YWCA

[Finnock]

What did the Young Women's Christian Association do in WW1 - general helping out on British soil only, or did they go abroad too? Did they all get medals? Have found medal card for EFFIE RYLE, Corps = YWCA. Does anyone know where more detail of members can be found?

Thanks

[Guest 2contemptable]

Hello Sio,

They also ran tea shops providing papers, magazines and refreshments for soldiers at home on leave or in transit.

In France, they provided writing materials for soldiers to write home and huts behind the lines for soldiers who were resting. These were seen as being invaluable by soldiers and especially by the army Chaplains who often used them as Churches and viewed then as a more fitting alternative to the infamous estaminets and brothels, where soldiers might well partake of too much vin blanc/rouge or heaven forbid some horizontal recreation with a French filly!!!

I'm afraid I am no expert on medals, although I have seen them coming up for auction on E BAY occassionally.

You might find their papers in your local/county records office.

Hope this helps.

James

[guernseyliz]

hi. the ywca also ran hostels for young women who needed respectable lodgings. one major one was in rue caumartin, near the opera in paris. the building is now a hotel.

liz

[Guest Rogerherts]

Just to add to Lizs' reply. It is now the Hotel St. Peterbourg, 35-37 Rue Caumartin. It was The Hotel Petrograd in The Great War and leased by the YWCA.

"The Hostess Houses were at Paris and Tours. The Hotel Petrograd, on the Rue Caumartin, was leased in Paris and turned out to be one of the most interesting centers of American life in France. It was run on the most liberal lines, in a thoroughly democratic way. The meals were good and in the big dining-room men were admitted on the same footing as women."

http://www.oldandsold.com/articles26/world-war-one-50.shtml

The attached picture was taken this month.

Roger