Clara Bartholomaeus

In researching First World War knitting I came across the story of Clara Bartholomaeus, the secretary of the Soldiers Aid Society in Burra during the war. 

Clara Wilhelmina Bartholomaeus was born in Aberdeen, Burra, South Australia in 1892. She appears in the local papers for several awards during her schooling before she went to Methodist Ladies College in Adelaide. Her knitting and fundraising work during the First World War can be found chronicled in the Burra Record (for example Burra Record ‘Soldiers Aid Society, Burra’ 15 November 1916, p. 2). 

Clara moved to Glenelg later in her life. She never married but was recalled fondly by her family for her letter writing and her care of nieces and nephews.