BARNARDO’S HOMES

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 238, 5 July 1944, Page 6

BARNARDO’S HOMES

Greater Work In Time Of . Greater Need “British Fortitude and Humour” was the title of an address delivered to members of the Wellington Rotary Club yesterday by Miss Violet. Roche, New Zealand representative for Dr. Bnrnardo's Homes. Faying a tribute to what she termed “the citizenship of New Zealand youth.” she instanced the wonderful and persistent loyalty the children of New Zealand had always shown toward Dr. Bnrnardo’s Homes, an institution of which they only knew but had never seen. If it were*something tangible it would not be the least surprising, but here was a case where the great philanthropic work embodied- in. Dr. Barnardo’s Homes for children’had become a tradition with British people and British children wherever they were. In making appeals they had been careful never to cut across any local demands of a similar nature, yet they had been profoundly grateful for the help which seemingly had always been forthcoming. .Since the homes had been started 78 years ago. 132.000 children had passe'l through them. The work now was greater than it had ever been —greater because the need was greater. Many of those who were being sheltered and cared for were the children of blitzed homes, and others whom it was found necessary to evacuate from damaged premises. To meet this demand 02 now homes had been established in England and Scotland, among them, the stately home of Lord Louis Mountbatten and the Bishop of Ripon’s lovely country home in Yorkshire. In other instances there were cottage homes, where as much care and love (is was possible was given the children in as home-like an atmosphere as was tiossible. It was rather amazing how tho children took the bombing, said Miss Roche, She recalled a ease in Exeter where, when children were being marshalled into a shelter after the siren had wailed its alarm, one called out to the others, “Here’s old Hitler crying again,” which set them all giggling. There was another storv of a boy delivering milk. As he trudged along a country road a stray enemy pilot tried to spray him with bullets from his machinegun. Though the bullets spat all-round him, ho was unhurt, and went on with his job. though thoroughly frightened and whiter than tli.e milk he was vending. On the way back he gathered tip all the bullets he could find and sold them in the village for (id. each.

Of the Barnardo boys 5000 were serving with the armed forces; many had risen to positions of responsibility, and some had been decorated. There had been Barnardo boys in the battles which settled the Graf Spec and the Bismarck and among the crew of the Cossack. Of the 13.000 who had been sent, overseas. 2000 to Australia and the rest to Canada, 98 tier cent, had made good. Three liundreil were serving in the A.I.F. Finally Miss Roche said that while each of the units comprising the Commonwealth of Nations under the British ting had its own house, they had a common famil.v hearthstone in Old England, round which they talked of their family affairs. And if the light, did grow dim now and again, it was the duly of overseas members of that family to bring candles to furnish the Torch of Empire, so tluil, he the night ever so dark or so stormy, they need not, fear.