Hallville Canadian Red Cross Quilt, 1940-45 (textile)

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.