Comforts for the Fifth Winter of War

From the Mid-Sussex Times, 8th October 1918.

MID-SUSSEX VOLUNTARY WORK ORGANIZATION,

Approved by the War Office & Registered under the War Charities Act, 1911.

During the month of September 2,277 articles have been received into the Depot of the above and 5,490 articles have been despatched.

Fifteen requisitions have been accomplished during the month, and these comprise— (1) "Comforts" to the A.N.F.O., Le Havre, and to the N.F.0., Kantara, E. E. F. [Egyptian Expeditionary Force] ; (2) Hospital requisites to the 19th, 33rd and 55th Casualty Clearing Stations, B.E.F. [British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front], to the 2nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, B.E.F., to the 5th and 74th General Hospitals, B.E.F., to the 2nd Eastern Hospital, Brighton, to the Horton War Hospital, Epsom, and to the War Hospital, Keighley; and (3) Hospital bags to the  Military Hospital, Grantham.

The numbers of articles received and despatched for this month are almost an exact reversal of the numbers for the month of August, but for the two months together the number despatched exceeds the number received by about 70.  It is, therefore, necessary to urge all the workers who can to increase their output of supplies. In a recent letter Sir Edward Ward says that "the approach of a fifth winter of war, with our armies still occupying the field, casts an even greater duty and responsibility than ever before upon those of us who are left at home to carry on our respective spheres of activity in connection with the different branches of war work. . . . .  If any incentive were needed to encourage the women of Great Britain to continue their work, it is provided by the magnificent victories—results of hard fighting—achieved by our splendid Army during these last weeks. . . . . It needs but a small sacrifice for every knitter to send to her Depot regular contributions of knitted 'comforts' each week during the next three months. Such support will provide all the articles required, and I am convinced that our great army of voluntary workers will see to it that nothing is wanting."

This appeal applies not only to "comforts," such as mufflers, mittens, helmets, sweaters, socks, footballs, games (indoor and outdoor) and handkerchiefs (dark shades), but also to hospital requisites, and among these latter there is a large demand, at present, for bed jackets, dressing gowns, limb pillows, pyjamas, pneumonia jackets, slippers (carpet and surgical), bed tables, bed cradles and bed rests.  Any of these will be gratefully received, and further information may be obtained at the Depot, Rural District Council Rooms, Boltro Road, Haywards Heath, from the Hon. Secretary, Miss M. Parez, or the Hon. Superintendent, Mrs F. Paine, during office hours, i.e., 10 am. to 1 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Knitted Comforts for the Troops

From The Times, September 16th 1918.

WINTER COMFORTS FOR THE TROOPS.

REGULAR KNITTERS WANTED.

Sir Edward Ward has sent a circular letter to the Press, in which he says:— "The approach of a fifth winter of war with our Armies still occupying the field casts an even greater duty and responsibility than ever upon those of us who are left at home.  Thanks to the loyal support of large numbers of workers who have continued to knit during their summer holiday, I have already been able to meet practically in full the entire requirements for warm comforts of the Expeditionary Forces in all theatres of war except France, but it is in France that great numbers of articles will be required.  I have no hesitation in entrusting to the workers affiliated under the Army Council's scheme the privilege of once more helping our soldiers to those creature comforts which mean so much to the fighting men.  Under the scheme, thanks to the associations and individual workers who for the past three years have continually and generously supported my Department, both our Army and our Allies have benefited to an extent far greater than those who were responsible for the scheme ever dreamed of.
"It needs but a small sacrifice for every knitter to send to the depôt of their local voluntary organization or to the Comforts Depôt, 45, Horseferry-road, Westminster, S.W.1, regular contributions of knitted comforts each week during the next three months.  Such support will provide all the articles required, and I am convinced our great home army of voluntary workers will see to it that 'nothing is wanting.' "

Missions to Seamen

From the North Wales Chronicle, 6th September 1918.

MISSIONS TO SEAMEN. WORK IN THE NORTH WALES STATION. 

The annual report for the North Wales Station of the Missions to Seamen, just issued, states that the past year has been full of interest, and not the most confirmed "grouser" could complain of monotony or lack of opportunity.  Both at Bangor and Holyhead the work presented many new problems.

At Bangor the work on the T.S. [Training Ship] "Clio" had gone on under the happiest conditions, and the chaplain (Rev. C. W. Barlow) states that the ship has provided him with many a happy hour and oft-times proved a veritable tonic.  To meet an unusual demand, a Sailors' Club has been established in Bangor, under the auspices of the Missions.  The club is housed in a building admirably adapted for the purpose and lent rent free by the Dean and his committee, while for the usual accessories they thanked willing and generous friends.  All the men on the mine-sweepers were supplied with woollen comforts by the Bangor Women's Patriotic Guild.

Holyhead had provided much scope for, as the naval base grew, so the work of the chaplain (now appointed by the Admiralty as hon. naval chaplain) increased in like ratio.  It had been made possible by friends of the Missions to meet several of the more pressing material needs of the sailors, and, during the Christmas period, some seven to eight hundred warm articles were distributed to them, as well as some sixty plum-puddings.  In addition, a circulating library of five hundred to six hundred books had been established, and a number of gramophones loaned out to the ships in turn. The Stanley Sailors' Home at Holyhead had proved a great boon to many a sailor whose ship had been torpedoed.  It was not allowable to state the number of men cared for there; but, when the time came that such information could be made public, it would be seen that the Home had played no mean part in helping those who were in distress through the perils of sea and of war.  The Stanley Sailors' Hospital had also provided many opportunities for ministering to the needs of the sailors.

Games And Sweaters for the Men

From The Times, 13th August 1918.

GAMES AND SWEATERS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,—I  could make a good job out of a bad jumble if your readers would kindly look out for me all their old cigar boxes.  It is a question of issuing the men’s indoor games, puzzles, and what not for the coming long evenings in base camps and elsewhere without expense, in a practical and comfortable fashion to last the winter through.  I could do with 2,500 boxes at the moment—and, of course, if they arrive full of games or bursting with cheques, tant mieux.  Boxes are best, but bags will serve at a pinch, so perhaps ladies will let me have any remnants of the treasure bags they are all making for Lady Smith-Dorrien, in the form of strongly sewn little bags 6in. by 5in. or under.  My Hepzibah, critical of mind and recondite of speech, avers that “bags don’t cut to waste.”  She further sends her duty and thinks that many more ladies might ask for the sweater and other patterns after the “to-do of having them done in print and all.”  I confess I thought the issue astonishing, but from what I hear of the coming need, I agree.

Will your readers kindly address the boxes, &c., to Sir Edward Ward, D.G.V.O., 45, Horseferry-road, and applications for any knitting patterns to me here as below?

Yours faithfully, 

JOHN PENOYRE.

8, King’s Bench-walk, Inner Temple, E.C.4. 

[I think that 'Hepzibah' was John Penoyre's housekeeper, or something like that. There are several posts in this blog about Lady Smith-Dorrien's appeal for cloth bags to hold the papers and other belongings of wounded soldiers.]

A Soldiers' and Sailors' Comforts Fund

From the Huddersfield Daily Examiner, July 15th 1918. 

COMFORTS FOR SOLDIERS AND SAILORS.

PROCESSION AND GALA AT BIRCHENCLIFFE.

A procession and gala, the proceeds of which are to go to the Birchencliffe Soldiers' and Sailors' Comforts Fund, was held at Birchencliffe on Saturday.  Fortunately, the inclement weather which prevailed on Friday cleared altogether away for Saturday, and a large number of people patronised the effort.  Birchencliffe was profusely decorated with flags and bunting.

Marshalled by Councillor Barnes, a procession, in which fancy dress wearers, a waggon decorated as a car on which rode Britannia and her attendants, and the Lindley Jiggerum-Juggerum Band took leading parts, went through the village to a field adjoining Lower Yew Tree Road, lent by Mr. E. Calverley, where the gala was held  Judging by Mr. A. Collins, ventriloquial items by Professor Land, a maypole dance by Birchencliffe children (trained by Miss Jagger), and children's races formed the bulk of the afternoon attractions.  In the evening the Delights Concert Party gave items, and Professor Land's Punch and Judy attracted the usual large audiences.  Selections were played by the Elland Silver Band, and dancing proceeded until dusk.  Games, houpla, etc., were included in the side shows.  A pillow fight proved an exciting spectacle.

A Hot-Weather Parcel For A Soldier

From Woman’s Weekly, July 13th 1918.

A HOT-WEATHER PARCEL FOR A SOLDIER BOY.

WITH the warmer weather the packing of our parcels for our dear ones in different parts of the world becomes a little more difficult.  One longs to send something that will be cool and refreshing, and there are many such articles that will keep in good condition for quite a fortnight, or even more. But everything depends on their condition when bought, and how they are packed.

APPLES WITH THICK SKINS. 
ALL fruit should be rather under-ripe than over-ripe, and soft fruit should never be attempted.  Thick-skinned apples, known as russets, are always safe to send; and if tomatoes are packed in either bran or sawdust, in small cardboard boxes, they will ripen nicely on the way. 
They may also be packed in cotton-wool, or very soft tissue-paper if more convenient. 
A cucumber, if home-grown or from some source where you can rely on its freshness, may be risked if packed in this way.  Cut it early in the day, and after removing a tiny piece of the skin, place it in water until 'wanted.  It will then be primed with moisture.  Then tie a small piece of wet sponge or a piece of damp cotton-wool round the stem, and wrap it in its own leaves, and pack on the top of everything else. 
Lemons are always acceptable whatever the weather, and they tuck so easily into odd corners.  Lemonade-powder  and sparkling lemonade tablets also take up little room.

OTHER LUXURIES. 
YOU may think your boy can always get such things as boracic powder, health saline, citrate of magnesia, etc., from the medical stores; but he may be miles away from such things, and, oh! so grateful for some kind of soothing powder for his poor, tired feet. 
I have given joy to a young sub by sending him out several tins of his special boot-polish.  It was unheard of where he happened to be.

THE RIGHT KIND OF SWEETS. 
IF you send sweets, let them be acid, lime, or other refreshing fruit tablets. General Joffre is a great believer in placing a sweet of this sort into the mouth when hot and thirsty, instead- of drinking so much water; and no doubt he is quite right.  The more you drink the greater your thirst, especially when marching. 
Can you imagine anything more refreshing than a small bottle of solidified eau-de-Cologne on a very hot day in the trenches?  A little of this rubbed on the forehead, wrists and behind the ears, has a wonderfully cooling effect.  Khaki is always so stuffy in the hot weather.  Anything which helps to keep one cool must be such a boon. 
When he is out of the line nothing is a greater luxury than a refreshing bath.  Pack a towel and a cake of toilet soap in the next parcel you send out. 
I have known a man ask for a few strips of old linen rag to be sent out to him.  A soldier thinks nothing of the small, everyday hurts, but he would appreciate a piece of nice, clean linen rag to bind them up with sometimes. 
One of the chief discomfitures the hot weather brings to our boys in the trenches are the bites from winged insects that abound there as soon as the sun becomes strong.  A little woman, who has herself travelled in hot countries, is sending out to her man in France yards of butter muslin.  Some of this she has cut into yard squares, and run a draw-string in a circle round them.  “He can slip his head into one of these and draw the string round his neck when he gets a chance for a good sleep,” she told me.  “I call them my miniature mosquito nets,” she added: " and I am sprinkling them with oil of lavender to keep these pests away.” 
A piece of rock ammonia to moisten and dab on the bites to allay the irritation is a welcome addition to any parcel for the front. 
If you are lucky enough to be able to secure films for your camera, make a point of taking some special snapshots to send to the front.  A corner of your garden will make a happy background. 
Soldiers in hospital are always glad of a bundle of Japanese serviettes; and do not think a little fan will be despised as unmanly.  Many a poor, pain-racked fellow was only too glad of one in the heat of last summer I noticed. 
A flat little bag filled with lavender or some other sweet-smelling things, such as lemon thyme, rosemary, lad's love, and balm, is always welcome.  Dried rose-leaves, carnation petals, and any other dried flowers that keep their scent may be added.  The writer knows these bags are greatly appreciated, or one man would not say to another:  “Let's have a sniff of your bag when you've done.” This is exactly what she did hear in a certain hospital last summer, when there were not enough of these little bags to go round.

[Some of the medical supplies are a bit baffling, but I surmise that 'Japanese serviettes' are paper ones.] 

Libraries at the front

From Woman’s Weekly, May 25th 1918.

BOOKS TOMMY WANTS IN THE TRENCHES.

There is a chance for every woman to do something for our brave fighting men.

I SUPPOSE you have all at times, when you have been thinking of the horrors which our men have to face at the front, wished that you could do something to cheer them and relieve the terrible strain.  That is why I have arranged a little scheme with the Y.M.C.A. so that every reader, even if she has no money to spare, can give some men at the front a few bright hours.

Right up near the trenches, almost the only kind of recreation, apart from the entertainments provided by the Y.M.C.A., is that afforded by books. 

As you may imagine, the Army being composed of men of every class and condition, different men are interested in different kinds of books, and what interests one does not necessarily interest another.  To be sure, therefore, that Tommy is not disappointed in the book which reaches him, one must give him a library of books to choose from.  The Y.M.C.A. have over a thousand libraries connected with their huts in this country and overseas, and I want WOMAN'S WEEKLY to have its own library in one of the Y.M.C.A. huts at the front.

It takes 350 books to compose one of these libraries, but as any possible duplicates would be made use of in other libraries, a great many more than these would be needed.

FAVOURITE AUTHORS. 
ALTHOUGH, as I said before, different books interest different men, there are some authors who are almost universal favourites.  Rudyard Kipling perhaps ranks first, both his prose and poetical works being in great demand.  Running him very close come H. G. Wells, Conan Doyle, Rider Haggard, and Arnold Bennett.  The standard novels of Dickens and Scott are also prime favourites, while Anthony Hope, Stanley Weyman, Thomas Hardy, and Henty all come in for their share of attention.

But works of fiction are by no means the only books that are welcomed at the front.  There are times when Tommy likes to do a little hard thinking.  Someone who has recently been visiting the libraries at the front told me that he was constantly being asked for simple handbooks on electricity, aeronautics, mechanics, natural history, and botany.  These requests, by the way, came largely from men in the Royal Engineers.  Poetry, too—particularly Tennyson's poems —is not infrequently in demand. 

Then, again, it has to be remembered that many of the men are visiting foreign countries for the first time in their lives, and not a few of them want to know the history of the places through which they are passing.  Histories and books of travel dealing with France, Flanders, Italy, Palestine, and, in fact, all the fronts, are wanted.

HE DESERVES THE BEST! 
IT is, of course, impossible to give anything like a complete list of all the books that interest Tommy, but those mentioned above will form some sort of guidance.  All I would say is: Don’t send rubbish.  Remember Tommy deserves the best, whether of fiction or any other reading matter.

The books for the lending Iibraries need not be new, but they should be neatly bound in stiff covers.  If you have any paper-cover books or loose-backed books, you can send them along too, although they cannot be used in the libraries.  Many of the men have to travel via France on the long-distance trains to other fronts, and these books are handed out to them to while away the long hours of travelling.  Just think!  A journey which ordinarily used to take forty hours now takes a whole week!  You can imagine how glad the men are to have something to read on the way.  The only thing to remember is that the books, however old, must not have any pages missing, and they must be worth reading.

THEIR ONLY ONE. 
A MAN came to a Y.M.C.A. Secretary at the front the other day, and handed him a very dilapidated-looking volume, which he had given him. 

"I'm sorry it looks so worn out," he apologised.  "Every man in our platoon has read it.  You see it was the only one we had to read in the trenches!"

Imagine it!  Poor souls!  Reading their only distraction, and yet that one book had to be shared among so many!  Surely, remembering this, none of us can look at our well-filled book-shelves without immediately deciding to make some sacrifice.

If you cannot decide whether you can spare one of the books from your shelves, just remember that Tommy needs it more than you do, and send it along to Y.M.C.A. Tottenham Court Road, London W.C., and mention that it comes from a WOMAN'S WEEKLY reader.

Requests to Working Parties

From the Western Times, 15th March 1918.

TO WORKING PARTIES

What is Wanted by the Devons in the Field

Will working parties and individual helpers kindly send at once to the Mayoress of Exeter's Depot any woollens which they have ready.  The Director-General of Voluntary Organisations has just issued a notification to the effect that troops in the field will need knitted comforts of all kinds till the end of the present month, so that all available supplies should be despatched overseas at the earliest possible moment.  From the middle of April onwards during the summer months, the articles especially appreciated will be anti-vermin vests, sun-shields, handkerchiefs (dark shades), towels and any hand-knitted socks.  The Director-General has also drawn attention to the fact that the demand for games among the troops rendered these always very acceptable.

['The Devons' means the Devonshire Regiment.  The Director-General of Voluntary Organisations, Sir Edward Ward, was in charge of requesting, collecting and despatching comforts to the troops on active service.]

Games For The Men

From The Times, March 6th 1918.

GAMES FOR THE MEN.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES

.

Sir,—May I, of your kindness, have another word with my knitters who by the end of this letter will all be turned into something else?  First, to many inquirers, we want all comforts up till April, when a short holiday may be taken—but the needles must on no account be locked up for the summer. Of this more later.

Then I am asked to enlist all friends of sweaters in the following plan.  The Director-General's depôts at Havre, Basra, and elsewhere when doling out the knitted comforts are constantly asked for things of which we never have anything like enough—notably games.  It is these I am now charged to ask all readers with a kindly feeling for the Army to supply.  I can well believe that in the psychology of war, with the infinite patience entailed on all ranks, amusement cannot be called a side issue.  Probably every house in England has a game to spare for the bother of looking it out and sending it.  I don't mean my old friend the pack with 51 cards in it, nor yet Aunt Emily's most ingeniously invented parlour bobo (I hope I have the name rightly, but the MS. instructions are thrice crossed).  Further, racquets are best sent complete with strings, and balls should be of the round shape with some life in them.  Above are indications of what we don't want; here is a preliminary list of what we do:—Everything used for bowls, boxing, cards, chess, cricket, draughts, football, golf, halma, "house," and similar games, hockey, quoits, and tennis.  Also the kit needed, especially shoes and shorts.  Any addition, dictated by good sense and good feeling rather than spring cleaning, can be made to this list.  Extra netting for tennis courts, etc., will be very useful.  I am afraid some of these things are not so easy to post as sweaters, but they can be handed in at any of the local depôts of the Director-General of Voluntary Organizations throughout the country, where this is more convenient than sending them to the Central Pool, at 45, Horseferry-road, S.W.1.

I must recur to sweaters for a moment.  I am most grateful not only on behalf of the men for the quantity sent me (46,405 sweaters and 66,122 other comforts up to date), but also for the glimpses with which I have been honoured into thousands upon thousands of homes willing to give nothing but their best, and having no feeling beyond pride and gratitude for those they serve.

Yours faithfully,
JOHN PENOYRE.
Games to Sir E, Ward, D.G.V.O., 45, Horseferry-road. S.W.1.  Correspondence, marked Games, to John Penoyre, 8, King's Bench Walk, Temple, E.C.4.

Serbian Clothing Fund

From the Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 26th February 1918.

SERBIAN CLOTHING FUND.

TO THE EDITOR.
Sir,—The secretary of the above fund has asked me to appeal to your readers for cast-off clothing, either men's, women's, or children’s outer and under garments: also gloves, socks, mufflers, shawls, mittens, babies' belts, and baby clothes.

They also require 12in. knitted woollen squares (these may be made of any number of various colours, the brighter the better): any scraps of wool may be utilised.  These will be subsequently sewn together to make blankets 6 squares by 4. Parcels to be sent to Mrs. Carrington Wilde, 5, Cromwell Road, London, S.W., who will also acknowledge them.  Anyone having scraps of wool and no time to knit them, if they will send it to me I can get them knitted, and then would forward them.  I do hope there will be a good response to their appeal for help for the destitute refugees.  Thanking you in anticipation of inserting this letter, I am, yours sincerely,

ANNIE BRUCE.
The Gables, Huddersfield. February 26th, 1918.

[Appeals for knitted squares to make into blankets for refugees and other people in need has a longer history than I suspected.  Perhaps this was already an established way to provide warm blankets?] 

How to Help the Soldiers

From Woman’s Weekly, 2nd February 1918

LITTLE WAYS OF HELPING THE SOLDIERS.

You’re Sure to Find Something Here which you Could Do for the Fighting Men.

ALL of us want to help; that goes without saying.  But so many of us have little or no actual coin to give, so our contributions must be made in other ways.  Every woman, however poor or busy, can help in at least one of the little ways suggested here.  And many a mickle makes a muckle, you know!

YOUR OLD GLOVES. 
HAS it ever occurred to you that you can do better with your worn-out kid and suede gloves than to throw them away?  The Glove Waistcoat Society will be only too glad to have them, for by a magic of its own it transforms them into windproof waistcoats, which are the greatest possible comfort in the trenches or at sea.  All the good parts of the gloves are cut out and stitched together on to a shaped lining. and in this way thousands of cold-defying garments are made. 
They are glad of any sort of leather and any sort of fur, even the old scraps left from fur-lined gloves or old fur rugs, not to mention the worn leather from dining-room suites.  Every scrap is utilised in one way or another.  So please make up a big parcel, and address it to The Glove Waistcoat Fund, 75, Chancery Lane, London, W.C. 2.

OLD CIVILIAN CLOTHES. 
IN many homes there are good civilian clothes which were left behind when husbands and brothers stepped into khaki, and some of these, alas! their owner will never need again.  Could there be a better way of using these valued relics than by sending them to some unfortunate civilian who is a prisoner of war in Germany?  As we all know, captives in the hands of the Huns suffer many hardships, of which lack of warm clothing is not the least. Don't let those unused suits hang another season in the cupboard.  Send them to one of these addresses: 
Miss N. Cotton, Pinewood, Camberley, Surrey.
Lady Dodds, Devonshire House, Piccadilly. (These go to Ruhleben.)
Or if you have a fellow-feeling for the Indian soldiers fighting so splendidly by our side, send the garments, with any comforts you can spare in the way of mufflers, mittens, etc., to The Indian Soldiers' Fund, 11, Somerset Street, London, W. 1.
Have you a pair of field glasses?  You can do without them, but they would be invaluable to some Army officer who cannot afford to buy himself a pair.  Send them to The National Service League, 72, Victoria Street, London, S.W. 1.

SPARE-TIME SEWING. 
IF you have some spare time in which you could do some interesting light sewing for our wounded men, you couldn't do better than make some of the "gay bags" which Lady Smith-Dorrien sends out to wounded men in hospital.  They are just home-made bags of bright cretonne, and so simple that anyone could manage them successfully.  Every wounded Tommy gets one in which to keep his letters and other little treasures while he is in hospital, and it is difficult to tell you how much pleasure they give to our brave fellows.  This is a wee way of helping that ought to appeal to school-girls as well as to older people.
Make the bags ten inches long by nine inches wide, and pulling up at the top on a drawstring.  Please choose a nice, cheerful cretonne; a rose design some sort is what the wounded Tommies like best of all.  Then send your bags to Lady Smith-Dorrien, 21, Eaton Terrace , London, S.W. 1.

GAMES AND PLAYING-CARDS. 
OF course, everybody knows that books and magazines for the troops can be handed over the counter of any post office, but it is not such common knowledge that games, such as draughts, halma, chess, playing-cards, etc., are just as welcome. These cannot be transmitted through a post office, but should be sent to The War Library, Surrey House, Marble Arch, London, W. 1.  Lady Newnes's Fund, 83, Pall Mall, London, S.W. 1, is also very grateful not only for books, but for gramophones, to send out to the wounded in Egypt.

FOR THOSE WHO KNIT.
IF you have time to knit or sew comforts, over and above those for your own special soldier and sailor boys, don't forget the splendid work that is done by Queen Mary's Needlework Guild in sending out every kind of hospital requisite free to the hospitals.  Among their needs are ward shirts, pyjamas, socks, bed-jackets, and scarves.  Parcels should be addressed to The Central Depôt Surgical Branch, Queen Mary's Needlework Guild, 2, Cavendish Square, London, W. 1.

DO YOU USE WAR SEALS? 
DO you seal all your letters with a War Seal?  If not, please start this practice, and by doing so you will be helping to raise money for benefit of disabled soldiers and sailors.  The seals are brown and diamond-shaped and cost ½d. each— not much; but all the profits go to helping our brave broken men.  The seals can be bought at most big stores, but if you have any difficulty in getting them, write to The War Seal Foundation, Coliseum Buildings, London, W.C. 2.

Comforts from Denbighshire

From the Llangollen Advertiser, 1st February 1918.

War Guild and County Comforts Association.

The collection for the above was held on January 23rd, a week late owing to bad weather and indisposition the week before.  Collections will be fortnightly from this date in future.

The articles brought in were as follows: — 29 pairs socks, 32 pairs mittens, 40 scarves, 27 helmets, 3 shirts, 2 vests, 9 pairs bed socks, 39 bags, 3 various, making a total of 182 of which 96 articles came from Lantysilio parish.  The Pentredwr group has failed to contribute except once this winter.  Distributions have been made to Pte. R. S. Jones, Bank Top shirt, pants 2 vests, to Pte. Austin Roberts, Church Street, shirt, 2 vests, scarf, pair socks, to Pte. Downham 2 pairs socks, jersey, to Pte. C. Davies, Liverpool Regiment, scarf, to Pte. Lloyd Jones, Church Street, shirt, 2 pants, 2 pairs socks, to E. Mommens of the Belgian Army, 2 shirts, jersey, helmet, to the C.C.A. [County Comforts Association] 40 scarves 30 helmets, 30 pairs mittens, 30 pairs socks, 10 pairs bed socks. 

In a letter of thanks and appeal from Sir E. Ward dated January 18, he says “demands from the troops abroad are exceptionally heavy at the present time, especially needed are scarves and helmets for the Italian Expeditionary Force.”  The next collection will be on Feb. 6th.

[How shaming for the Pentredwr group, publicly denounced for only making one contribution of comforts during the whole winter.]

Gifts For The Troops

From the Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 31st January, 1918.

GIFTS FOR THE TROOPS

The Director General of Voluntary Organisations (Scotland House, New Scotland Yard, London, S.W.1) announces that the following articles are particularly needed in large quantities during the next fortnight: — Comforts for troops in the field: Knitted comforts of all kinds, especially mufflers and mittens, handkerchiefs (dark shade), footballs, and boxing gloves.  Hospital supplies for sick and wounded in military hospitals: Pyjamas, slippers, hospital bags, dressing gowns.  All gifts should be forwarded to the nearest Voluntary Organisations’ Depot, or to the Comforts Depot, 45, Horseferry Road, Westminster, London, S.W.1.

Millions of Books Wanted

From Woman’s Weekly, 12th January 1918.

More Millions of Books Wanted!

By MARY MARRYAT.

MY DEAR FRIENDS, —Do you know that from 75,000 to 100,000 books are wanted every week for our brave men in the trenches and camps, for our suffering men in hospitals and convalescent homes, and for the boys in training?  Books of all sorts and sizes, of all kinds, and on every variety of subject.  Some people think that only novels are needed.  This is a mistake.  Books of every sort are welcomed.  Poetry, travels, scientific books — all are of use.  I was told this the other day when I took some to Surrey House, Marble Arch.  This is the headquarters for the gathering of the battalions of books that are being sent to our fighting men.

There is a soldier in the hall of Surrey House.  He will take the books from you.  Around him are packing-cases full of book, and, alas, many empty cases waiting for the books which do not come; for again, alas! the supply DOES NOT NEARLY EQUAL THE DEMAND.  One hundred thousand A WEEK are asked for.  How many, think you, come in?  LESS THAN 30,000 a week!  This is not only sad; it is, I think, a disgrace to us people who are staying at home.  Books are so easy to get— many of them are so cheap.  Do you know that one of those I took to Surrey House I HAD BOUGHT for TWOPENCE at a bookstall!  It was a well-known novel.  It was very shabby, but it was quite complete.  I was ashamed to give it, so I asked the soldier if it was too shabby.  "Oh no!" he said cheerfully.  "They are all useful."

And, remember, there is no need to take the books to Surrey House, nor even to send them there at all.  There is no need to be in London, or anywhere near it.  No matter where you live, from John o' Groats to Land's End, you will find a post office somewhere within hail.  Well, you have but to take your book, or books, or magazines and picture papers—for these, too, are wanted in their thousands—and hand them in at the post office.  You need not wrap them up or tie them together.  Just hand them to the clerk.  He, or she, will do the rest.  From the post office they will safely reach the trenches, or the hospital wards, or the camps—wherever the call for them is the most urgent.  You will all hurry up and send some along, won't you?

Always your friend,

MARY MARRYAT. 

FICKLE AND FAITHLESS.
“PATSIE.” — “Patsie,” to be candid, you are fickle and faithless.  I am speaking my mind straight out, you see.  What else can I think or say when you tell me that you had a sweetheart for three years who had asked you to marry him, and whom you liked sincerely?  Then, suddenly, you came across a handsome Canadian, and at “the first instant you set eyes on him” you knew “he is the boy for me”!  I can't understand such quick changes.  You never can have had any real feeling for your first sweetheart.  I don't think this is honourable conduct.  And apparently the Canadian thinks as I do, for he has gone away, and you have heard nothing from him for three weeks.  Men don't like faithlessness, you know; at least, the best kind of man doesn't.  And this Canadian must have seen how you dropped the other very quickly, for you say you told him all about the sweetheart in France.  The only thing you can do now is to wait, but I fear it will not be a very satisfactory business.

HOW TO GET THIN. 
My advice on this subject to “Worried One,” and other girls of eighteen who beg me to tell them how to get thin, is the same as “Punch’s” “advice to those about to marry”— Don't!  Don't try to get thin, girls — at all events, while you are growing.  And remember that you continue to grow, in height, until you are twenty.  To try to reduce your weight during the years of growth is a very injurious and, maybe, a very dangerous thing.  So, please, young girls, don't ask me any more how you can get thinner.  “Worried One,” thanks very much for your nice letter and complimentary remarks.  Take my advice, and don’t trouble about what these foolish creatures say about your fatness.  They only say the things they do to tease.  If they see you ignore them they will cease their stupid rudeness.  Plump girls are generally more admired than thin ones.

[Mary Marryat was the nominal problem page editor for Woman's Weekly from its beginning in 1913 until at least the 1960s.  Although the column in its later years showed a photo of a friendly-looking middle-aged lady, I strongly suspect that if the original Mary Marryat ever existed, she had long since retired before the column ended. I've included this piece for the appeal for books to send to the troops, and I've also added two of the replies to letters. The war meant new kinds of problems between women and their 'sweethearts' which Mary Marryat had to deal with, as well as as the questions about how to lose weight - still a common concern of women's magazines.] 

Comforts For Tommy And Jack

From Home Notes, January 12th 1918.

COMFORTS FOR TOMMY AND JACK.

Knitting needles out, please!  Our soldiers and sailors want any number of warm comforts, and it’s up to you to help supply them.

Many people who knitted vigorously in the first winters of the war seem to think that their work is no longer so urgently needed.  But it is wanted, and wanted in larger quantities than ever, for we’ve got such a big army and navy to supply nowadays.  So please set to work this very minute.

These patterns, which are, by the way, issued by the American Red Cross, are exceptionally simple ones, and you need have very little experience of knitting to tackle them successfully.

The Muffler.

First of all comes the muffler.  For this you need just ¾ lb. of four ply khaki, grey or navy blue wool and wooden or bone needles No. 3.  Cast on 50 stitches and knit plain for 68 inches.

A muffler like this American soldier is wearing is splendidly warm.

The Mittens.
These are made on to needles with a space left for the thumb.  You need ¼ lb. of the same wool as you used for the muffler, and steel needles No. 12.

Cast on 48 stitches, k.2 and p. 2 for 12 inches and sew up, leaving 2 inches open space for the thumb 2 inches from the top.

An easy, quick to make, warm mitten.

The Helmet.
You will want ½ (?) lb. of the four-ply khaki, grey or navy blue wool; 1 pair steel needles, No. 12.  The helmet is made in two parts, which afterwards are sewn together.

Front of Helmet. — Cast on 48 stitches (11 inches) k. plain for 25 ribs (6 inches), and k. 2, p.2, for 35 rows.  On the next row the opening for the face is made as follows:  k.2, p.2, k.2, p.2, k. 2, k. and cast off loosely the next 28 stitches and p. 1, k.2, p.2, k.2, p.2.  Run the stitches before the opening on a spare needle and on the stitches at other side of opening k.2, p.2 for 12 rows. The last row will end at the opening, and at that point cast on 28 stitches to replace those cast off.  Begin at the face opening of stitches on spare needle and k.2, p.2 for 12 rows.  At the end of the 12th row continue all across to the end of the other needle, when there should be 48 stitches on the needles as at first.  K. 2, p. 2 for 24 rows.

Top of helmet. — K.2, narrow (knitting 2 stitches together), k. 14, narrow, k. 14, narrow, k. 12.  P. the entire next row. On the 3rd row k. 2, narrow, k. 13, narrow, k. 13, narrow, k.11.  P. 4th row.  On the 5th row, k. 2, narrow, k. 12, narrow, k. 12, narrow, k.10.  P. 6th row.
Continue to narrow in the 3 places every plain knitted row with 1 stitch less between narrowings, until 9 stitches are left.

Back of Helmet.  — Work in the same manner as for front, but omit the face opening.  Sew the stitches of upper edges together with joining stitch.  Sew up the side seams, leaving the plain knitting at shoulders open.

Two views of a really sensible helmet, showing it on and off.

Another Mitten Pattern.
These mittens are made on four needles. You need for them ¼ lb. of the same wool as you used for the others, and four steel needles No. 12.

Cast on 52 stitches on three needles. — 16, 16, 20. Knit 2, purl 2 for 8 inches.
To make opening for thumb, knit 2, purl 2 to end of “Third” needle, turn; knit and purl back to end of “First” needle, always slipping first stitch, turn.
Continue knitting back and forth for 2 inches.  From this point continue as at first for four inches for the hand.  Cast off loosely; buttonhole thumb opening.

Tommy wants comforts.  Knit as many garments as you can and send them to

Sir Edward Ward, D.G.V.O.,
45 Horseferry Road, S.W.

Women's Work For Soldiers And Sailors

From the Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 31st December 1917.

WOMEN'S WORK FOR SOLDIERS AND SAILORS.—

The Lindley sewing parties for 1917 have been very well attended, and the committee are glad to report a very successful year's work.  One thousand seven hundred and thirty three pairs of hospital slippers and surgical boots have been made and over 800 woollen comforts knitted including many welcome gifts from friends who work in their own homes.  The sum of £50 has been paid over to the bureau, Ramsden Street, including £20 raised for the special effort week.  This is in addition to the summer garden party at Briarcourt when the sum of £87 was raised for the cause.

[I have included this because it is very local to me.  Briarcourt is a large house in Lindley designed by the architect Edgar Wood.

There must still have been similar sewing parties, and groups making comforts for the troops, all over the country, following on from the burst of activity in 1914 at the start of the war.  There were probably fewer women available for sewing and knitting, though - by the end of 1917, many women were working full-time, in munitions factories and replacing men who were now in the forces.

I haven't been able to find out what the 'special effort week' was.]   

Dundee Knitting Fortnight

From the Dundee Courier, 7th December 1917.

Public Notices.

DUNDEE WOMEN'S WAR RELIEF FUND COMMITTEE.

KNITTING FORTNIGHT.

COMFORTS FOR THE MEN AT THE FRONT.

WE GIVE THE WOOL.   WILL YOU GIVE THE WORK?

APPLY—HEAD OFFICE, 27 BANK STREET.

ALL THE WARD DEPOTS.

The Soldiers fight 'mid war's alarm;

Let US KNIT to keep them warm.

Christmas Gifts needed for the Front

From The Manchester Guardian, 5th December 1917.

THE CIVILIAN'S CHANCE

CHRISTMAS GIFTS NEEDED FOR THE

FRONT.

The civilian's lot in war-time is to all appearances a humble enough business, and it is hard to talk of his sacrifices.  His figure seems woefully insignificant against the vivid background of actual war, with its terrors and triumphs, its interminable epics of human fortitude and endeavour.  All of us stay-at-homes must surely feel, as we read of the struggle at Cambrai, that, however ambitiously we cast our resolutions, life for us will remain tolerably comfortable; that, no matter how grimly we steel ourselves to face the prospect of sugarless coffee and margarine eternally, we are hopelessly "out of it," like "twelfth men" in cricket matches, or even the scorers!

Yet our work at home is flattered by the very men who are sacrificing most: our fighting men are ever sending to us the call—nay, the entreaty—to keep and cherish all that they mean by "England" while they are away.  A simple enough task this is, in all conscience, and it can almost be defined in terms of warm hearthsides, steadfast friendliness—and "comforts." 

The list of articles printed below—compiled by Lancashire and Cheshire soldiers as representative of the things they need most to keep life in the trenches just tolerable,—these things can carry to a soldier on service the very essence of that English home life ho has left in our care. If we would answer Tommy's call to "keep the home fires burning" (and of course we are all desperate to do so if we could only find the way), the Comforts Fund offers one excellent way of doing it.

THE ARTICLES ASKED FOR. 

Cigarettes, cigarette papeors, tobacco, shag tobacco, pipes (clay and briar), tobacco pouches, pipe lighters. matches, candles, mufflers, socks, mittens, gloves, sleeveless sweaters, shirts, singlets, bootlaces, Balaclava caps. bachelors' buttons, macintosh capes, handkerchiefs, soap, shaving soap, safety razors, nail scissors, boot polish (black), 'tooth brushes, boot brushes, safety pins, anti-frostbite grease, insect powder, combination knife, fork, and spoon, needles, sewing cotton, chocolate, peppermints, tinned meats and fish, sweets, café au lait, writing pads, writing paper, envelopes, mouth organs, gramophones, gramophone records, indoor games, footballs, magazines and other reading matter, steel minors, tooth paste, pipe cleaners, and tinned milk.

Glove Waistcoat Society

From the Llanelli Star, 1st December 1917. 

GLOVE WAISTCOAT SOCIETY. 

One of the greatest hardships of a winter campaign is the suffering caused to our soldiers and sailors by icy winds on land and sea.  Leather is the only effective protection, but generally beyond the means of those who need it so sorely.  The Glove Waistcoat Society, 75, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., has solved the difficulty of supplying leather coats by utilising waste soft leather of every description, such as cast-off gloves (kid, suede, etc.), discarded furniture covers, and also the fur linings of ladies' worn-out cloaks.  The fur coats are in great demand by mine-sweepers, as also the overall gloves made from the very small pieces of fur.  Contributors of material to "The Glove Waistcoat Society" may be assured that their help means work for a woman and warmth for a man.  Miss Doris David, Old Town Hall, who has been appointed as local agent, will be glad to receive any of the aforementioned materials.

A Million Knitted Comforts

From The Guardian, November 26, 1917.

A MILLION KNITTED COMFORTS

SIR E. WARD'S CHRISTMAS APPEAL.

Sir E. W. D. Ward, Director General of Voluntary Organisations, in a special Christmas appeal to the women of the United Kingdom, says:—Very large additional quantities of knitted articles must be forthcoming during the next few weeks if the pressing demands for comforts from the armies at the various battle fronts are to be fully met in order that they may reach the soldiers before the cold winter months are upon us.  I feel that I have only to bring to the notice of the public at home the urgent need to ensure an immediate response to this appeal.

I require not less than one million knitted comforts of all kinds for general distribution to the troops as a "Christmas offering” from the women of the United Kingdom.  The quantity is small in comparison with the number of patriotic women who can, and I know will, help us.

The gifts may be sent to any of the voluntary organisations depots throughout the country, or direct to the Comforts Depot, 45, Horseferry Road, Westminster.