Alexandra Seager ran a small but successful business in the city of Adelaide during World War I, providing household help and workers for homes and businesses across the state. She had three sons and three daughters. Mrs Seager became the co-founder of The Cheer Ups, a group of socially minded volunteers who worked to assist soldiers and the homeless during turbulent times. Read on to learn about her impact on South Australian people.
Like so many families of the time, her older sons signed up to go to war so she soon became familiar with the conditions at the Morphettville military camp where they were sent to do basic training. Other camps were opened at Mitcham and Oaklands Park in Adelaide’s south as the war progressed and Adelaide saw more trainees and troops coming through on leave.
Parade of the first contingent of South Australian soldiers for the First Expeditionary Force, World War One, North Terrace Adelaide, consisting of mounted men, infantry, ammunition wagons, transport wagons and ambulance wagons, 1914. SLSA: B 30437
Written on the negative envelope: '287. Artillery Line, Mitcham Camp, April 1921'. Trainees standing by a water trough and rows of tents, during a training camp held at the Mitcham Camp in April 1921. SLSA: B 76750
Recruits of the 10th Battalion, Morphettville Training Camp, S.A., October 1915. Corporal William Alfred Spurling, (at right) died of wounds received in battle on the Somme, aged 24 years. Other recruits unknown, 1915. SLSA: B 70683/3
Departing soldiers at Adelaide railway station receiving food and drink from women Cheer Up Hut volunteers, photo taken approximately 1917. SLSA: PRG 280/1/9/203
Mrs Seager became increasingly concerned about the conditions at the camps. Not only was there no entertainment to support morale, but the food was poor, and there were outbreaks of disease caused by lack of facilities.
To try to address some of these issues, she decided to create a place where service personnel from all over the world were welcomed and provided with meals, accommodation, and entertainment while they were away from home. At first, this was simply a tent behind the railway station because this was the first place that service personnel arrived in the city.
Bird's-eye view of the interior of the Burra Hall, the main hall of the Cheer Up Hut in Adelaide, set up with tables for dining and with five Cheer Up Society workers standing beside one. There is a piano and phonograph on the stage, which is draped with the Australian flag and the Union Jack, and there are photographs of servicemen around the hall. SLSA: SRG 6/34/14
French soldiers at the Cheer Up Hut, photo taken in approximately 1916. SLSA: B 26347
This photograph shows members of the Semaphore Cheer Up Group, including Army personnel and musicians, at Semaphore. This photograph is attributed to Martin Harold Pulford and was taken in approximately 1914. SLSA B 73157
The volunteers (known as the Cheer Ups) worked tirelessly seven days and nights a week. There are stories of them cooking food in cauldrons in the rain. They served meals to thousands of men, giving them somewhere to go other than a pub.
However, even this was not enough for Mrs Seager. She wanted to help more people, so she gathered the Cheer Ups together and arranged a ‘Violet Day’ to raise funds for a hut that could be used to support more troops.
The first Violet Day was held on 2 July 1915 and was unique to South Australia in size and scope.
Long before the poppy became a symbol, violets were used to remember those who gave their lives for their country. The aim was to raise funds by selling tiny bunches of these flowers along with ribbons, and later badges. The badges were made of tin or cellulose and the State Library collection includes two of the earliest badges produced.
'Remembrance Violet Day 1917', a commemorative badge collected by Lottie Michell between 1915-1919. SLSA: PRG 903/1/4
'Cheer Up Appeal 1919 - Remembrance', a commemorative badge collected by Lottie Michell between 1915-1919. SLSA: PRG 903/1/5
'Violet Day Remembrance 1919', a commemorative badge collected by Lottie Michell between 1915-1919. SLSA: PRG 903/1/6
'Violet Day 1916 - In Memory', a commemorative badge collected by Lottie Michell between 1915-1919. SLSA: PRG 903/1/8
'In Remembrance of Famous SA Troops that helped to secure Victory. Violet Day, 1919', a commemorative badge collected by Lottie Michell between 1915-1919. SLSA: PRG 903/1/9
On this first Violet Day, a single bunch of violets sold for $384, which is around $37,000 in today’s money. This provided a huge boost to the funds needed for the first Cheer Up Hut in Adelaide and the Hut was opened later that year by the Governor, Sir Henry Galway.
A Memorial Wall in the Adelaide Cheer Up Hut commemorated numerous servicemen. One of these was Mrs Seager’s youngest son Lance Corporal George Seager. He enlisted at 17 by lying about his age and sadly, was killed at Gallipoli. On the day that news of George’s death came through, Mrs Seager was working at the hut. She continued to work, as did another volunteer whose husband had died in the same attack. Mrs Seager drilled into her volunteers that they were to keep smiling no matter what and she herself intended to do just that.
The success of the first Cheer Up Hut meant that other huts soon followed in both the suburbs and in country towns. They were all based on the same model and followed the same rules as the original. The Cheer Ups also had their own in-house and travelling concert party and Mrs Seager contributed song lyrics for their performances. You can explore the sheet music in the State Library’s Collection.
Celebrating 'Violet Day' in South Australia, this photo shows members of the Burra Ladies Brass Band, along with two army officers and two men in civilian clothing. Brigadier Antill, Commandant of the armed forces in South Australia, sits third from the left front row next to Sir William Sowden, editor of the 'Register' newspaper. SLSA PRG 280/1/26/188
Mrs Seager and Sir William Snowden, co-founders of the Cheer Up Society, are in the foreground of this photo showing an outdoor function held in the Adelaide Parklands in 1918. A few Cheer Up volunteers and helpers are standing by a basket-woven stretcher bed carrying a wounded soldier. SLSA: PRG 280/1/15/637
Volunteers from the Cheer Up Society and crowds line the road to welcome returning soldiers home to South Australia from the Adelaide Railway Station. A large banner decorated with flags reads 'Thank you ANZACS. From the Cheer Ups', 1918. SLSA: PRG 280/1/15/754
Crowds attended a Violet Memory Day ceremony in honour of the 'Fallen of World War I' held near Anzac Arch in Adelaide, South Australia. The building on the left in the background is the Cheer Up Hut, and in the centre is the City Baths, 1919. SLSA: PRG 280/1/29/106
Other initiatives to support the troops soon followed. Mrs Seager’s volunteers encouraged the recognition of returning soldiers with parades under the Anzac Arch. Now demolished due to safety concerns, the Arch once stood behind Adelaide Railway Station and Parliament House. The work of the Cheer Ups extended to helping those who returned wounded or shell-shocked, and comforting families and friends who had lost loved ones.
In later years, Mrs Seager moved to Kangaroo Island to live with her remaining family. Severe arthritis prevented her from taking part in the Cheer Up Hut activities during World War II. Although the building no longer exists, the Violet Day fundraiser continued for almost 60 years.
Today Mrs Seager’s legacy is honoured through her plaque on North Terrace. It forms part of the Jubilee Walk which celebrates those who have made major contributions to South Australia.
MORE TO EXPLORE
A vast collection of commemorative badges collected by Lottie Michell between 1915-1919. SLSA: PRG 903/1/1-208
A photo of the front of an embroidered postcard, dated July, sent by Alfred Duncan, a soldier fighting in France, to his mother in Adelaide. The words 'Sweet remembrance' are embroidered on the front. The year is likely 1916. SLSA: PRG 544/10
Written by Isabel Story, Engagement Librarian