1940 - 1949:  Peace Interrupted

Missing Soldiers The Bureau for Wounded, Missing and Prisoners of War began in Sydney during the Great War. It would be at its busiest during World War II. During 1944 & 1945, for example, 50,159 messages, generated from NSW alone, were transported into enemy held territory. This service also assisted with the delivery of care parcels to POWs from loved ones back home.

Adopting Prisoners Concern over the physical and mental health of POWs was a preoccupation for Australian Red Cross. A number of initiatives addressed these issues. One of the more interesting and successful schemes was the ‘Adopt a Prisoner of War’ program. Under the scheme any citizen could adopt a POW by contributing one pound a week. This covered the cost of sending a POW parcel.  Special attention was paid to what goods went into the parcels; vitamin and protein rich foods were a priority. It was not just the armed forces that got special attention. There was a concern that, overall, the Australian population was undernourished and so the National Red Cross Nutrition Committee was established. The committee and its activities complimented a commonwealth government program that disseminated the principles of nutrition across the country.  Lectures and seminars were held with a key focus on women’s organisations, youth clubs, mothers groups, state and primary schools and employees in the heavy industries.

On the move In 1915, the Transport Service commenced and soldiers who had returned on hospital ships, were driven to home. By the end of 1916 the total number of cars was 2,500, half of which were on overseas battlefields. It was during the forties that the Transport Service peaked and duties varied from daily ambulance rounds to hospitals and weekly outings with patients, to delivering and collecting materials. Australian Red Cross also developed the Cycle and Motor Cycle Corps, with volunteers delivering special Red Cross messages or small parcels.