Womans jacket : Miss Ada M Hogg, Assistant Quartermaster of the Australian Division of the British Red Cross Accession Number: REL/00191.001

Description

Dark blue wool gabardine single-breasted loose-fitting jacket from the British Red Cross Society, Australian Division. The collar is open with oxidised brass collar badge similar to the Australian Army general service 'Rising Sun' badge but with a red enamel cross in the centre, a kings crown superimposed on the rays near the top, and 'AUSTRALIA' in the scroll at the bottom. 'J R GAUNT LONDON' is impressed in the rear of the collar badges. Pinned to the lapel below the right collar badge is an oxidised brass guild badge. It is circular, with a king's crown sitting above the Royal Arms, and a two part cypher 'H/MR/G'. The dark blue (faded) shoulder straps are secured by a small black plastic 'BRITISH RED CROSS SOCIETY' brass button with a shield embossed with a cross in the centre, made by 'HALESOWEN/JAS GROVE & SONS'. All the buttons on the jackets are of the same design. Stitched to the shoulder strap is an assistant quartermaster's single padded cloth rank star which is embroidered in bullion wire and has a faint red cross stitched in the centre. Oxidised brass curved 'AUSTRALIA' shoulder titles and a single letter 'R' (reserve) have also been fitted to the outer end of both of the shoulder straps. Below the left side collar badge is a ribbon bar for 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20, and Victory Medal. Below the waist are two patch pockets with an oxidised 'BRITISH RED CROSS SOCIETY' buttoned flap. The jacket is fastened along the front with three large 'BRITISH RED CROSS SOCIETY' buttons. The belt is secured with the same button, and is held to the waistline by small tape belt loops. There are three white horizontal woven stripes on both of the upper arms. On the lower right arm is an embroidered double chevron on a cloth backing. The cuffs have two 'BRITISH RED CROSS SOCIETY' buttons. Above both of the cuffs is woven blue and white braid on black cloth backing. The braid has two wide bands of blue divided by a narrow white band. The jacket has been fully lined with silk. The maker's label is sewn inside the back of the jacket at the top, 'LADIES' TAILORS HABIT MAKERS & FURRIERS/ M.SILVERMAN & CO./73 WIGMORE ST. CAVENDISH SQUARE W.

Contextual Description

Ada Hogg described her activities during the war; ' I..went to France (on 20th September 1915) as Hon. Secretary of No. 1 Red Cross Hospital ...' She transferred to the Australian Division of the British Red Cross Society in August 1918 and 'did a special job for them in London'.. Hogg continued Red Cross work as a VAD (Voluntary Aid Detachment) until 30th June 1919. She successfully passed the tests for the Surgical Requisites Association, and held a badge and badge certificate of the Orthopaedic Branch of Queen Mary's Needlework Guild. "For my work in connection with the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association I was presented with a beautiful certificate by Royalty" .
VAD's were raised from Red Cross and the Order of St. John members in the First World War. They worked for no pay, and were able to release men for active duty. They worked in military and domestic hospitals, Red Cross convalescent homes, troop ships, trains, and canteens, providing basic nursing and domestic services, including cleaning and cooking. After 1916 they were able to work in Military hospitals not only in Australia, but also in France and Flanders, often near the front lines.