HELP FOR BLIND SOLDIERS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 91, 14 November 1916, Page 2

HELP FOR BLIND SOLDIERS.

[To The Editor Stratford Tost.]

Sir, —It is quite a long time since 1 wrote you about the work we are doing here in the way of training and educating soldiers and. sailors who have lost their sight in the war. As the result of the recent heavy casualties the numbers of these —the most pathetic victims of the struggle—are increasing with alarming rapidity. I am glad to say that we have just been most, generously lent Regent’s Park College, a very large establishment quite close to St. Dunstan’s which will enable us to adequately cope with the situation so far as housing is concerned, hut I confess to anxiety with regard to the provision of sufficient means to enable ns to care properly for these men after they have passed through their period of training. The National Institute for the Blind, of which I have the honour to he president, has taken upon itself the task of looking after them for the future, and has established an After-Care Brandi which will, I believe, deal with this matter satisfactorily.

There is no point in training a blind man and setting him up in an industry unless one is prepared to supervise his work, to purchase fur him his raw material, to assist in the nnu keting of his goods, or lo help in securing him continuity of employment should his work he such as that of the masseur or the cobbler. Will you, I wonder, he so generous as to allow me to ask your readers for help in this important direction P We have received a great deal of gratifying assistance from Britons overseas, not only in the matter of personal contributions, but as the result of entertainments of one kind or another

which have been organised for the benefit of the men of St Dunstan’s. AVe have, or have had under our care two blinded soldiers from the Dominion, and several more who are still in hospital will be with ns shortly. Yours faithfully, ARTHUR PEARSON, Chairman —Blinded Soldiers and Sailors’ Cave Committee. St. DimstaiTs, Regent’s Park, N.W, London, October Oth, 1916. '