The Times Archive: Child shell-shock victims from France - 10th September 1920
From The Times: September 10, 1920
The Southampton boat-train left Waterloo Station last night with 200 bright-eyed, healthy French youngsters, of nine to 12 years old. These little passengers were journeying with rather mixed feelings, for they were on their way back to their homes in the war-devastated areas, after a wonderful recuperative holiday of six weeks in the North of England.
One group of the children had arrived at Waterloo in tears, but they all cheered up sufficiently in the booking hall to sing a verse each of the British National Anthem and the Marseillaise. Safely stowed in the carriages, some of them were interviewed by a representative of The Times before the train moved out, and expressed, through M Jules Gradel, who was in charge of the party, their appreciation of all that had been done for them. Mlle Gradel was rather older than the others, and was able to explain in English that she had seen the Thames, “and it was not in a fog”. Judging from the tone of wonder in which this was said it would seem that the climate of London has not the best of reputations in France. The children had not spent more than two or three hours in the metropolis, but had been shown a view of the Thames from Waterloo Bridge, and had the main features on either side pointed out to them. Through their interpreters they reiterated volubly their gratitude to the people of the North who had entertained them and, childlike, their hope that they would be “asked again” next year.
Mr McCann, the secretary of the French War Charities Society of Manchester, by whom the visit was arranged, said they had all been very happy, with every possible comfort, and most of them had increased in weight. Many had been provided with articles of clothing. They were youthful patients who had been long subjected to shell-shock, and for whom members of the medical faculty recommended a holiday amid novel surroundings as the best means of restoration to health.
A score of the young visitors were housed in Harrogate, Southport, New Brighton, Blackburn, Preston, Manchester, Keighley, Blackpool, and Bakewell, with a local committee of ladies to look after their welfare, relying wholly upon voluntary subscriptions.