KITCHENER MEMORIAL FUND.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR"]
Srn,—Since the irreparable loss of Lord Kitchener there have come from all classes of the nation and all parts of the kingdom expressions of a deep desire to mark in a permanent form the nation's gratitude for his never-to-be-forgotten services in raising our great Armies which are now fighting the battle of freedom in Europe. Her Majesty Queen Alexandra has graciously consented to preside over a Council, a list of whose members I enclose. This Council has been formed to organize a Lord Kitchener National Memorial Fund, and I have been asked to open a Mansion House Fund for the purpose. I have agreed to do so, and desire to invite your powerful co-operation in making it a success worthy of the great soldier whose name and fame we desire to perpetuate.
In a national memorial to Lord Kitchener two considerations must be borne in mind ; (1) that any such memorial should be permanent and perpetuate his name for all time, and (2) that it should bo devoted to some object known to be near his heart. Those who knew Lord Kitchener best are in agreement that no subject was more constantly in his thoughts than the welfare of the officers and men of the King's Forces throughout the Empire.
The object now in view is the raising of a large Fund to be hereafter known as the "Lord Kitchener National Memorial Fund "—the income of which will be devoted in perpetuity to providing for officers and men of the Royal Navy and Army (whether in endowed homes or in their own hothes) who have been disabled and whose pecuniary circumstances preclude them from obtaining such attention and comforts as they need. A portion of the Fund will be immediately applied to equipping a homer for disabled officers, for whose assistance it may benoted that nothing of a permanent nature has yet been considered. In view of the fact that the officer of the future is likely to be, as a general rule, slenderly endowed, his welfare, especially in the evening of his life, must claim, generous attention.
It must be remembered that many of the admirable institutions' recently founded will cease with the war, or •with the conditions following the war, or with the succeeding generation, whereas the present scheme is both retrospective and perpetual Thus any officer or man who is disabled can look to the Lord Kitchener National Memorial Fund for relief, and this relief will be extended as long as the Navy or Army exists. Donations should be sent to me at the Mansion House, London, crossed " Bank of England."—I am, Sir, Ac.,
Previous page
