The Telegraph Book of Readers' Letters from the Great War (9 page)

Yours faithfully,

A.H. Wrench, Major

The Barracks, Wrexham

I am in touch with many centres of this industry and the boon of employment of needy knitters in fishing villages, &c., will be incalculable. Every order shall be most faithfully carried out, and not the least gratifying part of our endeavours is the expression of appreciation from the Fleet itself and the friends of our gallant defenders.

Faithfully yours,

Agnes S. Fitzherbert

Norbury, Kingswear, South Devon

It may not be widely known that in the art of organ building England stands second to no other nation. Our land is full of organs which, for beauty of tone and perfection of
workmanship, are unrivalled; and this result is due to the skill of thousands of highly trained workers whose lifetime has been devoted to their task.

It is not difficult to see that, owing to the many and far-reaching calls now being made on us all, in many instances the purchase of a proposed new organ will be postponed till ‘after the war'. Wherefore we beg to enter a plea that such postponement should not lightly be made, since the result of it will be, should the war be prolonged, that an art in which we are as a nation pre-eminent will deteriorate, or even be forced, when peace arrives, to start its long and arduous growth
de novo
.

On behalf of the Council of the Royal College of Organists:

(Signed)

Alexander C. Mackenzie, President
J. Frederick Bridge
George C. Martin
Walter Parratt, Vice-President
H.A. Harding, Hon. Secretary
The Royal College of Organists, Kensington Gore, London S.W.

In South Africa a system of separate parcels was adopted, each parcel containing comforts for one soldier. Each man received one shirt, sweater, jersey or cardigan, one pair of socks, one pair of mittens, one small bath towel, soap, handkerchiefs, a muffler, leather bootlaces, a toothbrush, toilet paper,
1
/
4
lb of chocolate, some stationery, an indelible pencil, a pipe,
1
/
4
lb of tobacco, cigarettes and safety matches.

During one year over 236,600 of these parcels were despatched and delivered. They were much appreciated by the men, and greatly contributed towards their health and comfort throughout the campaign. It is now proposed to revive this scheme for the Expeditionary Army in the field. In doing so the committee desires to impress on all existing organisations at present engaged in providing comforts for
the troops that the proposed fund will in no way interfere with or embarrass the valuable assistance which they are rendering. The intention – based on South African experience – is rather to bring all existing effort to the most practical purpose by establishing a central bureau, to ensure coordination, and so avoid, on the one hand, the danger of gifts being duplicated to the same units in the field, and on the other to make sure that provision is made for every unit. To do this effectively requires the cordial co-operation of those engaged in providing particular articles, so that these can be combined in parcels as above described.

Another important consideration, and one which, the committee believes, will commend itself to everyone, is the question of punctual and certain transport of these parcels to the troops. In regard to this the committee is in a position to announce that the War Office has been good enough to give its support to the scheme, and will afford the necessary facilities for conveying consignments of these parcels to the troops in the field.

Mrs William Sclater, who so ably carried out the organisation of the Field Force Fund in South Africa, has again kindly consented to act as honorary secretary, and will most gratefully acknowledge any gifts of the above articles if sent to her, care of Lady Henry Bentinck, 53 Grosvenor Street, W. Any money contributions for the purchase of any of the above articles will be gladly received at the same address by Mr Ralph Upton, who has kindly undertaken the office of honorary treasurer.

Yours faithfully,

President: Eleonora French

Committee:
Winifred Portland
Mabel Airlie
Alice Bective
Olivia Bentinck
Cicely Bentinck
Edith Sclater
Nettie Henderson
H.T. Arbuthnot, Major-General
S.S. Long, Brigadier-General

Hon. Secretary: Charlotte Sclater
Hon. Treasurer: Ralph Upton
Islington

Even assuming there has been an increase of drunkenness among certain classes – and it is not improbable that the amount of insobriety has been greatly exaggerated – it is very undesirable to suggest that a large proportion of the public are so degenerate and neurotic that in their hour of trouble they must fly to strong drink to drown their cares.

With all deference I would suggest that this does not accurately represent the situation, and that the weight of testimony is that the country is bearing itself in this crisis with admirable courage and resolution.

I do not know whence his Grace gathers his information, but there are many big centres in which there has been a marked decrease in drunkenness since the beginning of the war.

I am, Sir, yours faithfully,

G. Read
98 Thurlow Park Road, Dulwich, S.E.

May I entreat you to use your great influence to make military service compulsory during the war and for, say, six months afterwards?

This does not bind the country to compulsory service after that period.

Yours truly,

Francis Ley

Derby