u Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least
of these my little ones
no
THE YPRES TIMES
THE history which attaches to the photograph shown on this page will, I think,
not only interest our readers, but also excite their sympathy.
Early in April of the present year we received a touching appeal for help
from Mr. San ex-Service man employed as a gardener in France by the Imperial
War Graves Commission. I cannot do better than quote his own words:I
am writing to ask you for advice and assistance to help me place my sons somewhere
in England. My wife has recently died and I am left with a baby girl, and four
boys, the eldest not yet seven. They are running wild, and I do not know what
to do with them. I am ashamed to make this appeal, but I am practically driven
to do so. If you can help me I shall be greatly thankful, as it nearly breaks my
heart to see how my family is faring now."
We at once took steps to get into communication with Societies likely to be
able to take in these motherless children. Among those we approached was the
Church of England Society for providing homes for Waifs and Strays, who
immediately replied that they would be glad to consider applications
on behalf of the two elder boys. There still remained the two younger
boys for whom to find a suitable home. This proved a very difficult task; the
months passed and July found us still unsuccessful in our quest, but determined
not to admit defeat, when we received another letter from the Waifs and Strays
stating that it had been decided to accept not only the two elder children, but also
to stretch a point by considering applications on behalf of the two younger
boys. In due course the Society wrote to inform us that these also had been
