The British Interned in Switzerland

by Henry Philip Picot

This "Y.M.C.A." hut, equipped with canteen, cinema, billiard and bagatelle tables, stage, library, "quiet" room, lantern for lectures, etc., was of the most up-to-date kind, and round it revolved the social life of Mürren. An Entertainment Committee was organized, and weekly concerts were held. The theatrical company, composed of officers and men, had a successful career both at Mürren and Interlaken, and drew large houses, in which figured many visitors from Berne and elsewhere. Popular lectures, mock trials, and a General Election, roused great interest; and various classes for fretwork, basket-making, embroidery, and languages, were established. Agriculture was not forgotten, a large piece of land being leased for market gardening. Here scores of men found agreeable occupation, and produce was raised which assisted in supplying the garrison during the winter months.

In January, 1917, Mr. J. W. Hobday was appointed Secretary of the "Y.M.C.A." in Switzerland, and co-operated with Mr. Whitwell, whose place he filled at a later date, when that gentleman returned to England.

When Interlaken was opened as a British Camp, Mr. Hobday installed a canteen, under the direction of Mr. and Mrs. R. Hughes, in one of the best hotels of the place, to which was adjoined a concert hall, with the finest decorated interior within a large radius. Here, as elsewhere in all "Y.M.C.A." centres, the daily arrival of British and Colonial newspapers kept the men in touch with the outside world, and concerts, sing-songs, lectures, tennis, and billiards, gave them plenty of amusement and recreation.

At Meiringen the "Y.M.C.A." acquired the local "Casino," which was admirably adapted for its purpose, and to it Mr. John Mahler, J.P., and the Rev. D. Dowling devoted much of their time and energies. The winter of 1917-18 was very severe, but the "Y.M.C.A." made a point of keeping their quarters well warmed, thus adding to the comfort and health of the men.

By the courtesy of the "Châlet" authorities, and of Mrs. Mitchell of Seebourg, near Lucerne, a large hall was placed at the service of the men, where, likewise, the "Y.M.C.A." opened a "Home" under the experienced leadership of Miss Leckie. Thanks to her sympathetic efforts, and the assistance given by Mr. and Mrs. W. Cecil Stronge, the local clergy, and Mrs. Hauser, of the Schweizerhof Hotel, a fine piece of work was performed here.

Previous to the opening of this hall, Mrs. Hauser (English by birth, and the wife of the proprietor of the Schweizerhof Hotel of Lucerne) had, together with her husband, placed at the disposal of British Interned a room in their hotel, which served all the purposes of a club. This lady also acted as visitor to those in hospital, and supplied them with hospital comforts, both on her own behalf and, later, on that of the "B.L.R.C.O.," whose representative she became. Her generosity and untiring service were of great value.

At Couvet in the Canton of Neuchâtel, our men were indebted to Monsieur Pierre Dubied, a Swiss gentleman, for a fine hall, where the "Y.M.C.A." were installed in the interests of a British working party who were employed in cutting fuel during the summer of 1918. Mme Dubied and her friends gave unstinted help, and endeared themselves to the men.

In connection with the Motor Classes at Vevey, Colonel A. K. Gillespie founded the "Soldiers' Club," which, later on, was amalgamated with the "Y.M.C.A.," who had taken up their quarters in the excellent premises of the Swiss "Y.M.C.A." (Union Chrétienne des Jeunes Gens), on the Boulevard St. Martin, and proved a happy meeting place for social intercourse, concerts, and sports. I may mention that Colonel Gillespie's name has become a household word to the British Interned in Switzerland, owing to his association with the "B.L.R.C.O.," the "Soldiers' Club," and the "Bureau de Secours aux Prisonniers de Guerre."

At Gunten, on the Lake of Thoune, and in connection with the Carpet Workshops, Miss Martin and the late Mrs. Cooke Daniels opened a much appreciated club for the use of the British, French, and Belgian Interned; and Miss Simpkin, of Manor Farm, also established a tea-room at Interlaken, which proved of great service to the men passing to and from Mürren.

I think I have said enough to show how active was the part taken by the "Y.M.C.A." and others in Switzerland, and how beneficent were their labours. The Association appears to me more than well served by its staff, and evidently has the happy faculty of choosing the right man for the right place. Nothing could have been better, for instance, than their choice of Mr. Whitwell and Mr. Hobday,—the former for his large-heartedness, the latter for his administrative and executive abilities.