WI Women at War

Littleport 1940 Making bed socks, operation socks and triangular bandages; feeding evacuees; holding a jumble sale to raise funds for wool and hospital supplies and knitting 20 pairs of socks for the Searchlight Unit, Mildenhall Rd.

Guyhirn Dec 1941 Mrs Howard, Mrs Norris and Mrs Kerridge offered hospitality to soldiers on Christmas Day.

Chatteris 1941 It was proposed that land girls working in the town be admitted to all meetings.

Haddenham April 1941 A Preserving Centre was set up and in 1942 rose hip gathering took place as rose hips were a source of Vitamin C.

Littleport 1941 Organising entertainment by evacuee children and providing tea for approximately 88 RAF hospital patients.

Christchurch 1943 Since the Jam Centre was opened at Townley School in 1941, 2055 lbs of jam has been made.

Doddington 1943 A centre was set up to distribute cod liver oil and orange juice for the village children. Land Army girls were made honorary members of the WI. £237 was collected for Wings for Victory. 20 toys were sent to children who had been 'bombed out'.

Outwell August 1944 Mrs Conway read a letter from Mrs Dash (a Frenchwoman) who visited Outwell in 1943. Her letter appealed for gifts of soap & other household commodities, of which there is a great scarcity in France. The appeal met with a good response, and gifts will be sent as soon as possible.

Prickwillow 1944 Men in the Forces in Ward 12 at the RAF Hospital, Ely, became the focus of charity for Prickwillow WI and gifts were purchased for them : cigarettes; stamps; razor blades; shaving soap; postcards.

Doddington 1944 A New Year party included nurses from the hospital and Land Army girls. Members collected money to pay for newspapers for soldiers who were patients at Doddington Hospital.

Haddenham January 1945 Parcels of goods were sent to France and in July food parcels were sent to Holland.

Benwick 1945 A letter of thanks and receipt for £15.2.6 collected by the carol singers for the Prisoner of War Fund.

Littleport November 1946 Distribution of food from The Dominions to the old and needy.

And not only the two World Wars; Black Horse Drove Dec 1962 Demonstrator was Mrs Lister, a Civil Defence Welfare Organiser, who gave a very interesting talk on how women could prepare a room in the event of nuclear attack.