Hallville Canadian Red Cross Quilt

Maker:

UNKNOWN

Date:

1940 - 1945

This quilt is mainly constructed from dress and blouse rayons in a variety of spotty and checked designs, and shows that all material was deemed suitable in such times of shortage. The central strip has an embroidered inscription ‘Hallville, Ont. R. Cross’.

It was given to a family in kent whose house was hit by a ‘doodlebug’ whilst they were away on holiday with their neighbours. The owner remembers staying with his grandparents until they were able to return to their home in 1945, which is when they received the Red Cross parcel that contained this quilt.

Thousands of quilts were sent over from the Canadian Red Cross Society to Britain in the Second World War to aid the War relief. They were given to families that had been bombed out of their houses as well as members of the armed forces, hospitals and hostels. Quilts were made quickly and were often utilitarian in style, and the crazy block was one of the most popular styles as any size and colour of fabric scrap could be used. Each quilt had a small label sewn on which read 'Gift of the Candian Red Cross Society'. The women who made the quilt remain anonymous, as it was forbidden for them to put their names to the quilts they made.

The red cross emblem is a protective symbol used during armed conflicts and its use is restricted by law. The Quilters' Guild wishes to thank the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence and the British Red Cross Society for authorisation to display the Canadian Red Cross quilts bearing the emblem on our collections website.