GRAVES OF THE FALLEN

Northern Advocate, 31 January 1922, Page 7

GRAVES OF THE FALLEN

FRENCH HOSTELS' OPERATION-

BENEFITS FOR NEXT-OF-KV

"A little over two years a w;dmv, who visited her husband's grave in France, had to pay £."{5 for the journey from London to Loos and b<K-k. Xow it costs her £4, and she is provide- 1 , with a Fivndi guide free of charge." The Rev. M. Mullineux, the International Rugby footballer, who hi;?, been rendering most valuable service in France in connection with soldier-;' graves, visits of next-of-kin, ceniete.T photographs, etc., grew eloquent as ha described the work done by the hostels in France, in a chat with a representative of the "New Zealand Times," prior to his departure "for where he commences a Dominion ] muring tour. EXPLOITING WIDOWS. At the latter end of 1919, the Row Mullineux came across a number of people trying to find the grave- 1 uf their husbands or sons. There w-.to no inquiry bureaux, no cemetery registers and no War Graves Commission. Taxi drivers and hotelkeepers were exploiting the pilgrims to the fullest extent. Many of them returned home impoverished and disconsolate, not having succeeded in finding the graves ->f their relatives. "Here was an or; ,>rtunity for the Red Cross to do valuable work, and bring consolation and rcmfort. to bereaved women and chiHi n. On making inquiries, however, I beamed that their charter would not permit the English Red Cross employing its funds for this purpose. We had a little meeting and secured a little house in Calais, where people could get, the information they needed. Fro/m th:s little step the work grew so rapiiddy that we have now regular hostels in Calais, Boulogne, Amiens, Arras and Betlmne, and, in other towns in the ibnttlefHd area, we arrange for the accommodiiiio'i of pilgrims. OA RE OF PILGRIMS. "We intended that our operations would come to an end within two years, but we found that in the second year

there were twice as many pilgrims as in the first. We now see that :t 'will be necessary to carry on for five years because it will take that time to 'Complete the cemeteries. An Australia! n lady is in charge of the Calais hostel, the Canadians purchased the o;>e at Arras, and the people from the Hot.jo countries purchased the others.

"We are very anxious to acquire a hostel in Ypres, but until now have not soon a suitable building- thero. Now we have an opportunity of buying' an iilo.il property, and it is our intention to ask the people of New Zealand for the sum ot' £2500 to acquire this house. The new hostel will, like the others, !.e controlled bv a lady superintendent, who, in the Ypres case, should be a Now Zerilander. The hostel will be a variable asset in the matter of procuring oilieial photographs of graves. A DESERVING OBJECT. "I travelled 7600 miles to get 841 photographs, 400 of which were of the graves of New Zealanders. The cost was £300. lam sure that when the people of New Zealand are .made ;-.\nare of the need for funds the money wall be forthcoming. We hove a house in view and can purchase it for £2500. Pilgrims who write for information are supplied with particulars, such as train timetable, list and prices oi hast el accommodation, which arc as ilo>w e.- £ s por .lay. Copy of the 4 details.' letter is kept, so that when the pilgrim actur.lIv arrives he or she is taken -in hand •it once, given rooms, taken to the railway and supplied gratis with an intelligent French guide. "All the workers in t.he hostels giv<\ th'Mr se:vices free,'' said Mr .»?-.:l::n----cu.v, "except, a paid secretary -and French cooks. If the Ypres liotiso is acrpiiied it will be sold at a projit oa 'course, after doing service for thiee years. Any profits that will accrue v.-ill lie devoted to a New Zealand govern 1 fund lor disabled soldiers, w..h)v. and orphan'-. If a New Zealand lady, with private means, volunteer.-, ici the work success is assured." Mr Mullineux added that he wraL: be pleased to acknowledge r.ny subscription-; if sent to him in care of Mr T. Munt, chairman of the Kcd t'rtss Soriotv at Wellington.