Albany Bell and staff with field ambulance

On the 1st of July, 1916 the motor ambulance was presented by his Excellency the Governor-General and Albany Bell to the Defence Department, on behalf of the firm and employees of Albany Bell, Ltd. When World War I first began, many of the employees of the Albany Bell, Ltd firm explored many different ways in which they could help their country in the war. The employees decided they would put aside 2.5 per cent of their wages towards war relief. When the directors heard about the war relief proposal they offended to join in with a similar proportion of their salaries. They also undertook to match the employee's contributions pound-for-pound. This resulted in the firm rising over 600 pounds in the first year, in which they donated to various relief funds. The second year they decided to purchase a motor ambulance with the funds.  The employees of the firm nominated Mr. Bell's eldest son Private Albany Bell who was away at a camp with the Army Medical Corps, as the driver of the ambulance.