Passing of Mrs. W. F. Boden, M.B.E.

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 153, 1 July 1939, Page 15

Passing of Mrs. W. F. Boden, M.B.E.

FINE RECORD OF SERVICE Many residents of the Manawatu and Woodvillo will regret to learn of the death of Mrs. W. F. Boden, M.8.E., at her home in Wellington on June 14, who was one of the earliest teachers at the Woodvillo School and who was for many years associated with tho life of that centre. Mrs. Boden was one of New Zealand's best known war workers, whose services are principally remembered for he> successful establishment in Wellington of a returned soldiers' and sailors' hostel originally intended to care for men returning from the front. When tho need for such a hostel became apparent, Mrs. Boden organised a eommitteo of women, who were assisted by a number of well-known men, including Sir Joseph Ward, theu Minister of Finance in tho National Government, Sir Thomas (then the lion. T. M.) Wiiford, Mr. G. P. Levvey, Sir Michael (then Mr. M. Myers), Mr. E. R. Sj'kes, M.P., and Mr. P. C. Watt. The hostel was opened in the old Langham Hotel building in 1916. Mrs. Boden was secretary, and she continued in that office for a number of years until ill health forced her retirement. During the first 12 years the hostel provided 121,705 beds and 367,051 paid meals to exsoldiers, and 3194 beds and 14,478 free meals. Work such as was entailed in the hostel was exacting and continuous, but Mrs. Boden not only looked after tho business side, but also helped the men in many ways—fighting for their pensions, trying to find them employment, hospital treatment, medicine where necessary, and often clothing. Mrs. Boden was always very modest about her work, and insisted on giving much credit to others who helped. Mrs. Boden joined the War Graves Committee set up under the Women’s National Reserve to secure an area of ground at the Karori Cemetery for soldiers and was secretary for a number of years. She was also a foundation member of the Women’s National Reserve, and during the war trained 50 women for the Public Service, all of whom were employed to release men for war service. She was a foundation member of the Residential Nursery for children, and a vice-president of the'first townplanning association. Mrs. Boden did a good deal of journalistic work, and at one time was Parliamentary correspondent for several papers. After the war she was made a member of the Order of the British Empire for her services to ex-soldiers. Mrs. Boden was 74 years of age. She is survived by a daughter, Miss Anne Boden, and a son, Mr. Harry Boden, both of Wollington. A Tribute. The following reference to the late Mrs. Boden’a work in connection with the returned soldiers’ and sailors’ hostel at Wellington was made by Mrs. E. J. Moore, J.P., who for many years has been president of the hostel committee: ‘'To establish and maintain a ward for soldiers while the excitement of war is at its height and public .sympathy is flowing freely is a comparatively easy task, but to continue that work long after the war years when public interest has practically died and there are people who hardly remember what the war meant to those who went through it is a very different matter, and requires patience, forbearance and perseverance such as is all too seldom found in frail human nature. That is what Mrs. Boden did in this district with the hostel for returned soldiers and sailors which was established through her energy and has been maintained by her perseverance ever since. It was only through ill health in 1936, after 22 years’ unselfish service, that she retired. (Post.)