3 JANUARY 1920, Page 21

(To THE EDITOR OF THII " SPECTATOR.") SIR,—Reading in your

paper of the dissatisfaction amongst some of the London V.A.D. Detachments, I think the following facts may show how difficult it would be to give any gratuity for part-time work. In our hospital 96 V.A.D.'s have worked during the last five and a half years, many of them the week-end or one day a week. If these are to be given gratuity, say £5 and a ribbon, how could the following cases be dealt with?

Commandant.—Five and a half years' voluntary, acting as Matron 20,075 hours, living in hospital.

Quartermaster.—Five and a half years' voluntary, 20,009 hours.

Cook.—Formerly a school teacher. Gave up half-salary, and accepted £20 a year. Four and a half years. Assistant Cook.—Three years, eight hours daily, voluntary service.

Linen Storekeeper.—Three years at £20 a year. Gave up geed post.

Ward F.,4.D.—Dressmaker. Accepted £20 a year for three years.

I/A.D.—Wife of a disabled soldier. Three years, eight hours a day, voluntary.

This hospital holds records front the War Office stating 'hat, owing to its serving as a Garrison Military Hospital, the only one within a radius of ten miles, and admitting the sick from 4,000 troops stationed near, it had saved the War Office the necessity of erecting a military hospital in the district. A letter asking for gratuity has received a reply in the negative, as no salary was paid in four cases, and in the other cases the £20 was not paid by the Army. These V.A.D.'s volunteered for France, but were asked to keep on as they were doing such important work. Three months at a Base Hospital entitles a V.A.D. to wear a ribbon and receive a gratuity. Five and a half years in a home hospital entitles a V.A.D. to nothing. No hardships at the base could have been greater than the hardships endured in this hospital in 1914. The nurses raid for all their food, and collected to feed the men and enlarge the hospital. No money was received from Government for the first 149 men. The V.A.D.'s by their own efforts built the hospital, and paid £60 out of their own lockets for their own food during the first six months. Thirty thousand out- patients and 3,900 cot cases have been treated. Opened August 10th, 1911. Closed December 22nd, 1919.—I am, Sir, &c., St. John Hospital, Barry Island, Glam. W. PARDOE.