Camels, like horses, have been used in warfare for centuries. Their ability to carry heavy loads and go for days without water made them ideally suited for patrol and transport work during the desert campaigns of World War I.

Irene was active in the Australian Comforts Fund and the Women’s Australian National Service during World Wars I and II, and in many other associations and charities.

Irene Victoria Read accompanied her husband, Dr William Henry Read, to the 2nd Australian General Hospital in Cairo in 1915.

Irene and William collected this piece of recently clipped camel hair from one of the camels in the Australian Camel Corps in Egypt. They sent the camel hair back to their six-year-old daughter Margaret as an interesting souvenir from Egypt.