Some Helpers of the Hospital

April 1916

For a whole year my friend Mr. Willie Walters, of Liverpool, sent me 10,000 cigarettes a week for the use of the wounded. Mr. Walters is providing another hospital, a battleship, and two regiments with tobacco, and so, having had his generous help for a whole year, we could not trespass on his generosity further. Mr. Berney, of Wimbledon, has a fund which has been more than useful in supplementing our supply. Our numbers here are so large that to provide five cigarettes a day for each patient means, with 1,500 beds, 7,500 a day. The Australian Associations and Newfoundlanders now supply their own men. Mrs. Bruce-Porter collects for a fund for the British regiments and others not already provided for.

Drives have been a great joy to the patients, and many chars-a-bancs were sent by Lady Turing, who collected a fund for this purpose at the kind suggestion of H.R.H. Princess Louise Duchess of Argyll. I hope with the longer days this fund may be revised. The Australian War Contingent have done much for the Australian patients, and the chars-a-bancs sent by the Association have been a great help to all the patients, for the chars-a-bancs sent by British friends have been shared by the Australians, and the Australian and Newfoundland chars-a-bancs have given pleasure to many Britishers. In this way the patients go out with their new friends, and the Empire spirit and character of the hospital are thus maintained.

Miss Margaret Boulton has done many things for the hospital. She has sent gramophones for the use of the patients, and also flowers, plants, vegetables, and fruit. This lady was one of the first to start a free buffet for soldiers going north. She personally worked and financed one at Euston for a long time. These buffets are now taken over by various organisations, but to Miss Boulton belongs the honour of being one of the earliest workers in this popular movement.

Mr. Guy Chetwynd has helped with bagatelle tables, having started the fund in Sporting Life, and to this paper's patrons we are indebted for many tables.

Mr. Ellis has brought papers every Sunday since the hospital opened.

Mr. and Mrs. Percy Chubb are American friends showing genuine and practical sympathy with England at the moment by doing many things to help the wounded, one of these being the setting aside of a wing of their house at Wimbledon for six officers, who may continue their treatment there, within motoring distance of the hospital.

Mr. Guthrie-Smith has been a helper to us in many ways, and his and Mrs. Guthrie-Smith's assistance in providing drives for the patients is but one instance of their kindnesses. The most important thing is his duty as hon. gardener; in this post he has taken charge of our extensive grounds, and the paths and flower-beds are his especial care. He must have had many causes for amusement, and on one occasion he was warned, quite seriously, by a newly arrived N.C.O. as to his need for more care in the way he did his work. He has renewed his acquaintance with many New Zealanders, and made friends with all about the place. He has been helped very much by Messrs. Neal and Sons, the well-known gardeners of this neighbourhood, who have been most considerate to us.

H. E. BRUCE-PORTER