麻豆社

In 1915, The War Hospitals Supplies Depot was set up at a small premises in Cross Street, to meet the growing need for medical supplies for the wounded at home and abroad.

It consisted of eight departments: Bandages and Swabs, Splint Padding, Papier Mache Splints, Slippers and Shoes, Carpentry, French Polishing of Crutches, Crutch head filling and Packing. Specialist items such as pneumonia jackets and artificial limbs were also made.

The Depot proved so successful it quickly had to move to larger premises on nearby Duke Street. Around 60 working parties were eventually established across Berkshire.

Local tradesmen used their expertise to train people in craftwork and over 1,500 volunteers, including school children, made items at the depot or picked up raw materials and worked from home or in the community.

In the three and a half years it was open, thousands of articles were dispatched and more than 拢9,000 was raised.

Location: Reading War Hospitals Supplies Depot, 24 Cross Street, Reading RG1 1SN
Photo courtesy of Berkshire And The War
麻豆社 Reporter Janice Hunter talking to Dave Bilton, Military Historian

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