Welfare Vehicles

[Mike K]

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C356129

Description
Informal portrait of Red Shield War Representatives Major Charles B (Charlie) Cross (left) and Major Arthur William 'Mac' McIlveen (right) of the Salvation Army standing behind the open doors of their Citroen T23 1.5 ton cargo truck. The vehicle has the registration number V-15119 and the insignia of the Salvation Army, a Red Shield, painted on either door. McIlveen trained as a Salvation Army officer in Melbourne and tried to enlist as a Padre during the First World War but the Salvation Army refused to send him as his superiors considered him ‘too reckless’. Instead McIlveen enlisted as a private in the AIF on 9 July 1918 but it proved an anti-climax as he was still aboard the transport vessel SS Wyreema when the armistice was signed and he was sent home. During the Second World War, aged 54, he served as a Salvation Army Representative and an unofficial Padre attached to the 2/9th Battalion. At Tobruk, he was known for his fearlessness, taking news and any comforts he could find out to soldiers in the field. On his return from overseas service he served as a Salvation Army Prison Officer in NSW and he was made a Brigadier in 1938. He was awarded the Member of the British Empire (MBE) on 10 June 1961, in 1967 he was admitted to the Order of the Founder, the Salvation Army's highest award, and was knighted for his services to ex-servicemen on 1 January 1970. Sir Arthur William McIlveen died on 1 May 1979 at the Repatriation General Hospital, Concord, and was buried in Woronora cemetery with full military honours.

[Mike K]

Another West. Australia scene. A Ford Prefect/Popular ute and a 1939 Ford van named DIGGER.

https://collectionswa.net.au/items/9...6-131aa1dc2439

[Mike K]

https://collectionswa.net.au/items/0...0-2027ef3d86ed

International K series trucks fitted with the Aust. pattern canvas top cabs with half doors. From memory , these cabs have a wooden frame.

Historical information

The Australian Comforts Fund was established in August 1916 to co-ordinate the activities of the state based patriotic funds, which were established earlier in World War I. Mainly run by women, they provided and distributed free comforts to the Australian 'fit' fighting men in all the battle zones. They became divisions of the Australian Comforts Fund. The Council of the Fund comprised two delegates from New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland and one from the states of Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania. The Executive headquarters was located in Sydney. It ceased operation on 10 April 1920 and was reconstituted in World War II in June 1940 and ceased operation again on 27 June 1946.

Details