Lives of the First World War

C. 1916. STUDIO PORTRAIT OF MRS T.E. BARR SMITH CBE, A MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE OF THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BRANCH OF THE BRITISH RED CROSS SOCIETY FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE WAR AND ALSO CHAIRMAN OF THE BUYING COMMITTEE. HER OWN PRIVATE ENTERPRISE WAS THE RED CROSS SOCK CLUB, WHICH SHE STARTED IN 1915-05. DURING THE WAR MRS BARR SMITH SENT OVER 128,000 PAIRS OF SOCKS AND OVER 16,000 WOOLLENS DIRECT TO THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF EACH AUSTRALIAN BATTALION, AND SHE HAS A WHOLE CUPBOARD FULL OF THANKS FROM THE MEN. SHE PERSONALLY IMPORTED MOST OF THE WOOL AND SUPPLIED IT GRATIS TO THOSE WHO WERE WILLING TO KNIT SOCKS BUT COULD NOT AFFORD TO PURCHASE IT. MRS BARR SMITH WAS ALSO THE ONLY WOMAN ON THE COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS REST ROOM FOR SOLDIERS AT THE QUEEN'S HALL. SHE PAID INNUMERABLE VISITS TO THE RED CROSS MILITARY HOSPITALS, AND HER WONDERFULLY FINE RECORD OF WAR WORK GAINED FOR HER THE DISTINCTION OF BEING THE ONLY WOMAN IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA WHO RECEIVED THE ORDER OF CBE.