HEROES ALL

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9738, 14 August 1917, Page 8

HEROES ALL

UNDER LIGHTS O’ LONDON THE "WELFARE OF NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS. - A meiry English Tommy was in. London on week-end leave and he waltzed his heavy kit towards tie entrance of the Y.M.C.A. Hut, at Euston, much as a good-natured dancer pilots a weighty partner through a crowded hall. The hour was midnight, but in these days of warfare ono hour is like another in resultless London. “Just over from France?” asked a passer-by. His lilting song ended as with a, ring of pride, he answered, “Yus, an’ Tm one of the Dardanelles ’broes too,” One of the Dardanelles heroes and still jn the thick of the light, optimistic of the result on the Western Front and bent on making tho most of the leave that had been won by months of hard fighting. Already false friends had started him off in the wrong direction, but a glimpse of tho brightly-shining Red Triangle had brought him back to the “good old Y.M.C.A..” and “mighty glad he was to bo there." Tommy’s case is typical of the thousands of soldiers from all parts of the Empire who daily and nightly encounter the allurements and snares of cosmopolitan London. And hero the Y.M.C.A. is doing as fine a work as in the actual fighting zone. Soldiers aro . after all very human; they aro safest when they are busy, and during times of relaxation aro apt to drift with tho tide. SIGN OF THE TRIANGLE. j Since the war began the Rod Triaugle has become the most familiar of safety signs along the streams of life that ceaselessly flow through this vast, illusive. magnetic London. Sufficient was seen by a recent writer during a fortnight’s leave to make him realise why a distinguished statesman spoke of the Y.M.C.A. as "one of tho seven wonders of the ’war.” That was many months ago. and the work is daily growing to bigger dimensions. Every centre of population throughout the Metropolis and the endless chain of suburbs has its Y MCA. Institute, with attractive exterior and home-like touches inside; near tie big railway stations and other places of congested traffic are Red Triangle Bureaux—rest places by tho wayside—where soldiers may read or wnto or loam how to find their wav about London- and places of interest are made accessible -daily to .large parties of soldiers under the guidance of ladies and elderly gentlemen who are "doing their bit” as voluntary Y.M.C.A. workersSlost especially are the women of England playing a magnificent part in alniost every phase of wartime wort. NEW ZEALANDERS FIRST. The commissioners who went to England and Franc© on behalx of the Y AIC v in New Zealand have acted on tho principle of providing the best for those who are farthest away from homeThey have succeeded lin making the Shakespeare Hut -headquarters for . the

New Zealand work—the most attractive Y.M.C.A. soldiers’ institute in all Ensland. , Th© writer above quoted says:— We os me to Louden through country that was aglow with the touch, of early spring—fields that a fortnight earlier had been under snow were .ankle-deep in grass, the matchless English trees were donning their summer leafage, the winding lanes were made picturesque by budding hedges and primroses by the million, and the fruit trees blossomed massively in token of a bountiful yield. Truly a country worth fighting for. "From Waterloo Station wc wore piloted by a Y.M.C.A. officer through the mysteries of the wonderful tube, system* of underground railways to that busy part of London, Tottenham Court road, and thence by a very short route to the Shakespeare Hut. That weekend there were 1000 of our men' on leave in London and fully, one-third were-ac-commodated at the Shakespeare Hut. The New Zealanders are very proud of their London headquarters. Tho men marched ©n masse from the station, formed a queue past the booking office, and, having secured their beds, were given advice as to tho best way of spending their four days’ leave. Some, went rquod in email groups with honorary guides, others went on tho Y.M.C.A. omnibus tour (seeing tho principal sights of London at>a cost of is); and others again went in search of family friends. Meanwhile the hut continued to be the lively rendezvous of soldiers from allparts of the Empire and of members of all branches of the service. Although New Zealand troops have preference they are by no means the only users of the best hut in London. Tho Shakespeare Hut is-adjacent, to the British Museum and stands on a spacious corner allotment valued at not 1«6 than J 670.000. Its use has been granted hr the Shakespeare Society for tha term of tho war and a specified period after. The style of the building is that of a huge bungalow and the furnishings aro a* comiorta.blo as the design i« artistic. The main entrance leads into a spacious lounge and an eauallv extensive cafe, separated only by a lattice. Off these radiate a quiet room with writing accommodation for 90 or 100 men: a billiard room with three full-sized tables; a concerchall (including a met artistic stage) to seat 500 or 600 soldiers; and dormitories containing beds sufficient for 400 men. Added Fo these are hot and cold baths, cloak room, hairdressing saloon, and other convenient appointments. MEMORIES OF HOME. But there is a something about tho Shakespeare Hut that cannot b© described in writing. It is like the differonce between a grand house without the atmosphere of a home and a place which, however plainly furnished, hae yet the homely touch. There was a gathering of the honorary women workers for a presentation of medals to those of their number who had served continuously for a specified nnmb:r of months. Out of a total of 330 in attendance, no less than 200 received medals from Colonel Valintino Matthews, one of the principal officers of the London Military District. To hear the appreciative remarks of the colonel was to realise how highly tho military authorities value the work which is being done on behalf of the soldiers under the auspices of the Y.M.C.A. . , Subsequently these 830 vivacious English women, many of them from the best homes in London: assembled in the garden area for a group photograph. Their rose-tinted overalls and close-fit-

tins black silk cap* added colour _to a picture such os one sees rarely in a life-time. These women are doing a hdble work. They are on d’ltv in tarn throughout the whole twenty-four hours. Many have never needed' to work in their own honfes. but here they dust anti polish, tidy and decorate, cook and serve with the ardour of a strong patriotism. The cafe is conducted with the smartness of our leading places in Now Zealand, and above all the ladies set a : standard which has a distinctly elevating effect. The mothprs and sisters of New Zealand men cannot thank them sufficiently.