The branch of the Red Cross Society of the Land of the Holy Hungarian Crown in Turski Bečej was established on October 8, 1914, in the Municipal Building, as evidenced by the minutes. Among the founders were Baron Čavoši Ignac with his wife, Dr. Tot Bela, Mrs. Dr. Grin Mora, renowned municipal doctor, Dr. Pivnički Janoš, lawyer, Mrs. Dr. Samek Gustava, Dr. Samek Gustav, lawyer, Dr. Davidović Bogdan, lawyer, Ambruš Artur, the Catholic priest of Novi Bečej, Sivčev Partenije, Orthodox priest, Garai Ižo, president of the Novi Bečej Savings Bank, Mrs. Pulai Romana, landowner, Milan Nićin, merchant, Mrs. Šlezinger Geza, Turinski Svetozar, trader, Ranković Steva, judicial executor, Mrs. Katona N-a, Mrs. Vajs Adolfa, Halmos Lajoš Sr., and Senji Mikloš, a host in Novi Bečej.
Baron Dr. Čavoši István greeted those present and informed them about the need to resume the work of the Local Branch of the Red Cross due to the difficult situation caused by the outbreak of war. On his proposal, Ambruš Artur, the parish priest, was elected president and accepted the offered position. At Ambruš Artur's request, Dr. Tot Bela took the minutes, while the wife of Baron Čavoši Ignac and Sivčev Partenije accepted the role of verifiers. After reading the paragraphs and familiarizing themselves with the basic regulations, those present unanimously accepted and thus founded the branch of the Red Cross in Turski Bečej. According to the minutes, the inauguration of the elected members followed. The following members were elected to the society's committee on the president's proposal:
- Mrs. Baron Dr. Čavoši Ignac,
- Mrs. Pulai Romana,
- Mrs. Dr. Davidović Bogdana,
- Mrs. Šlezinger Izidora,
- Mrs. Ištvánfi Ištván,
- Mrs. Dr. Bizek Deže,
- Mrs. Dr. Kencel Jozefa,
- Mrs. Dr. Grin Mora,
- Mrs. Djiko Janoša,
- Mrs. Dr. Samek Gustava,
- Mrs. Brajtkopf Kálmána,
- Mrs. Deri Šandora,
- Mrs. Garai Iže,
- Baron Dr. Čavoši Ignac,
- Dr. Tot Bela,
- Ištvánfi Ištván,
- Ambruš Artur,
- Sivčev Partenije,
- Polak Emanuel from Novi Bečej,
- Rabbi Dr. Kencel Jozef,
- Ranković Ištván,
- Djiko Janoš,
- Brajtkopf Kálmán,
- Dr. Samek Gustav.
The next day, on October 9, the committee elected and appointed the staff, taking over the hospital with 47 wounded who arrived on September 26 from the K. und K.5 Reserve Velikobečkerek hospital.
For the care of the wounded, the Turski Bečej municipality and the formed Custodian Commission during the war, at the invitation of the District Court Chief, gathered 240 beds, as well as the same amount of bedding, linen, personal hygiene supplies, and placed them in the "Royal" hotel and in the adjoining premises of the Dunđer family house. Ambruš Artur, the president of the Red Cross Society, accepted this equipped hospital, and at the same time, he was chosen as the hospital's economist.
In the house next to the present Health Center, the benefactor Šoljmoš Elemér equipped a hospital with 24 beds from his own funds and undertook to take care of the nutrition of the stationed wounded. It is essential to note that the Vranjevačka municipality (then separate) at an extraordinary meeting of the Council, attended by: Vlaškalić Emil, municipal clerk and secretary, Jovanović Velislav, clerk, Sekulić Miša, tutor, Kokić Milan, judge, Boberić Ćurka, Jagodić Arkadija, Kovács István, and Pejin Sava, jurors, Boberić Paja, Glavaš Vasa, Boberić Ljuba, Vlaškalić Srđa, Đerki Ištván, Lalić Miloš, Koleđin Ćurica, Čikošev Nika, Feješ Janoš, Kurunci Mihalj, Janković Ferenc, Pajić Milutin, Lalić Rada, Ivančev Živko, and Nićin Rada, decided to transfer 580 crowns from the Vranjevačka municipal fund for the purchase of bandages and the overall care of 30 wounded who were on the second floor of the "Royal" hotel. Additionally, 80 fully equipped beds, borrowed from citizens, will be placed on the second floor of the "Royal" hotel.
Dr. Grin Mór trained more than 30 male and female caregivers for the needs of caring for soldiers accommodated in the hospital. An exception consisted of three trained and paid female caregivers. In October 1914, a transport of 113 wounded soldiers arrived from the Velikobečkerek auxiliary hospital. By December, the number of wounded had increased so much that it was necessary to seek assistance from Dr. Vertes Iža from Torda. The efforts of the Red Cross Society to release Deputy District Doctor Dr. Goldman Bela from the Velikokikinda hospital to return home ended in failure.
To maintain order among the soldiers in the hospital, Lieutenant Karakašević Gabor was assigned on October 17, 1914. He remained in this position, as a patient on sick leave, until the K.u.K. command in Veliki Bečkerek assigned him other duties.
On October 28, 1914, the Executive Board of the Red Cross Branch in Turski Bečej entered into a contract with Boberić Lajoš, the lessee of the "Royal" hotel, regarding the catering for all wounded soldiers arriving in Turski Bečej. According to the contract, Boberić Lajoš committed, in addition to the responsibility as a hotelier, to provide each stationed wounded soldier in the "Royal" hotel restaurant and in the Elementary School with:
In the morning: half a liter of milk or half a liter of soup.
At noon: three deciliters of soup, 100 grams of cod, 0.4 liters of cooked food; instead of meat or cooked food, pasta is served once a week.
In the evening: half a liter of soup, 4 dl of cooked food or half a liter of meal in milk, and in addition to this, 400 grams of good bread daily.
The Executive Board of the Turski Bečej branch accepted the contract under these conditions and undertook to pay 1 crown and 60 filler per day for each soldier. The Executive Board calculated the expenses every 14 days. The contract was signed by Baroness Čavoši and Ambruš Artur, the president of the Turski Bečej branch of the Red Cross, and Bogesić Lajoš, the hotelier. As witnesses to the contract, Dr. Grin Mór and Halmos Lajoš Jr., the secretary of the branch, also signed.
The Executive Board of the Association of the Red Cross of the Land of the Holy Hungarian Crown mainly sent circular notices and instructions to all reserve hospitals, recovery stations, auxiliary hospitals, rest houses, and resorts belonging to the Red Cross. One such circular letter dated October 10, 1914, reported on dysentery, typhus, and cholera that had appeared among soldiers fighting on the northern and southern fronts. In this regard, it was ordered, with the aim of supplementing the wide range of preventive measures determined by the government, that each voluntary healthcare institution provide suitable space for infected patients. This was explained by the need to prevent the spread of infection within the hospital area, in rest houses, and among the population. It was forbidden to engage volunteer caregivers on infectious wards. The circular notice was signed by Josipović Geza, Vice President, Deputy President, as well as Baron Fajlitš Berthold, Chief Commissioner, and Economist. Based on this circular notice, the Dunđerski hospital was designated for the accommodation of infected patients, and two paid caregivers were engaged. On the recommendation of hospital doctor Dr. Grin Mór, the supreme judge of Turski Bečej ordered on October 21, 1914, that only deep well water should be used in the lazarette from that day on. Tap water was out of the question due to the cholera epidemic.
It is certain that the management and employees of the Turski Bečej lazarette, as well as members of the local Red Cross Society, treated wounded soldiers arriving from the front with great love and care.
The hospital staff cared for wounded soldiers from the moment of their arrival and placement in the hospital until their transfer, following the rules of the Geneva Conventions. Great attention was paid to hygiene on all hospital wards, and the uniform Red Cross band was worn on the sleeves.
The residents of the town showed great empathy for the recovery of Hungarian, Serbian, German, and soldiers of other nationalities, often surprising them with gifts. On one occasion, they donated 28 hams, 38 kg of bacon, 10 kg of smoked sausages, 1140 eggs, and 20 kg of soap to the wounded soldiers. Tivadar Senci, an engineer and director of the Turski Bečej Association for Flood Protection and Internal Water Regulation, offered two bundles of willow branches cut the previous year to the president of the Red Cross Society on November 30, 1914. Local traders also offered assistance, putting a portion of their merchandise reserves at the disposal of the hospital. Even artisans did not lag behind in helping the hospital and wounded soldiers. Everyone offered something from their professional domain to the leadership of the Red Cross Society. Tailors organized uniforms and bedding, barbers provided regular haircut and shaving services, cobblers repaired shoes and boots, and wax makers supplied enough candles for the upcoming winter period.
It seemed that days in the town passed as before: taverns full of people, peaceful socializing in "Kasina" and the "Royal" restaurant with food and good music, loving couples cooing on the banks of the Tisa, and beautiful promenades. At the market, vendors and fishermen offered their goods behind full stalls, while the merciless war was raging on the fronts of Serbia, Russia, Italy, Montenegro, and Eastern Europe. In the conflict of nations, the number of casualties was increasing, and the Red Cross hospitals were quickly filling up with wounded soldiers. Although the residents of Turski Bečej were far from the front, as they looked at the wounded in their hospital, they worriedly thought about their mobilized sons, fathers, brothers, husbands, and relatives. Many of them joined the Red Cross Branch to express their love for the homeland, but primarily to help the wounded soldiers in need.
The leadership and committee of the Red Cross were in constant contact with the Red Cross Society of the Land of the Holy Hungarian Crown on one side and with the president of the local court, the K.u.K Auxiliary Hospital in Veliki Bečkerek, and, of course, with the leadership of the local hospital, its doctors, and caregivers on the other side. This contact was necessary for the rapid exchange of current information and updates, as well as for the swift execution of orders.
At the meeting of the Committee on November 30th, the hospital management issued the following instructions:
"Hospital commanders, as well as other authorized personnel, especially those involved in the further transport of lighter casualties, should immediately, before the departure of the train (around noon), escort them to the railway station to avoid prolonged exposure in the open. The order is already known to the wounded that receiving cash gifts is prohibited. Further instructions state: 'In the ongoing war, the method of warfare, which is a consequence of the development of firearms, has not only jeopardized the lives of soldiers but has also rapidly disrupted their physical appearance and clothing. All convalescents in the past were discharged after recovery; now, however, due to negligence and neglect, i.e., wrinkled or dirty exteriors, they must be mandatory put in order before appearing in public, as befits the brave soldiers of our glorious army.'
Hospital matrons, widow Hrvat Jožefa and Mrs. Rigo Jožefa, called all main caretakers to the municipal hall on December 9, 1914, with a note to bring a list of names of all subordinate caretakers and nurses to the meeting.
The meeting topic: current affairs and organizing the Christmas celebration.
The Presidency of the Red Cross, through hospital matrons, sent the following invitation to caretakers on December 21, 1914: 'Military commander, Lieutenant Karakašević Gabor, has informed the presidency that he forbids wounded soldiers from taking walks with caretakers. Caretakers are requested to take this into account. The gentleman commander wishes caretakers to spend time with the wounded only as much as necessary for treatment.'
Soldier reservist Ružička Jožef, of the 21st Infantry Regiment, who was cared for at the "Royal" hotel, passed away on December 24, 1914, and found his eternal rest at the Turkish-Béčej cemetery.
From the minutes book, we can read that a regular annual meeting was held on February 15, 1915, discussing events related to the year 1914. It is evident that the ladies of the Society, as well as the caretakers, skillfully and lovingly organized the Christmas celebration.
'In the Šoljmoš estate, the high dignitary personally distributed his gifts to the wounded, and on December 24, the ladies at the "Royal" hotel decorated the Christmas tree and distributed gifts. Wanting to delight the wounded, they shared richer meals, tobacco, and cigarettes. On Orthodox Christmas, Serbian brothers specially hosted the wounded. Some donors gave gifts to the wounded on both Christmases, regardless of religion.'
The report on the five-month income and expenses of the Béčej Red Cross Society for the 1914/15 period was submitted by treasurer Lind Ćula. The income amounted to 34,553 crowns and 3 fillers, while expenses were 24,156 crowns and 23 fillers, leaving a balance of 10,397 crowns and 8 fillers. The annual assembly, at the initiative of Dr. Tot, elected representatives to the county council: Artur Ambruš, Baron Ignac Čavoši, and Istvánfi István. It was emphasized that the membership increased to 271 members. Reverend Artur Ambruš concluded his speech with the words: 'Dear ladies and gentlemen! Difficult days of great times are falling upon us, and our souls, ready for sacrifice, face ever greater trials. If our trial is great by God's permission, let our readiness to endure everything for our homeland be great. Let us be truly brothers today, ready to renounce clearly and with sincere understanding, suffer, work, save, and sacrifice! So may God help us!!!'
The minutes were signed by Baroness Čavoši, President, Artur Ambruš, President, Mrs. Andrashi Rezea, Secretary, and on behalf of the overseers, Mrs. Rihter Huga, Pulai Lilika, and Kasash Sandor.
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