REPAIRING WAR'S RAVAGES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 58, 1 December 1917, Page 5

REPAIRING WAR'S RAVAGES

Y.M.C;A. WORK FOR SOLDIERS

As to how the money has been expended which has been forwarded to her from New Zealand for convalescent soldiers at Home, the following extracts from letters which have been received by the hon. secretary of the Codford Convalescent Camp Fund from Miss Clara Rogers (to whom tho monoy was forwarded) will show., Miss Rogers writes on September 10 last from the Y.M.C.A. Soldiers' Club, Oatlandß Drive, Weybridge (Surrey): — "I have to acknowledge from your committee. £150, £6, and £118, being the grand total of £273. I also received half of the £87 sent to Miss Murch by the Mayor of Hawera, so wo have had quite a nice sum of money to spend on comforts for the boys. I think I explained to you in a previous report that I halved all my money with Miss Murch, as it was from Codford I made the appeal, so thought it fair to spend an equal share on each of tho New Zealand areas.

"Up to the present we have given four river Irips to Windsor, each timo taking one hundred and fifty men, and paid for them out of your money. Wo were' so successful that Colonel Mell, tho officer commanding the hospital, asked us to aramge ono for him, much to his satisfaction. Last Friday week we arranged another for Mrs. Allan, whoso husband (Colonel Allan) is wounded and in hospital here. She had received some money from the Morrinsville Red Cross Society, and thought our way of treating the boys was better than any other, as it is more economical and so homely. We do all the baking ourselves." Writing later, in the week to Mr. A. H°gSi general treasurer of the Clara Rogers Comforts Fund (Wellington), Miss Rogers says:— "I must congratulate and thank you and all of those who sent mo the money. I received the last amount, £118, half of which, as usual, I sent to Miss Murch at Codford. You have no idea, how helpful the money has been, and how much the river picnics, parties, and parcels have been appreciated by the boys. I only wish you could bo here to see what it means to give the poor fellows a little bit of comfort, after their long, dreary months of life in the trenches.

"The Y.M. are extending their work throughout England. Besides Walton, Codford, Hornchuroh, Torquay, Sling, and other New Zealand huts and clubs, they aro opening at Boulogne, Boscombo, Newshot, and many other places. In addition to these, of course, there are 'Ossie' and 'Tommy' Y.M.'s, but none of the huts are run as well as the coloniols.' "

' Writing in regard to the work \ which is done for convalescent soldiers ( through funds which are forwarded to tho Y.M.C.A. (in which Miss Rogers's Work is included, a returned soldier, who ie at present in the Victoria Military Hospital, says :— "Since arriving home I have been asked by many of my friends whether the funds sent Home from time to time are spent on our behalf. I think the boys who have been away will agree with me in saying that thoy are—no one could do more than the I.M.C.A. are doing for us. No matter where you go—France, Egypt, or England—you will always find them ready to give you a helping hand. Ofttimes in Egypt in the ovening things would have been very slow had it not been for the Y.M. hut. When one arrived in France it is just the same, while at Staples it was very interesting to go along to the hut for a cup of tea or coffco, whichever it might be. It was just like lining up for a theatre. • One had to get a ticket, and then lino up, and take his turn. Perhaps you might think it wasn't worth it, but I can assure .you it was; and the boys who are leaving shortly will also find it so. I was ono of the lucky ones to get across to 'Blighty,' and,while at Walton Hospital I had the pleasure of going to one of the river trips arranged by the Y.M.C.A. I don't think I ever 'enjoyed anything so much before. One forgets the terrible times he has been through to see all the sights on the way to Windsor Castle, and when arriving there we had the pleasure of looking over the castle and grounds, which one cannot explain in writing. A happier crowd you never met in your life. The Y.M. Soldiers' Club at Walton is a hotne from home. The Indies there are so good, and willing to do anything they can to make you welcome, and the tucker you get is first-class; couldn't even be better. In fact, we cannot say enough of the good work they are all doing. Hats off to the Y.M.C.A—Returned Soldier."