Our ‘boys’ remembered

No record of the work of an English philanthropic public institution having to do with the care of poor children for the year 1914 can be written without the reference to the national crisis created by the terrible European war declared in the early days of August. Few will forget the quick transition in those mid-summer days from a nation absorbed in peaceful pursuits to one stunned at first and then springing to arms in the cause of righteousness.

- Taken from The Children’s Haven, 1915

Refuge Volunteers, 1917

On the 28th July 1914 Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, sparking off a series of events that led to one of the deadliest conflicts in history. Over the next four years more than 9 million soldiers were killed and many more injured. 

Like other organisations across the country, the charity watched as many of its current and old boys left to fight for their country. The charity’s roll of honour extends to over 400 men and includes committee members and officers in charge as well as refuge lads. 33 never made it back.

Brian Crossley, Member of the Committee

The charity has managed to identify around 250 men from this list who were called to arms. Many fought in the Canadian forces, their adopted home, to which they had been emigrated to by the charity. The pull of the ‘Old Country’ persuaded many of them to sign up. We will be telling the stories of some of these boys both through our regular blog and the Together Trust website over the next few months as a small way of commemorating all those men from the Refuges who fought for King and country. 

If you think one of your relatives who fought in World War One was associated with the charity why not contact us to see if we can provide more information.