With Our Fighting Men: The story of their faith, courage, endurance in the Great WarSellers, William E.
History
With Our Fighting Men: The story of their faith, courage, endurance in the Great War
Sellers, William E.
Great Britain. Army -- Military life; World War, 1914-1918 -- Religious aspects
"Salvationists are a poor people. Their only riches consist in love
and power to serve. Nevertheless, out of their scant means they
contributed between three and four thousand pounds to the Prince of
Wales Relief Fund, and also raised a further £2500 for the purchase
and equipment of a Motor Ambulance Unit consisting of five cars. The
unit is manned by Salvationists. It is no new thing to send ambulance
brigades to the front at war time, but it _is_ a new thing to see that
they are all conducted by Christian men.
"The cars have splendidly stood the severe tests imposed upon them,
and the men in charge have borne themselves so well that they have
become known as 'The White Brigade.' No drinking, no smoking, no
swearing amongst them; always on time and carrying out the orders of
the medical staff with the utmost satisfaction, it is not to be
wondered at that our officer in command of the unit was promoted to
the charge of a section--with the management of twenty-five cars. A
second unit of six cars was despatched to France in February, with
which Her Majesty Queen Alexandra was pleased to identify herself by
personally dedicating the cars--now known as the 'Queen Alexandra
Unit.'
"Apart from the work of the ambulance party, Salvation Army officers
are exerting themselves for the comfort of the troops in the battle
area and at the base hospitals. At Boulogne, Rouen, and Paris our
women officers are continually visiting the wounded. In Paris alone,
they visit seven hospitals for the British wounded. Hundreds upon
hundreds of letters have been written to anxious relatives and
friends, and where husbands have been in distress about their wives in
ill-health or poverty at home, a swift message across the channel has
been sent to our officer in the town mentioned, who has gladly gone to
comfort and assist the distressed ones concerned, and our Army sisters
have received scores of 'last messages' to wives and children as the
brave fellows have been passing away. Testaments, papers, stationery,
and chocolates are distributed, and a thousand and one of those gentle
heart ministries peculiar alone to women, whose hearts are filled with
love to Christ, are performed. Every week two large sacks of clothing
made by Salvationists in England are sent to the visiting officers in
France for distribution amongst the men.
"At Boulogne, Le Havre, and Abbeville rest rooms, similar to those in
Great Britain, have been established.
"Passing mention must be made of the patrols of Salvation Army
officers at the great London railway stations, such as Waterloo,
Victoria, &c. The special work of these officers is to care for men
stranded on Saturday and Sunday nights. Rooms have been opened in the
neighbourhood where the men are provided with blankets and
refreshments. Some of the men, whose troubles have resulted from
drink, have been led to renounce their drinking habits.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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