The work of the War Refugees Committee : $b An address given by Lady Lugard to the Royal Society of Arts, March 24th, 1915

Description

Insomnia by Sir James Sawyer is a public address and organizational account written in the World War I era. It presents a humanitarian effort in Britain, explaining how volunteers and public institutions mobilized to receive, house, and support a sudden influx of Belgian refugees. The likely topic is the rapid creation of a nationwide relief network, its departments and hostels, and the evolving policies that guided refugee care and employment. The text recounts how an initial plan for evacuating civilians in Ireland inspired the swift formation of the War Refugees Committee, with cross-denominational backing, Foreign Office support, and Belgian government coordination. It describes the overwhelming public response—offers of homes, funds, clothing, and volunteer labor—followed by the rapid setup of key departments for correspondence, transport, allocation, clothing, and local committees, and the leadership that coordinated them. Early chapters dwell on the harrowing experiences of the first arrivals and the immediate relief provided, then on government-run refuges such as Alexandra Palace and Earl’s Court that scaled shelter, feeding, and sanitation. After the fall of Antwerp the committee managed immense daily flows, matching families to hosts and moving thousands by rail. As arrivals changed from rural to urban populations, policy shifted from pure hospitality toward employment via labour bureaux and recruiting offices, while new needs among professional and propertied refugees were met through “gratuitous hotels,” furnished flats, and targeted grants. Further sections outline education placements, health services, a dispensary, and a “Missing Relatives” bureau, all sustained by a large volunteer force, and close with a pledge to maintain support until repatriation becomes possible. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Subjects

• World War, 1914-1918 -- Refugees
• War refugees committee, London, 1914-
• D501