In addition to the General Comforts Funds, many individual funds have sprung up in the last twenty months for various units. Fêtes have been organised, entertainments given, arts and crafts sold, and business ventures started and continued with success to augment the funds of battalions and units for which different committees are exerting individual effort. It was felt that the soldiers would appreciate gifts all the more if they knew they were especially sent for their own particular unit, and regimental flags are made and sent overseas, comforts provided, and any special requests of the commanding officers are attended to wherever possible.
Money is sent when specially asked for, and expended at the discretion of the commanding officers, while the continual upkeep of consignments to the different battalions means an unfailing interest on the part of the women. When the men know that the cases have arrived from Queensland and are consigned to their own particular battalion, a special value is attached to them. The very fact that they have been thought of individually is a pleasure, and from all accounts the cases assume the proportion of Santa Claus to a small boy.
Some idea of the magnitude of the work performed in Queensland, to send comforts to soldiers in the field, is realised when it is known that, in addition to the Queensland Soldiers’ Comforts Fund, the following comforts funds are also in existence in Brisbane:—
| 2nd Light Horse |
| 5th Light Horse |
| 11th Light Horse |
| 9th and 49th Battalions |
| 15th Battalion |
| 25th Battalion |
| 26th Battalion |
| 31st Battalion |
| 41st and 42nd Battalions |
| 47th Battalion |
| 3rd Pioneers |
| 4th Pioneers |
| 9th Field Artillery |
| Miners and Engineers |
A Letter from France.
France,
3/2/17.Dear Mrs. S—— and Miss W——
Our Colonel has to-day handed me your most magnificent parcel for distribution to friendless men of my company. The parcel, which was sent by Messrs. T. C. Beirne & Co., arrived in good order, and was greatly appreciated by the men. It really was one of the best parcels I have yet seen. Everything it contained was just what we find it difficult to get here.
(Signed) W. M. Davis, Major,
25th Batt., A.I.F.
And that’s only one of the many appreciative letters for Beirne’s Soldier Boy Hampers that we have seen.
Every Mail for the Front sees hundreds of BEIRNE HAMPERS going to make the recipients happy.
Can we send one for you? No trouble! Just give us your order. We do everything else.