Group    From 8/7/1915  To 1919

Silver Thimble Fund

Categories: Benefactor

Miss {Elizabeth} H. E. Hope-Clarke of Wimbledon, inspired by her own damaged silver thimble, started collecting damaged or unwanted thimbles and other trinkets to contribute to the war effort. She launched the appeal in The Times newspaper in 1915. Undamaged items were sold, others were melted down.

Your Local Guardian tells the story: "Miss Hope-Clarke and her sister were soon joined by Lady Maud Wilbraham and a staff of volunteers. Some 60,000 thimbles were rapidly converted into two ambulances as vast quantities of trinkets arrived at the Hope-Clarkes’ Wimbledon house {2 Church Road}, which remained the fund’s headquarters for nearly the entire period of the war."

Queen Alexandra, the King's mother, became the patron of the fund which went international, to the colonies and beyond. Closed down at the end of the Great War, the charity was re-established in WW2.

Our picture shows one of the ambulances bought by the fund.

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This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
Silver Thimble Fund

Creations i

Thimble shelters - north

The navy has been referred to as "Britain's sure shield" since, at least, Tra...

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Thimble shelters - south

{On the panel, facing the Palace:} Erected by "The Silver Thimble Fund", 1919...

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Other Subjects

Reuben Foundation

Reuben Foundation

Their website: "Contributing to the Advancement of Healthcare & Education Around the World".

Group, Benefactor

1 memorial
Ifor Williams

Ifor Williams

At Annual report of the Royal Northern Hospital : 1946, in a "SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS" we found reference to "Capt. Ifor Williams’ Endowment Fund".  Possibly the son of the Welsh scholar Sir Ifor ...

Person, Benefactor

1 memorial

Previously viewed

All Saints Poplar WW1 memorial

All Saints Poplar WW1 memorial

E14, Newby Street, All Saints church

Tower Hamlets local list gives: "The memorial which is inscribed “TO OUR GLORIOUS DEAD, 1914 – 1918” was unveiled in 1922 by the Suffraga...

1 subject commemorated
Daniel Silver

Daniel Silver

London-based sculptor. Born London, raised in Jerusalem.

Person, Sculpture, Israel/Palestine

1 memorial
Abel J. Hider

Abel J. Hider

Islingtonian who died in the South African War, 1899-1903

Person, South Africa

War dead, Other war
1 memorial
River Tyburn

River Tyburn

Covered over in 1750 but still running, underground from Hampstead to Westminster.  One of its sources is at Shepherd's Well.  Diamond Geezer has tracked the entire course. LondonMyLondon shows it,...

Place, Gardens / Agriculture

4 memorials
Thomas Cobden-Sanderson

Thomas Cobden-Sanderson

W6, Upper Mall, 15

Thomas James Cobden-Sanderson, 1840-1922, founded the Doves Bindery and Doves Press in this house and later lived and died here. Greater ...

3 subjects commemorated, 1 creator