The Romance of the Red Triangle: The story of the coming of the red triangle and the service rendered by the Y.M.C.A. to the sailors and soldiers of the British Empire — John Shaqi
The Romance of the Red Triangle: The story of the coming of the red triangle and the service rendered by the Y.M.C.A. to the sailors and soldiers of the British EmpireYapp, Arthur K. (Arthur Keysall)
History
The Romance of the Red Triangle: The story of the coming of the red triangle and the service rendered by the Y.M.C.A. to the sailors and soldiers of the British Empire
Yapp, Arthur K. (Arthur Keysall)
World War, 1914-1918 -- War work -- Young Men's Christian Associations
This girdle of loving-kindness is completed in the Internment Camps of
Switzerland--at Mürren, Leysin, Interlaken, Meiringen, and Seeburg, and
in those of Holland at Scheveningen, Rotterdam, The Hague, and
Groningen. None need our help more than the officers and men of those
internment camps. It was one of the latter who said he would rather be
in Germany than in the internment camp in Switzerland, for in Germany,
said he, one has, at any rate, the excitement of trying to escape; but
now, working hand-in-hand with the British Red Cross, the Red Triangle
provides recreation and employment for the long hours of leisure, and
there can be no doubt as to the appreciation of those it seeks to serve.
A worker at Cambridge went to a neighbouring village to arrange a flag
day on behalf of our war fund. He was advised to get in touch with the
post-mistress, who was keenly interested in the movement. 'Of course, I
am interested,' she said when he saw her, 'and if you will come into my
sitting-room I will show you why.' There on the wall in a little room at
the back of the post-office was what she called her Roll of Honour--the
photographs of twelve lads from her Bible class, all serving with His
Majesty's Forces. 'Eleven out of the twelve,' said she, 'write me almost
every week, and tell me what a boon the Y.M.C.A. is to them. That is why
I am ready to do all I can to help you with your Flag Day.' The sequel
was interesting. Half an hour later No. 12 called to see her. 'How
strange,' she cried; 'I was just talking about you, and saying you were
the only one of the boys who never wrote expressing appreciation of the
Y.M.C.A.' 'That is easily explained,' was the reply. 'I have been at sea
since the early days of the war, and have had no opportunity of getting
ashore and using the Y.M.C.A. until three months ago, when I was sent to
Egypt and stationed at the Mena camp. There I used the Association hut
within sight of the great pyramid, and I appreciate the work as much as
anyone to-day.'
A young soldier who was formerly a Y.M.C.A. worker wrote from
France:--'We came upon the Prussian Guard about ten days ago, and for
five days and nights we fought hand to hand like demons, but in the end
we gained our objective. You talk of the work of the Y.M.C.A. at home as
splendid. I know it is, but here the Y.M.C.A.'s are more. In this place,
famous for its wonderful bell tower, the Y.M.C.A. is in full swing,
although only yesterday it was shelled heavily and shrapnel was falling
pretty thick along the road. Cheero!' Another young soldier wrote from
Malta, and gave his experience of the Y.M.C.A. 'The Association is the
finest thing that was ever instituted without doubt. The Army has
blessed the fact many a time. I have served in France and a few other
countries, and am in a position to know.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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