Bags For Casualties' Belongings

From The Times, 15th April 1915.

BAGS FOR SOLDIERS' BELONGINGS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,—I should feel very grateful if you could find space in your columns to insert the following appeal.  A suggestion was made to me recently by a matron in charge of one of the casualty clearing stations at the front.  This suggestion I immediately forwarded to my husband, General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien, commanding the Second Army Expeditionary Force.  The following extract from a letter is his reply;—

“The suggestion that a supply of small bags of stout material, such as brown holland or canvas, would be useful in hospitals and casualty clearing stations with the Army in the field is an excellent one.  I am sure if yon could get a large number made and sent to the Director of Medical Services, Second Army, we should be most grateful.  On being taken to hospital, men's pockets are emptied of their personal belongings, letters, pay-book, &c. with the result that sometimes articles are lost.  These bags you speak of would enable all such articles to be kept together.”

May I ask those who have the soldiers’ comfort at heart to assist by sending me to 21, Eaton-terrace, S.W., a small number of these bags, made of really stout material, measuring 10½in. deep by 9in. wide when finished, with a strong white linen label stitched firmly on one side for patient's name and corps, and with a tape running string at the top.  I hope the first consignment of 15,000 will leave very shortly, and should be glad if ladies when sending would state if they would be willing to send larger numbers later.  The first 15,000 is in the nature of an experiment.

Yours faithfully,
OLIVE SMITH-DORRIEN.
21, Eaton-terrace. S.W., April 12.