WWI ARCS Voluntary Motor Service certificate
1920Australian Red Cross Society, N.S. Wales Division ,Voluntary Motor Service certificate issued to Mrs G. McColl for services rendered using Red Cross Car No. 330 between 1915-1920.
The rectangular certificate is made from cream card with two borders - a light grey blue around the centre and a darker grey blue around the outside.
The words 'Australian Red Cross Society' are written in dark blue Gothic script across the top, under which is the Red Cross symbol, with 'N.S. Wales on the left and 'Division' on the right in upper case blue letters. The phrase 'Voluntary Motor Service' is printed below in Gothic script and then the date '1915-1920'.
The central rectangle contains the name of the recipient and her car number, plus the dedication and signatures of office bearers.
The back of the certificate is plain.
It is not known who Mrs G. McColl was, but she did her bit by allowing her motor vehicle to be used to transport returned servicemen and women.
Sir James Oswald Fairfax (1863–1928) was the Chairman of the Australian Section of the Empire Press Union as well as Chairman of the New South Wales Division of the Australian Red Cross Society.
Miss Claire Garvan was the Hon. Secretary involved in coordinating the cars to be used in the Voluntary Motor Service. She was recognised in the London Gazette of 19 October 1920 for services as a voluntary motor transport worker in New South Wales.
An article from the Sydney Morning herald dated 3 May 1918 explains the service:
"The Minister for Recruiting has
called on owners of motor can to
register their cars for the public service,
especially in connection with the
conveyance of home-coming sick and
wounded soldiers.
The chairman of the executive,
N.S.W. division of the Red Cross
Society, has published an appeal point-
ing out that the special service requires
a very large number of cars,
There are 7000 motor cars registered
in Sydney, but only 400 to 500
have been offered. Our cars are called
out in turn through notice in the daily
Press at the instance of the Red Cross
motor service, under the direction of
Miss Claire Garvan.
It has only to be brought home to
car owners that the duty is imposed
upon them to render this public service,
and the number of cars placed
at the disposal of the voluntary motor
service will be increased tenfold.
Thirty cars are called out for the
service of a small detachment of soldiers
returning home to-day, the
Governor's car being of the number.
The larger the number enrolled the
less often will the demands be made
on the owners. Owners provide their
own drivers ; there need be no damage
done to the cars; the self-denial is
trifling. I hope therefore that owners
will respond with alacrity to the requirements
of the Minister for Be
cruising and to the appeal of the Red
Cross.
* MARGARET DAVIDSON,
President of the
New South Wales Division,
Australian Branch of the B.B.C.,
May 2, 1918.
Owners who are willing to register
their cars with the service are kindly
requested to communicate with Miss
Garvan, Red Cross Motor Service, 26
Castlereagh-street, Sydney.
Details
Details
From top to bottom of certificate:
"Australian Red Cross Society
N.S. WALES DIVISION
Voluntary Motor Service
1915-1920"
"Mrs G. McColl
Red Cross Car No. 330
Presented in Grateful Recognition
of valuable service in the Transport
by Car of Soldiers, Sailors and Nurses,
on their return to Australia from the
Great War"
"J.O. Fairfax
Chairman/Red Cross Executive
Other items by Australian Red Cross Society
- Australian Junior Red Cross certificate and badge awarded to Janice Heartfield
- Australian Red Cross Society Christmas card 1917
- Australian Red Cross Society Christmas card 1918
- Australian Red Cross Society Christmas card undated
- WWI ARCS good service certificate awarded to Ethel Tiplady
- Australian Red Cross Society Hand Book and Diary 1944
- Australian Junior Red Cross armband
- WWI ARCS (SA Division) Red Cross Rest Room invitation
- Australian Red Cross Society (Victorian Division) collection tin
- Framed Australian Red Cross Society postcard
- WWI ARCS devoted service certificate awarded to Mrs Hartigan
- ARCS (NSW Division Drummoyne Branch) Invitation to Annual Meeting 1950
Other items from Recollections of War
- 'Blinky Bill Joins the Army' by Dorothy Wall 1943
- 'Blinky Bill' calendar 1944
- 'Blinded but Unbeaten' book published by The Repatriation Commission 1950
- WWI silk postcard sent to Ethell May from Daddy
- WWI silk postcard sent for Christmas
- WWI silk postcard sent to Irene Glayds from Daddy
- WWI silk Christmas card sent to wife, Ethell and Glayds from Daddy
- WWI silk postcard sent for 'Happy New Year'
- WWI silk postcard sent for 'A Happy New Year' from William to Jean
- WWI silk postcard sent to Irene Glayds from Daddy June 21 1916
- WWI silk postcard sent to Ethel, Gladys and Daisy from Wally 5 August 1916
- WWI silk postcard 'A Kiss from France' sent in 1916


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