Supporting Canada's Armed Forces - 
Our Contribution  to Canada's War Efforts

1900 
IODE was founded in 1900 by Margaret Polson Murray of Montreal who recognized a need for loyal support for Canadians departing to fight with the Empire forces in South Africa during the time of the Boer War. IODE members raised funds to send comforts to the soldiers in South Africa and the men of the Royal Navy. 
 
The IODE South Africa Graves Fund was established in 1901 to maintain graves in intervening years. On the home front, IODE assisted in establishing and maintaining tubercular sanatoriums and other forms of social service. 
 
During the periods of World War I and II, IODE members assisted with the purchase of hospitals, hospital ships, ambulances, bomber and fighter aircraft and sent field comforts for Canadian service personnel, relief to prisoners of war and refugee camps, established libraries and canteens for servicemen and contributed millions of volunteer hours to the service of Canada. 
 
World War I
1914 – 1918
Total Support: $5,500,000
IODE members proposed a fund to pay for a hospital ship and chapters raised $282,857 with the Government of Canada contributing $10,000. The project was considered  impractical by the British Government and the fund was placed in the hands of HRH The Duchess of Connaught, wife of His Excellency, the Governor General of  Canada. The War Office received $100,000 from the fund to purchase ambulances for England and France. The remainder of the fund was used to erect a wing in the naval hospital at Haslar for the use of the nurses who called the wing Canada Block. 

Chapters in Canada established centres for making field comforts and hospital supplies.  Members worked in canteens and prepared boxes of food and clothing for Prisoners of  War. They raised money for ambulances, wheelchairs, stretchers and guns.  They  established kitchens and clubs for returning servicemen. 
 
In England, contributions were sent to establish Maple Leaf Clubs for Canadians on leave as well as a club for Canadian nurses in Lancaster Gate, London.  
        ·$23,607: British Sailor’s Relief Fun
        ·$2,623: St. Dustan’s Home for Blinded Servicemen
        ·$2,196: POW Relief Fund
        ·$3,000: Secours Nationale French Relief Fund

 In 1917, money and clothing were sent to Halifax, Nova Scotia to assist in the relief efforts of the Halifax Ammunition Explosion. 

1924
In 1924, to honour the 90 Canadian soldiers who gave their lives, a monument was unveiled in Bloemfontein, South Africa. To honour Canadians who gave their lives or suffered disabilities in the two World Wars, two War Memorial Funds for education were established. Over four million dollars have been awarded from the Funds. Today, five scholarships of $15,000 are awarded annually as IODE War  Memorial Doctoral Scholarships. 

World War II
1939 - 1950
Total Support: $5,365,440
The crew of the HMCS Magnificent, an aircraft carrier, was supplied with comforts, books and amenities by the National and primary Chapters of IODE. 
 
In 1940, IODE presented to the Canadian Government $100,000 raised in one month for the purchase of a Bolingbroke Bomber. The bomber, known as “Ida”, was flown by a  Hamilton Squadron as the crew patrolled the west coast for seven years on submarine patrol. It crashed and burned in Lethbridge, AB with no loss of life. IODE has contributed significant funds to the restoration of a “Boly”, which can be seen in the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, Mount Hope, ON. 
 
A unique wartime gift in 1943-44 was the shipment of 87 wedding outfits to the Women’s Service Headquarters to be distributed to British service women. 
 
Members of IODE in Toronto, Ontario received commendations from 19 ships of the Canadian Navy with thanks for the support of their seamen. 
 
Chapters raised $50,000 for the purchase of a fighter plane, which was sent to Australia. 

Camp libraries were started and over 1,400,000 books and magazines were collected and sorted by IODE members and distributed at a cost of $105,188. 
 
The IODE War Guest Fund was established where guests and families received a monthly allowance supported by The Imperial Oil Co. 

IODE supported the sale of War Stamps and Certificates with the Government of Canada in an IODE folder which encouraged national saving. Sales over a five year period amounted to $183,576. 

IODE RCAF Chapter adopted a Lancaster Bomber, (P. for “Peter” of the Ghost Squadron).  The bomber served on many missions and survived the war. 

Massive quantities of clothes, medical supplies and food were sent for relief of displaced persons. $100,000 was raised across Canada by exhibiting a needlepoint  carpet made by Queen Mary and was used to provide much needed dollars for  Britain following the Second World War. 

During the period of 1946 to 1950, IODE members across Canada contributed significantly  to World War II war efforts. 

        - 1939: $111,775
        - 1940: $691,321
        - 1941: $885,211
        - 1942: $935,286
        - 1943: $935,286
        - 1944: $892,306
        - 1945: $913,861
Total Value of Field Comforts: $1,090,048
Total Value of Polish Relief: $299,831
Total Value of British Civilian Relief: $1,095,503
Total Value of Field Comforts for Seamen: $925,280
  
Korean War
1950 – 1953
During this time period, IODE send Christmas parcels and cigarettes to our servicemen. 
 
Four annual shipments of powdered milk, drugs and clothing were sent to the British Save the Children Fund in Korea which continued for 20 years amounting to $1,000,000.

An X-ray machine with films, developer and supplies were shipped to Korea for a tuberculosis clinic in Puscan. 

Since 1950, Canadian WWI and WWII veterans and/or their dependents living in Britain have been provided annually with a Christmas voucher. 

2003
IODE established the IODE Juno Beach Centre Fund to assist with equipment for the Centre. 

2007
IODE Canada donated $5,000 for the Wall of Memory, Canadian War Museum. 
 
2008 to present
IODE Canada created a calendar, IODE Honours Canada’s Armed Forces at Work 2009 with a message from the Minister of Defence, The Honourable Minister Peter MacKay,  P.C., M.P. 

IODE recognizes our members and their families who are serving or served with our Canadian Forces in a United Nations Peacekeeping Mission overseas with a UN Peacekeeper Bar. 

On July 1st, a wreath is laid annually in Newfoundland. It is in memory of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment who went into battle in World War I at Beaumont Hamel where only 68 of the Regiment of 802 survived after thirty minutes of conflict. 

Each year on Remembrance Day, wreaths are placed at the National Cenotaph in Ottawa  and at the cenotaph in St. John’s, Newfoundland to remember and honour those who have fallen, while serving our country. 

While Canadian Forces are serving in Afghanistan, letters and cards are being sent by IODE members. As well, we support Military Family Resource Centres. 
 
Prepared by: 
Barbara Johnston, Archivist
Ann Dyer, Public Relations Officer
IODE Canada
May 2010