ABSTRACT
The Times publishes the following letter from a female who, we should have thought, was entitled to relief from the fund subscribed in aid of soldiers wives and families:― “I was the wife of a soldier in the 13th battalion of the Royal Artillery serving in Turkey. A few months ago I applied to the Central Committee for some assistance from the Relief Fund. They referred me to the relieving officer in Princess-street, where I was informed they could do nothing for me, as my husband enlisted as a single man, at the same time having a wife and two children living, but was recommended by the relieving officer to go immediately to Woolwich, and see the Rev. Mr. Scott, the chaplain to the regiment, and he might use his interest with the battalion officer, and get me recognized by the regiment. I went the same afternoon to Woolwich, but Mr. Scott was on leave, but I saw the Rev. Mr. Wright, the assistant chaplain, in company with my husband’s brother, who is in the 1st battalion of the Royal Artillery. I left my marriage certificate, and the letter I received from my husband the day before he went on board, with Mr. Wright, who appointed to meet me on Wednesday morning, that being Monday. On Wednesday morning Mr. Wright was indisposed, and could not be seen. I went to Woolwich several times within a month, and at last I had my papers returned without any attempt to do anything for me. I went to the battalion officer and then was informed that my husband was dead, and that would increase the difficulty, but he said I had better write a petition to the officers’ committee, which I did, and placed it in the hands of the Rev. Mr. Scott, who gave me very little encouragement, because my husband told a lie at his enlistment. Accordingly my petition was rejected; I went again to the relieving officer, and told him the result of my endeavours and produced a certificate of my husband’s death; he then told me I had better go to Woolwich again and see the battalion officer. I showed him my certificate and the letters I had received from my husband, and he thought there would be no difficulty in obtaining a battalion card. I went accordingly and saw Captain Hastings, the adjutant of the 13th battalion, who admitted that there was plenty of proof that I was the wife of the man, but positively refused to do anything for me. I went again to the relieving officer, who read me a clause in the regulations that prevented him from laying my case before the committee. Thus, sir, am I refused any assistance from a fund that has been generously subscribed to by a benevolent public. I have wrote to you, sir, believing that you are ever ready to expose any act of oppression, and direct me in what steps I can take to obtain some assistance from the Relief Fund. I remain your humble servant, Ann Godwin”.
