ENGLISH HOSPITALITY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 290, 27 August 1918, Page 6

ENGLISH HOSPITALITY

A NEW ZEALANDEII'S TESTLAIONY ■ffliilsfc at Hoadr[uart<;rs iu London Sergeant Burbush, of Auckland, who recently returned from London, organised the Headquarters' Club, which )vas given room iu the basement of the new quarters in Jilooinsbury Square, thanks to the consideration,of General Richardson. This club was primarily formed to improve the condition of the men (not officers) working at New Zealand Headquarters: Tins staff, numbering between 350 and 400 ii.c.o.'s and men, look after pay, etc., of all troops after they leave' New Zealand, be they in Egypt, Palestine, Mesopotamia, Franco, or England. It wiis a very big department, and everyone in it had to work hard—there was not the slightest doubt about that. The men on the staff two years ago were given day billeting and rationing allowance, and they lived in private houses in the Bloomsbury district. But the civilians' ration was very poor, so by means of the club the men were placed on Now Zealand soldiers' rations, which was much better. It enabled everyone to get two square meals a day at a shilling a meal that would cost 3s. or 4s. outside. Sergeant Burbush was appointed secretary and organiser, and made" such a good job of it that the officers asked the club to provide mess for them,' which was done. They bought a billiard table, and had the rooms nicely furnished. In London last winter Sergeant liurlmsh contracted tonsilitis, which developed into bronchitis and pleurisy. He was kindly treated at Walton-on-Thamcs, and then in March, when a big push— and its attendant casualties—was expected, he was sent to Oatlands Park. Aβ this staff wanted all the room possible in view- of the anticipated influx of patieuts, Sergeant Burbush was asked if he had any fridnds iu England who cnuld offer him a home. Ho had not, and said so. Then he saw the New Zealand War Coutingcnt Association's advertisemants in a London paper stating that there wero sovonil vacancies in good Jnnies for New Zealand soidiers on leave or convalescents.

"This War Contingent Association, ,, said Sergeant Burbush, "is a great institution, and no one can say 100 imish in its praise, i mentioned my position to Lady Findlay, and she told mp to write to Miss Jean Maskenzie, the head of the hospitality branch. It acted like magic, i received a prompt answer back, and at Ihc Aunc time one from a Mrs. Williams, ,of Heswall, .Cheshire, the lady I was commended to by Miss Maokenine. Away 1 wont, and I aud another digger from Now Zealand were Diet at the Liverpool station by Mr. Henry Williams, a very fine type of English gentleman (who we afterwards ascertained was the president of the Liverpool Corn Exchange;, and with him we travelled past Port Sunlight, to his beautiful Jiome, quite near to the Royal Liverpool golf links —a three-quarters of an hou.- train journey from Liverpool. The.-d we were receivf-d with tiue cclonial hospitality by a very churniing old lady, who mothered us as though we were her own sons. We were told not to get ap early in the morning—just take it easy. Breakfast was sent up to our room; we nere notified that the- bath was ready at 10 a.m., and whon wo at last got dotvnstfiirs there' was a !:irg3 glass of milk and a piece of cake for each of us Then wo either went for a stroll along the beautiful Cheshire ■ lanes or wont "putting" on the links. A nico 'luncheon followed, and during the afternoon Mrs. Williams always insisted on two hours' rest. Well, I'll toll you— I was there fourteen days and I put on seven pounds weighs Wo afterwards found out that our host and hostess were really wonderful piopie. Ever since the wounded began to arrive in England they had found room for two soldiers—generally New Zealanders. Why New Zealanders Mrs. Williams nover explained, other than by saying that she had alwayssjjoen interested in 1 the country. Still, sho showed what a great heart sho hud, and many another New Zealauder hks cause to express the same gratitude 'iis we. I am pleased to say that Mrs. Williams told me that sho had never had occasion to find the slightest fault with her soldier guests!"