Immediately after World War II many war widows were adrift - often voiceless, suffering economic hardship and forgotten in the celebratory aftermath of war when commitments made to servicemen in the tumult of wartime were overlooked. Mrs Jessie Vasey established the Guild in 1945 in Victoria and in New South Wales in 1946. The Guild is a national organisation representing war widows - many thousands over the years - who banded together behind their leadership and lobbied for benefits for war widows. This is the history of the guild in New South Wales: a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee whose mission is to promote and protect the interests of war widows. Established by women for women the Guild has fought to improve the financial and social circumstances of members."-- Preface.