 |
| The gates to St Dunstan's Hospital, London, Australian War Memorial P06305.001 |
In May 1918, the Mayor of Tynemouth [Henry Gregg] attended the Allied Conference and Exhibition in London, which gave him the opportunity to visit several hospitals to see what therapies were being given to help those who had been injured during the war. He visited Roehampton Hospital to see how men were being fitted with artificial limbs and trained in using them, Golder’s Green to see treatment of those with shell shock, and to St Dunstan’s for the training of those who had been blinded.
The mayor reported on his visits in the Shields Daily News over two days. On 28 May 1918, he discussed his visit to St Dunstan’s.
“St Dunstan’s stands in Regent’s Park and occupies, with a magnificent house, sixteen and a half acres… I paid two visits, at the second of which I was introduced and chatted for some time with [the founder] Sir Arthur Pearson.
…
Sympathy and charity are ruled rigidly out, self-assertive manliness, bent on earning its own living, dominates every single person. Now as to the training. Basket and mat-making are taught there as in other blind institutions, so I pass over them as being normal. Net making in very many forms is taught, and seems to be in very great favour with the men, probably owing to the variety of utility of the articles. Shoe making and repairing is carried on on a somewhat extensive scale. It is perfectly wonderful to note the high class work these men turn off their hands. Special tools enable them to accomplish their work faultlessly. More wonderful still if possible is the training in joinery. To see them use the rule, compasses, plane and other tools is almost uncanny. They can dovetail and mitre perfectly, make substantial furniture, and fine cabinet work. Picture framing is also skilfully done, and to see them cut the glass to fit the edge of a frame…is astonishing. Typewriting, telephoning, and braille shorthand are also taught. Especially would I mention massage training. A number of men are being trained as professional masseurs…and they undergo such a thorough training that doctors prefer them to all the others owing to their perfect knowledge of the work…They are trained by a blind man who is himself an expert. Poultry farming is also taught with good effect. The men can tell the breed and peculiarities of every bird in their care.
 |
| Blind soldiers at work in the boot making and repairing shop at St. Dunstan Hostel, Regent's Park, IWM Non Commercial Licence, © IWM (Q 54583) |
The gratifying feature of the training at St Dunstan’s Home is that when they become proficient they receive a complete outfit to commence on their own account. In the case of poultry training, the man is given a number of birds, two mother birds for sitting, an incubator, sufficient wood, wire, and all other implements necessary. In the case of typing, a new Remington typewriter is supplied. Shoemakers, too, receive lasts, tools, leather, nails, etc.
…
A pleasing feature too, is the fact that a large number of voluntary ladies have qualified themselves to instruct the men in many of the department. Day by day they are in attendance in relays, teaching Braille, telephony etc.”
For one of the soldiers who attended St Dunstan’s, it was to be a life changing experience in more ways than one. Private Tom Smith was from Boldon Colliery and was serving with 14th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry (14 DLI), in the Loos and Lens sector in April 1917. The battalion had been in action for a few days when they had to attack on the morning of 22 April and consolidate their gained ground. The initial attack was successful, destroying three German machine guns, and taking three officers, and over 30 other ranks prisoner. Over the course of the day, the German army mounted three counter attacks, all of which were repulsed. They then made a fourth attempt and succeeded in driving 14 DLI back, and the battalion suffered severe casualties. One of these was Tom Smith who was blinded in both eyes. He attended St Dunstan’s for training, and met Kitty who was a support worker there. In the 1920s, they married.
 |
| Tom and Kitty Smith on their wedding day, 1920s, D/DLI 7/963/3 ©Durham County Record Office |
Historical photography project
100 Voices
No comments:
Post a Comment