BRITAIN’S FAMILY OVERSEAS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21785, 15 October 1940, Page 5

BRITAIN’S FAMILY OVERSEAS

Happy In New Homes Broadcast To Canadian Contingent British Official Wireless (Received October 14, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, October 13. In a broadcast talk to evacuated children in Canada, Mr Geoffrey Shakespeare (Parliamentary Undersecretary for the Dominions) told a good story. He was broadcasting in the new weekly programme in the 8.8. C. North American service called “for the children.” “I am very delighted,” said Mr Shakespeare, “to have a chance of speaking to you—the 1534 boys and girls who have by now settled down in Canada. How are you all? Your reply echoes across the Atlantic: 'Very well, thank you.’ I knew you were. There was one girl I heard of called Sheila— I will not say in which town in Canada she is. When asked by the chief escort if she had had a good dinner she replied: ‘Yes, thank you. I had chicken and cauliflower and sweet com and gravy, Ice cream, five oranges, two peaches and some grapes.’ But, said the chief escort, ‘Sheila you will burst,’ and Sheila replied, ‘yes, but it is worth it.’ ” Huge New Family Mr Shakespeare continued: “It is an awful responsibility to have to answer for this huge new family of children. Thank you for making my task easier by behaving so wonderfully. During the voyage, I am told, you charmed half the buttons and badges off the officers and crew. I hear from many letters how happy you are in your new homes. Do you remember when I spoke to you in the hostels. I said you were the lucky ones. You have been chosen to represent Britain in Canada and you will not only have fathers and mothers here whose loving thoughts are always with you, but you will get new fathers and mothers as foster parents and perhaps new grandfathers, grandmothers and new aunts and uncles. I picture you now with your new parents or new friends and your war duty is shown by your conduct. How grateful we all are to them for two blessings—in the first place for sending to our aid their magnificent fighting men and in the second place for so generously giving you safe shelter in homes far from the war zone. That Is why the 8.8. C. has a new meaning. It means that Britain blesses Canada. So Canada and Britain will be drawn ever closer and closer together.”