THE SOLDIERS’ CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
The work done by the Soldiers’ Christian Association in South Africa has been so incessant and far-reaching that it deserves special recognition. In no previous war has so much interest and sympathy been manifested in its multifarious operations, and it is difficult to define exactly how far the ramifications of this commendable undertaking extended. Innumerable War Funds, Comforts’ Committees, Soldiers’ Work Committees, Soldiers’ Home Committees, and various bodies of a similar nature were organised and set to work with the best results, whilst officers and men were united in their praise and gratitude for the splendid efforts which were made in order to ameliorate their lot in the field, in camp, and in hospital.
The Soldiers’ Christian Association—the Military Department of the Young Men’s Christian Association—was one of the first organisations in the field, and on the 9th of November 1899 the following notice appeared in “Orders”:—
Lines of Communications.
Notice.
Permission has been given to the Soldiers’ Christian Association to send out tents and writing materials for the troops.
Facilities are to be accorded to the Association to put up tents at fixed stations as far as military requirement will permit.
The Castle, Cape Town,
November 9, 1899.
About the middle of December 1899 a fully-equipped and specially-qualified band of eight workers was sent to South Africa from the head office in London, Mr. A. H. Wheeler (who has since died) being in charge, and during the campaign thirty workers were employed on the staff of the Association, many of these signing on in South Africa.
A DUTCH VILLAGE NEAR EDENBURG.
From “War Impressions” by Mortimer Menpes, by arrangement with Messrs A. & C. Black.
As far as was possible and practicable, workers were attached to the main columns, having with them large green canvas marquees, each capable of seating 250 men. In the daytime the marquees were utilised for reading, correspondence, and recreative purposes, and in the evening gospel meetings were conducted by the representatives of the Association, many of the soldiers taking an active part in the proceedings. Reading matter and stationery, and goods of that nature, were at all times freely supplied to the troops, it being an object of the Association to grant everything to the men free of cost. In addition to the eight marquees in the country, there were also four wood and iron buildings, with a seating capacity for 300 men. These were placed at fixed camps along the lines of communication. The building at the Woodstock Hospital Camp proved of immense benefit to the multitudes of invalided troops at that large and well-known military depot.
During the campaign several thousands of pounds sterling were contributed towards the work, whilst the Soldiers’ Christian Association was directly represented at the following camps:—Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Orange River, Enslin, Kimberley, Dronfield, Sterkstroom, Dordrecht, Arundel, Boshof, Hoopstad, Bloemfontein, Kroonstad, Pretoria, Eerste Fabriken, Estcourt, Frere, Dewdrop, Ladysmith, Elandslaagte, Ingagane, and Newcastle, where active operations were carried on by the staff of thirty workers. The main base of operations was Cape Town, whence supplies to the numerous representatives were despatched all over South Africa by the officials at headquarters, supplies being sent from the London office at Exeter Hall at regular intervals to the Cape Town depot, and thus throughout the many months of the Association’s work in the field every camp where the work has been conducted was kept fully supplied with goods for the troops. Gratifying expressions of appreciation were received from several of the Generals and many of the officers regarding the good work of the Association, while the men were at all times profoundly grateful for all the pains expended for their comfort and welfare by Mr. W. Gordon Sprigg and his devoted colleagues.
Before leaving South Africa for England, the Commander-in-Chief, Field-Marshal Earl Roberts, sent the following letter to Mr. Will Gordon Sprigg, F.R.G.S., General Secretary of the Cape Town Young Men’s Christian Association, and Honorary Secretary in South Africa of the Soldiers’ Christian Association, expressive of his lordship’s interest in, and appreciation of, the work:—
“Cape Town, 11th December 1900.
“I am desired by Field-Marshal Lord Roberts to assure you of his lordship’s high appreciation of the good work done by the Soldiers’ Christian Association in South Africa. Lord Roberts has watched your work with much interest, and feels sure that the success which has attended your efforts in the past will continue in the future.
“His lordship wishes me to ask you to tender to all the members of your staff and co-workers his best thanks for their excellent services, and, in leaving South Africa to-day, he wishes you all good-bye and God-speed.
(Signed) “W. V. Cowan, Lieut.-Colonel,
Military Secretary.”