BLINDED SOLDIERS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18256, 27 November 1933, Page 4

BLINDED SOLDIERS

REUNION NEXT APRIL A cardinal point of St. Duustan’s policy lias been the promotion of regular annual gatherings of city, county and Dominion groups of blinded soldiers. These have proved an incentive in the maintenance of the St. Dunstan’s spirit of cheerfulness and action, and as an antidote to any inclination to sink into a rut and fall out ot step with the busy world. In Britain, Canada and Australia these annual gatherings have grown to be part of a fixed routine, and nothing is mora stimulating than the air of vigorous cheerfulness which characterises them quite unbelievable to the layman accustomed to the old-time conception of blindness. Unfortunately, it has not been possible to hold these regular gatherings in New Zealand. It is the intention, however, of the trustees of the Blind Institute y>to organise one at the institute nexe April, the last having been held there in April, 1923. On that occasion Lord Jellieoe unveiled at the institute a tablet the blinded soldiers had erected to the memory of their beloved chief, Sir Arthur Pearson. The tablet records the fact that the blinded soldiers, as a token of their appreciation of what Sir Arthur had done for them, had inspired the raising of a sum of over £60.003. which they had handed to the institute as an endowment for extended work for the civilian blind.

About 20 men are expected at the reunion. It will occupy three days and old friendships will he renewed. Most of them have married since their loss of sight—their wives, indeed, have been by no means the least factor in their success and happiness—arid they, too, will join in the fun.