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.