. They also supplied replacements during their tenure.
In 1955, the Branch was asked whether they could help in providing Blood Donor Clinics and the L.A. became totally involved with the Red Cross and the T.B. Clinics in Vancouver. For many years, the Blood Donor Clinics under the chairmanship of Isabel Ross and Isabel Colpitts were held at the Branch in the upstairs hall. Eventually this became too small to cater to the response from the public and in the 1980’s, it was transferred to the Mall at Park Royal and then to the Community Centre. The Branch and L.A. were involved up to the time the clinics were discontinued.
One of the L.A. commitments had been to the Annual Poppy Campaign. They took on the responsibility of supplying the schools with poppies, took shifts for poppy tagging, as well as catering soup and sandwiches for all the volunteers when they returned from tagging.
The unsung heroines of the Branch L.A. were the members who devoted their time and talents behind the scenes. Cooking, serving, washing up, laying the tables and decorating the hall for the many special events that they put on. Some of these events were:
The veterans lunches started in 1965 and the veterans of Shaughnessy Hospital were the first visitors. These luncheons were extended to veterans from The George Derby Centre, Brock Fahrni and veterans from Memorial Manor. The Branch has continued with this practice and these occur three times a year.
In 1969, to encourage more members to attend the Branch’s General Meeting, the Branch asked the L.A to provide a dinner on these nights, which they did until 1995.
Last, but not least, are the funeral receptions for veterans. After a funeral or memorial service, family and friends would be invited to the Branch hall where the L.A. would serve sandwiches, sweets, coffee and tea. This would be done at cost and when the family could not afford the reception, the L.A. absorbed these costs. This practice is also continued by the Branch today.
In the 1980’s and 1990’s, the Branch did not need the extra financial help that the L.A. provided in the past. The L.A. were then able to donate to local projects and charities of their choice as follows:
The L.A. as an organization has always supported the Branch, Zone and Command and has provided leadership in this area. Throughout the years, they have had many ladies willing to devote their time and effort for the Royal Canadian Legion. Proof of this is when three members went on to become President of the L.A. Pacific Command, and they are Emily Green (1951-53), Dorothy Wells (1967-69) and Dolly Cartwright (who served two terms of 1977-79 and 1981-83). Dolly Cartwright was also L.A. Branch President for a total of nine years.
Edith Stokes was a L.A. member of Branch 60 for 63 years. Bill Dee was awarded the only L.A. Honourary Membership for his contributions to the Branch L.A.
With falling membership, it was with reluctance that the Branch L.A. surrendered their Charter in a solemn ceremony on December 14, 1999 after 69 years of service to their Branch and community. At that time, they donated the balance of their bank account, over $5,000.00, to the Branch to be used for veterans’ lunches.
