The Chairman and Secretary of the CWL Services Committee

History
At the beginning of the First World War an appeal was made for a Catholic recreation hut for the Forces in Boulogne and the immediate and generous response from members of the public made it possible for the League to obtain and open a hut there. The earliest hut in England, opened in 1916, was the one at St. Peter’s Hall, Westminster, on the site of what is now the Conference Centre of Westminster Cathedral. This was a canteen open twenty-four hours, organised by members of the League, for troops passing through London. By 1917 it had become necessary to form a Special Committee to plan and organise the work of the growing number of huts.

The West Riding Branch of the League, now the Leeds Branch, opened a large hut and chapel for the Northern and Southern Command Depots transit camps, at Studley Roger, west of Ripon, North Yorkshire. It was staffed by CWL members who worked round the clock, to provide over a thousand meals a day for the men camped there. This became known as the “English Mother Hut”. At the end of the Great War, this hut was sold and the Branch erected a Wayside Crucifix on a site nearby, bequeathed by the 2nd Marquis of Ripon who had become a Catholic. The huge plinth on which there is a memorial dedication, was also a gift from the Marquis. Every year since 1920, members have organised a pilgrimage there, on a Thursday nearest to the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul and July 1st, the anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.

There were many other huts opened during WWI and by the end of 1918 the League had thirty five huts, not only in England but on the war fronts in Europe as well, all staffed by League members. They were outstanding in that, though they provided meals, the forces spiritual needs were also catered for. Holy Mass was celebrated on Sundays, some huts having permanent altars, and there were opportunities for Confession as well. The friendly and Christian atmosphere was appreciated by British, Belgium, French and Canadian troops and when the Chaplains returned to their own countries, they were instrumental in urging the founding of the League there. In 1919, Cardinal Mercier started the League for Belgian Women and in 1920 the Canadian League was formed.

When Peace came in 1918, the League began the adoption of ruined villages and churches in Europe and the huts in France were donated for use in shattered areas and vestments were provided for use in those churches still standing.

When the Second World War broke out in 1939, the Committee sought, and obtained, permission from the War Office, to resume the running of the Canteens. A new appeal was launched for financial aid and by December of 1939 there were three canteens working.

A few months later, no less than eleven huts had been established, including three in France and there were more requests coming in.

The first Mass Hut was opened by the Harrogate Section of the West Riding Branch (now Leeds Branch) with funds raised by the sections of the Branch and was dedicated to Christ the King on October 29th 1940. This was at Pennypot Army Camp, 2 miles west of the town centre. Vestments and altar cloths and linen were provided by members of all sections and parishioners and there were gifts of a chalice, tabernacle and altar candlesticks.

A young Catholic chaplain who accompanied a contingent of soldiers returning from Dunkirk, contacted the local Section of the League and asked that some place be provided for the men. Within two weeks a CWL Club, using an empty café, was opened by the local mayor.  A non-Catholic soldier was so delighted with the facilities, that he wrote to the Catholic priest of his own home town, requesting that prayers should be said for all the League members involved in this work..

The Rome Club was run in the grand surroundings of the old Scots College and Pope Pius XII paid many unofficial visits there. He admired the work of the staff and once asked where did the League manage to find such people?

The League members, now in uniform, went where the war went, with the Eighth Army to North Africa, Italy, Jerusalem and were in Vienna, Athens, Iceland, Malaya, Burma and Singapore. In 1945 the League was asked to send mobile canteens and set up clubs for the service personnel in India and Burma. At the same time many clubs for troops were closing in Germany, except for those run by the League.

In 1955 the name of the committee was changed to the CWL Services Club Committee. It was invited to join the official body of the CVWW, the Council of Voluntary Welfare Work and, within the Council’s charter, the CWL was permitted to organise clubs where there was a predominance of Catholic troops, in any country. In this way welfare work was undertaken for the children of the Army of Occupation, as well as providing books and games and the first Services’ Branch of the League was started by the wives of Catholic servicemen. These groups ran Repositories, cared for the altar linens, catered for First Holy Communion and Confirmation and gave religious instruction to the children attending the Forces’ schools. In 1968 a plaque portraying the League’s badge was presented to the Chairman of the Services Branch in recognition of the work done in BAOR. However, monies for the club became limited and the work had to be reduced. In 1973 the last club, in Germany, was officially closed by Mr Heaney, the current Treasurer of the present Services Committee, and the money from the sale of the clubs was invested by the Trustees. Over many years and to allow the work of catechesis to continue the CWL sponsored nuns, who undertook to look after the welfare of the Catholic families in the Services. Sadly there are no nuns now working in this field and Father Bill Boyd is the only one in residence at Windsor school.

Today we work closely with the Bishop to the Forces and with the Principal Chaplains.  We rely on them as well as the members of the League to inform the Committee if they are aware of someone, connected with the Services, in need of help. We welcome requests from anyone, serving or retired, or their dependents. They do not need to be Catholic, only have a relative who served in the Forces. Some referrals are made through SSAFA, Social Services or the British Legion, asking for help to purchase larger items of equipment such as a special bed or wheelchair. Money is given only for specific items e.g a cooker, washing machine, fridge, bed linen or help with household repairs and redecoration. We also get requests from young people needing help with “one off” grants towards books for course work or special equipment. ALL applications are dealt with confidentially and emergency requests can be dealt with promptly.

Recent Events

In the last few years we have sponsored participants on the military pilgrimage to Lourdes (see following story) and we have given crucifixes and prayer cards to men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Last year we sent 100 pairs of boxer shorts and flip flops for patients in the field hospital so they can relax and not have to wear military uniform. These were sent through the courtesy of NAAFI and we thank them for that. We have also sent Bibles for Merchant Navy ships through the Missions to Seamen. These are sometimes in different languages.

On June 6th 2009, after the Pilgrimage Mass at Westminster Cathedral, a Cross that was part of the Westminster Canteen in the First World War was rededicated by Monsignor John Walsh, Principal RAF Chaplain.

On July 14th a memorial bench at the National Arboretum at Arlewas, Staffordshire, will be blessed by Bishop McGough after Mass in the Chapel there. The bench is in memory of all CWL members who ran canteens in Britain and overseas in both World Wars.

At the National AGM weekend in Torquay this year we shall be hearing about the Forces and how life is today with talks by the Principal Roman Catholic Chaplains. We shall also hear about ‘Help the Heroes’ – the National Project chosen by Doreen Pooley, CWL National President.

International Military Pilgrimage to
Lourdes, 22 - 26 May 2008

This year is the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady to St Bernadette and also the 50th anniversary of the International Military Pilgrimage. Mrs Joan Collins and Mrs Margaret Richards of the Catholic Women's League Services Committee were very privileged to have been invited to take part in this pilgrimage, representing the League.

We left Stansted Airport with about 200 pilgrims at 6.30pm, 7 hours late, on an Air Méditerranée flight for Tarbres, Lourdes. We arrived at our various hotels late that evening, so the programme scheduled for that evening had to be transferred to the Friday morning. After breakfast at 7am on Friday we joined the Naval, Army and Air Force cadets at the Hotel Alba for the march to the Hemicycle, where we had our opening Mass, followed by a service of reconciliation for the British contingent. I met Debbie Wilde of WRVS, who was not a Catholic, but was very impressed by the Mass. After lunch we all marched again to the opening ceremony - the weather at this stage was good. In the evening we joined the torchlight procession - very impressive, with pilgrims from 34 countries all singing hymns to Our Lady and marching in the pouring rain!

On Saturday there was Mass at 7.30am at the Grotto for the English speaking pilgrims, led by the Irish contingent. Mary McAlese, President of Ireland, did the first reading in the pouring rain. This was followed by a group photograph on the Rosary Basilica steps. After breakfast we all formed up again, and with bands playing, marched up to the Village of Peace in the centre of Lourdes village itself. We visited the various "stalls", manned by the Service personnel of all the countries, and took a lot of photos. The uniforms were very impressive. After lunch we had Stations of the Cross in small groups. We were in the group from Sandhurst led by Fr Michael Fava; it was very moving. Then came the closing ceremony at the Village of Peace, followed by a reception at the Hotel Alba. Bishop Burns and General Sir Anthony Pigott took the salute at the Beating Retreat by the Band of The Rifles. We met various bishops and dignitaries who were all very interested in the work of the Catholic Women's League. We ended that day with dinner and a walk by the River Gave, which was very fast-flowing all the time we were there.

On Sunday we watched the pilgrims from the various countries with military bands arrive at the Prairie for the International Mass: over 200 bishops and priests and about 10,000 people from all over the world. It was amazing to see, and all in the rain! After lunch we had the closing Mass for the British contingent in the Upper Basilica, followed by a service of laying up of the candles at the Grotto. At the end of this Mass Bishop Burns thanked the Catholic Women's League for its wonderful contribution to this pilgrimage: the three peace candles, the prayer cards, the photographs (one for each pilgrim) and the covers of the pilgrimage programme. We were asked to stand and were given a round of applause.

We met so many amazing people, and to be near the sick pilgrims, including some wounded in Afghanistan, was such a privilege. It was a very impressive pilgrimage, but also very prayerful. We prayed for the League at the Grotto and in the Basilica, and I would like to thank all the Executive and members for making our pilgrimage possible. The most important part was representing you all in Lourdes. We wore our Catholic Women's League badges with pride, but to quote Bishop Burns, "It was great to have you with us, but before you come again we must ask the training corporal to improve your marching skills!"

We will have a display at the National Council for you all to see.

MARGARET RICHARDS
CHAIRMAN

Photographs courtesy of MOD (RN)

The Rt. Rev. Thomas Burns, Bishop to the Forces