Oldham Historical Research Group

'THE GREAT WAR', 'THE WAR TO END WAR', 'WORLD WAR 1'
'What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
- Only the monstrous anger of the guns.'
from 'Anthem for Doomed Youth' by Wilfred Owen

1914 - 1918

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From 'The Oldham Evening Chronicle' September 19th 1914 (Transcript)

Belgian Refugees
An Appeal to Oldham's Hospitality

Mr. Nadin, Secretary of the Oldham Relief Committee, has received a circular letter form the Local Government Board with reference to Belgian Refugees.

It pointed out that there are now, in Belgium, some thousands of persons in Louvain, Malines(?), Liege, and elsewhere whose homes have been destroyed and for whom the Belgian Government on account of the military exigencies are unable to provide. In answer to enquiries by the Belgian Government His Majesty's Government have offered to these victimes of the war the hospitality of the British nation. Arrangements have been made for the temporary accommodation of the refugees on their arrival in London, but it is necessary to distribute them in various parts of the country. Already the War Refugees Committee have received many offers of hospitatlity, which have been gratefully accepted, but the numbers who are now about to arrive will soon exceed these offers. The Government feel sure there are many persons in this country who would wish to show their sympathy for the suffering which Belgium has endured as well as their admiration for the valour and courage of her army, and who would be willing to give temporary accommodation to these refugees. The Local Government Board asks whether the Local Relief Committee would be willing to form a sub-committee and ascertain whether there are any persons in Oldham willing to give accommodation. Care will be needed in selecting homes and supervising refugees who are boarded out. In a large proportion of the cases families will come together and accommodation will be needed for man, wife and children, without separation for one another. The greatest care will also be taken to secure, for girls and young women good and suitable homes. All refugees will be medically examined before being sent to homes. If Oldham is willing to undertake the placing out of any of these refugees the Local Government Board will be glad to be informed of the number which can be accommodated.

Oldham residents willing to take some of the unfortunate Belgians should send in their names etc., to Mr. Nadin at the Town Hall. Mr. Nadin has had several offers from people who are willing to accept single children but do not know whence they may be obtained, and Mr. Nadin is in communication with the Belgian Consul on this matter.

Further reading on the same subject, can be found in 'The Bulletin of the Saddleworth Historical Society', Vol. 40, number 3, Autumn 2010
a lengthy article called 'Saddleworth's Belgian Refugees of World War 1'

Extracted from the Bulletin:
The article tells us that the total number of Belgian Refugees would eventually total over 250,000 thousand persons and committees would be set up all over the country to accommodate the influx.
A National Committee for Relief in Belgium was set up and images of Lord Kitchener were sold help raise money.
The Saddleworth Distress Committe was approached with a request for accommodation for 50 children and Mrs. Hyde, of Wharmton Towers, and a number of other ladies offered to take some of the children.
Further letters and newspaper clippings reference the use of untenanted Council Houses for Belgian families and also the offer, by individuals, of a further 9 houses. So quickly did the residents of Saddleworth respond that they were actually in the position of being ready and waiting for the coming of refugees but none having arrived.
The newspaper clips also record that there was more than one organisation offering help and there seem to have been some issues between the Delph Independents Church and the Saddleworth Distress Committee; the Independents wishing to remain autonomous rather than merge with the Distress Committee.
An article in the Oldham Chronicle, 31st October, reports the arrival of 2 families at Bleakhey Nook. They had been discovered in Manchester by Mr. J. Greenwood, who lived in Bleak Hey, Delph. He brought them home with him and installed them in a nearby cottage that he owned.
The Oldham Chronicle of 19th December records that the Delph Independents also had a family installed in their property by the middle of December.
After the arrival of the Belgian families the business of raising funds to support the refugees had to carry on. There were concerts, lectures and collection of money and aid from various sources.
In January 1915 the Distress Committee was supporting 45 Belgian Refugees and, without Government funding to help, their was a pressing need to maintain the funds necessary to support them and help those, who were able, to find some sort of emplyment. Together, the Distress Committee worked out, with the Refugees, how much money was needed by families, how it would be put together and how it would be allocated.

(Reference copies of the Bulletin can be seen at the Local Studies & Archives on Union Street)

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