ISSUE 11 | AUTUMN 2018 DESPATCHES TOGETHER WE’RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE FROM THE ARCHIVES CASE STUDY INTRODUCING Stories from WW1 Jamie Small Sir James Gildea Awards INSIDE THIS ISSUE 05 11 FOR THE FALLEN Poem by Robert Laurence Binyon (1869-1943), published 13 in The Times newspaper on 21 September 1914. With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children, England mourns for her dead across the sea. Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit, CONTENTS Fallen in the cause of the free. 5 Get back on your feet Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal 7 Norton House, Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres. Stanford Hall There is music in the midst of desolation 8-9 And a glory that shines upon our tears. 8-9 Research report They went with songs to the battle, they were young, 11 Shrouds of the Somme Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow. They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted, 13 Case study: Mandy and They fell with their faces to the foe. Jamie Small 15 Volunteer profile: They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Rob Eeles Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning 16 Volunteer Checkpoint We will remember them. 18 Mary Jamieson They mingle not with their laughing comrades again; 19 Focus on: FANDF They sit no more at familiar tables of home; 18 They have no lot in our labour of the day-time; 20 Dates for your diary They sleep beyond England’s foam. 24 SSAFA’s Sir James But where our desires are and our hopes profound, Gildea Awards Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight, 26 Rally for Heroes To the innermost heart of their own land they are known As the stars are known to the Night; If you have any inputs for future As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust, Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain, editions of Despatches, please send As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness, them to [email protected] To the end, to the end, they remain. SSAFA Queen Elizabeth House, 4 St Dunstans Hill, London EC3R 8AD Phone: 020 7403 8783 | [email protected] | Facebook: SSAFA | Twitter: @SSAFA | Instagram: ssafaarmedforcescharity Registered as a charity in England and Wales Number 210760 in Scotland Number SCO38056 and in Republic of Ireland Number 20006082. Established 1885. S319.0818 02 03 DID YOU KNOW… Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Families Association (SSFA) was one of the first organisations to call for benefits that would be distributed universally, regardless of circumstance. The introduction of the Separation Allowance, distributed by SSFA during the First World War, was the first government payment made to families as a matter of course. Miss Eleanor F Rathbone (1872-1946), was the Honorary Secretary for the Liverpool Division of SSFA during the First World War. A prominent suffragette and campaigner for women’s rights and an independent MP from 1929-1946, she HELPING is recognised (with an English Heritage blue plaque) as a pioneer of Family Allowances. During the war, clothing branches collected or made VETERANS clothes for the poorest families. Some of these clothes were used for military families who were returning to the UK from the outposts of the British Empire. Many of these families returning from more tropical countries did not have GET BACK appropriate clothing for the much colder British climate. For those on the Home Front in 1914, the austerity continued, but SSFA was there to provide some relief. A ship ON THEIR was sent from America, itself not involved in the conflict at the time, packed with toys for the children of the British troops, and SSFA distributed thousands of gifts to children FEET across the UK in time for Christmas. SSFA provided Alexandra Nurses to garrison towns and ports across the nation and overseas. The nurses provided healthcare to families while the men were away serving their country. When the First World War broke out, many of the nurses joined Voluntary Aid Detachments. Many went abroad with their detachments and served near the front hen celebrity ambassador and Special lines. Others worked in hospitals and convalescent homes in Forces veteran Ant Middleton proposed From top: Eleanor Rathbone, Alexandra the UK. developing a fundraising campaign for nurse dressing a soldiers wound and the W USS Jason ‘The Christmas ship’. SSAFA, we jumped at the chance – and then we made Visit: ssafa.org.uk/ww1 for more First World War stories. him jump too! Ant, star of Channel 4’s SAS Who Dares Wins, #GETBACKONYOURFEET worked with us to launch the Ant Middleton Fund to Our campaign launched in July with Ant setting a help veterans get back on their feet as they return to challenge to ‘Get Back On Your Feet’. Hundreds of Thenew album civilian life. people posted videos on social media and challenged When he struggled to cope after leaving the their friends to give it a go, too. This created a great REMEMBER’ military and experienced firsthand the challenges buzz about SSAFA and raised awareness with a new service men and women face when they return to audience as well as generating donations. 1918-2018 civvy street, Ant turned to SSAFA for support. Search #GetBackOnYourFeet on Twitter or Instagram The funds raised through the Ant Middleton Fund will to take a look at some of the videos. Telling the story of women ensure that those veterans seeking help when they are then and now having difficulties with the transition to civilian life get Visit: ssafa.org.uk/AMF for more details about the the support that they need. Ant Middleton Fund. 04 05 SPOTLIGHT ON… STORIES FROM THE FIRST WORLD WAR BEDROOM 2 BEDROOM 3 BEDROOM 4 BEDROOM 5 Paul Whittle, volunteer for SSAFA Dorset, NORTON HOUSE, shares the story of his grandfather. STANFORD HALL FREDERICK JOHN MEACHIN After her husband Captain Peter Norton was injured while serving in Iraq, Sue Norton led a campaign to UP raise money for a place forLANDING relatives to stay while their injured loved one was treated nearby. Realising the Edith Cavell paid the ultimate price for helping Despite everything he went through to escape, logistical strain that supporting an injured relative Allied soldiers to escape occupied Belgium Meachin volunteered to go back to active service. through the rehabilitation process can bring, in 2008 during the First World War. Her execution by a Frederick went on to receive a Distinguished SSAFA opened Norton House, Headley Court in BEDROOM 6 German firing squad in 1915 caused Conduct Medal for his actions at Oppy Wood on Surrey. This was our first comfortable home-away- international condemnation. For Frederick June 28, 1917. He retiredDDA from the Army in 1929Storage and cupd from-home focusing on emotional welfare. Meachin - the en suite died in July 1954 Following the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre first of some 200 at the age of 65. (DMRC) move from Surrey to the East Midlands in soldiers to get Grandson Paul September,DOWN we wanted to continue to provide free, safe out of Belgium had little and supportive accommodation for families. SSAFA’s DOWN with Cavell’s opportunity to new Norton House, Stanford Hall will also be a haven for assistance - it get to know his those being treated, to allow them a break from a grandfather in hospital environment. was 20 years WARDROBE before he felt life but has been able to talk touched to about his daring discover the WE BELIEVE THAT NORTON HOUSE, EAVES escape. EAVES STORAGE regard with EAVES STORAGE STANFORD HALL IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE: STORAGE CSM Meachin, which Meachin is • Families will be supported throughout the who made his still held by his rehabilitation of their loved one. escape attempt regiment. “I went with Lt Col to the regimental • Shared experiences will make sure families do not Dudley Boger museum up in feel isolated. DSO, didn’t talk Chester to find • Those being treated will have peace of mind about it at all out more about knowing their family is in a safe and supportive until after the death of the Colonel. But in 1939 he him. Someone asked me who I was looking for. It environment. told journalists: “Nurse Cavell was one of those turned out he was the archivist and he stood there people you can never forget. I recall her as a small, and told me all about my grandfather without even • Families will be spared the additional stress and slightly-built woman of middleSCALE age. - meters Her face was looking it up! Surprisingly, the first thing he told me Firstworry Floor of finding andPlan paying for- accommodation.PROPOSED full of determination and there was a light in her was that he had been good at hockey, which is 0 1 2 3M 6M • Service personnel receiving treatment have a eyes that gave you the impression that she loved something I also played well.” chance to stay and enjoy the comforts of home. life. She was typical of the best type of hospital Read the full story at: matron, the kind that gets things done without you The home has eight bedrooms, accessible ssafa.org.uk/frederick-john-meachin. noticing that they are being done.” bathrooms, an internal lift, a large modern kitchen, spacious and comfortable lounge area, outdoor space with peaceful garden and a comfortable home-from-home environment. We estimate that Norton House, Stanford Hall will be needed by more than 1,000 people every year.