| Administrative History | The first meeting of the Incorporated Soldiers and Sailors Help Society, Aberdeenshire Branch, was held in Aberdeen on 23rd August 1902. The Earl of Aberdeen was appointed chairman and eminent early members of the society included the Marquis of Huntly and Lord Semphill. Representatives of the armed forces were also in attendance.
The Aberdeenshire Branch was part of a nation-wide organisation of the same name. It had been founded in 1899 to provide for "the welfare of soldiers and sailors - both during their service and after leaving the colours". Servicemen (and later women) and their dependants were supplied with both material and moral assistance. This included help to find employment, money, food and clothing when unemployed and without other income, and also help to access medical assistance when in bad health. The 'Lord Roberts Workshops' section of the society trained disabled servicemen, and ex-servicemen to learn a craft and to sell their wares. The Society was funded by a mixture of donations, collections and annual subscriptions. It changed its name to the Incorporated Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen's Help Society in 1940, after the creation of a separate and independent Air Force in 1921. A subsequent name change to the Forces Help Society occurred in 1948 in response to the admission of women to the regular forces. In 1997, it merged with the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen & Families Association to form SSAFA - Forces Help. |