WOUNDED SOLDIERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23616, 28 March 1940, Page 4

WOUNDED SOLDIERS

VISITS OF RELATIVES 30 WOMEN TAKEN TO FRANCE [from our own correspondent] LONDON, March 1 About 30 British women have been to France to visit gravely wounded and injured relatives at base hospitals. Every week a small party is being conducted under the supervision of the War Office and the British Red Cross. The arrangements are working with perfect smoothness. The element of surprise in the scheme has sometimes been a valuable aid to the man's recovery, it is stated. He does not know, in all cases, that any such visit is about to be made. When his wife or his mother is shown in to see him, the delight of the wounded man is unbounded. The news that a husband or son is ill is usually first sent to the relatives in the War Office telegram. They scan it anxiously to see if the words " can bo visited"'are there. If they are not, it is known at once that_ their fighting man is not dangerously ill or wounded. Should they be among those for whom a visit to a base hospital be arranged, the relatives are met in London within a few hours. Red Cross officials look after them with the greatest care. If the relatives cannot afford the faro a free travel voucher is provided. " We were warned not to attempt to find accommodation for ourselves in France," a member of one party said. "There was no need to do so. The fted Cross did all that for us, and they took care to see that we reached the right boat to bring us home."