World War, 1914-1918 -- War work -- Young Men's Christian Associations
Both the government authorities and the Association workers have seen a
large open door for social service among these millions of munition
workers. For the work here is permanent. These great buildings will
remain as manufacturing centers of some kind after the war. The huts
will still be occupied. Already a new and growing body of legislation
is being introduced to improve the conditions of the toilers of old
England.
It is little wonder that the whole nation has responded to this work so
boldly undertaken on such a large scale. From the first gifts have
been pouring in unsolicited. His Majesty the King, patron of the Young
Men's Christian Association in Britain, has inspected many of the
buildings, and sent in his contribution, with the following note: "His
Majesty congratulates the Association on the successful results of its
War work, which has done everything conducive to the comfort and
well-being of the armies, supplying the special and peculiar needs of
men drawn from countries so different and so distant. It has worked in
a practical, economical, and unostentatious manner, with consummate
knowledge of those with whom it has to deal. At the same time the
Association, by its spirit of discipline, has earned the respect and
approbation of the Military Authorities."
The Queen Mother donated the Alexandra Hut in London, which makes
provision for the accommodation of soldiers on leave in the city. She
was seen recently serving tea behind the counter in the Association hut
to the happy Tommies who had come back strained and tired from the
front to "Blighty" once more. The Princess Victoria has been most
tireless in opening Y M C A huts, and has given unsparingly of her time
and effort for the men.
No one has been more appreciative than the military authorities
themselves. Lord Roberts, four days before his death, wrote expressing
his appreciation of the work being accomplished. His secretary adds:
"He hears on all sides nothing but praise for what the Y M C A is doing
at the camps." Lord Kitchener, who had inspected the huts of the
Association in England, France, and Egypt, wrote: "From the first the Y
M C A gained my confidence, and now I find they have earned my
admiration and gratitude." Mr. Asquith, when Prime Minister, after
visiting the Association huts and attending the religious meetings
said: "The Y M C A is the greatest thing in Europe." Lloyd George, the
present Premier, said recently: "I congratulate the Y M C A. Wherever
I go I hear nothing but good of the work they are doing throughout the
country, and we owe them a very deep debt of gratitude."
[1] In addition to the existing work at Bangalore, Maymyo, and Poona,
Association privileges have been provided for soldiers in Lahore,
Delhi, Multan, Forozepore, Jhansi, Lucknow, Mhow, Trimulgherry,
Jubbulpore, Calcutta, Bombay, Madras, Ahmednagar, Rangoon, Dalhousie,
Naini Tal, Karachi, Allahabad, and Jutogh.
CHAPTER V
LIFE IN A BASE CAMP
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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