THE "DISABLED" SOCIETY. 236 The Ypres Times. the light of what we were able to do in the past. That exactly is what the League stands for to keep the past green in order that the future may be better. Another correspondent strikes a rather different note, and I would rather leave him to be dealt with by some of our contributors. However, his letter was in my postbag, so here goes. This is what he says"To be quite candid, I am afraid I am not much in sympathy with the Ypres League. I was partly in the First, and fully in the Second and Third Battles, but I think 't is un-English to make such a song about it. There were other battles but they can't all have a league, and I think it is a mistake to multiply these organisations." There is quite a lot I could say about that, and there is one thing I will say, that no one here wants to commemorate the actual battles of Ypres. Ypres is only the symbol of the courage, devotion and sacrifice that was seen all over the world for more than four ghastly years, a symbol as Ther mopylae, Lucknow and Rorke's Drift are symbols to be commemorated and held up to admiration long after all memory of the fighting has passed. How many of those to whom Leonidas' immortal sacrifice is a commonplace could tell you the tacti cal history of Thermopylae or that the Spartan king was a foolish commander who threw his life away? The Spirit remains and it is the spirit that matters. Of that spirit Ypres is the symbol that is why there is an Ypres League. It is of that spirit that The Nation wrote in reviewing our April numberWe are grateful for the spirit behind the Ypres League," and for that spirit we do not intend to apologise. But the best answer to my critic's letter is this from another correspondent who shall be namelessI enclose my subscription of 5s. and I much appre ciate the Times and trust it will continue its splen did work of showing those who are left behind what our dear ones endured and died for. My husband was killed on the Messines Road just by the Menin gate." Now, is the Ypres League of no use? Several readers were good enough to send me in suggestions and contributions, but in view of the heavy pressure on our space, I have not been able to use them this time. I call their attention and everyone else's to the announcement for a money prize for the best story of the war. It is a very open event and I hope there will be many entries. The Disabled Society started in October, 1919, under the presidency of Sir Arthur Stanley, to collect information of use to disabled men and to disseminate this information by means of a hand book. It was soon found that disabled men wished for a lighter leg than that which the Ministry of Pensions provided, and eventually the Government set up a committee to consider the question of supplying a lighter limb. This will be specially referred to in our next issue. The Society's Handbook for the Limbless has been much appreciated and its issue has had the effect of increasing the membership of the Society enormously. It contains a mass of information, and most of the articles are written by men who have themselves lost limbs. The list of organisations which are interested in disabled men should make it much easier for those who want help to know where to apply for it. Bicycling, driving of cars, boxing, riding and physical exercises are fully dealt with, and the statement of the regulations of the Ministries of Pensions and Labour are useful and should help individuals to know what they are entitled to. The most important part of the Society's work is finding disabled men employment. It was found exceedingly difficult and the Society started a Poppy factory where disabled men might make the poppies for the British Legion Remembrance Day. The Unity Relief Committee of the British Legion were approached, and eventually a liberal sum was granted in order that the Society might make the experiment. Factory premises were secured, and at the end of the year 56 disabled men were employed. The rate of production is exceedingly good, the average number of poppies made per man per day being 1,000. The majority of the employees are men who have lost a leg. It is hoped, says a statement from the Society, that experiments in other industries will lead to the employment of more men later on, and the factory committee are working with this object in view. In September, for instance, a request was received from the Ypres League for an estimate for corn flowers for Ypres Day. It was very desirable that the order should be .given to the factory, but it had been decided that the capital given by the British Legion could not be used for any other purpose than poppy making. However, the necessary money was obtained, and cornflowers were manufactured. It may interest readers of The Ypres Times to know what sports have been or will be held by the Society. There were, for example, on June 27, walking competitions for men who have lost a leg above the knee and below, at Paddington Recreation Ground, Portsdown Road, Maida Vale. Swimming competitions will be held at the Central Y.M.C.A., Tottenham Court Road, at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 4. Many interesting events will be decided, including the 10 lengths open race for the limbless championship. All the races are for men who have lost an arm or a leg or more.

HISTORISCHE KRANTEN

The Ypres Times (1921-1936) | 1923 | | pagina 26