The supplementing of governmental organization by national voluntary organization is a great piece of work and in the beginning of the war, and still, many of our organizations, voluntary or semi-official in character, were of great service.  The work of the Soldiers and Sailors Families’ Association is an example.  The S. and S.F.A. had been created in the South African War and in peace time and war time looked after the dependants of the soldier and sailor.  Its committees were composed of men and women—­and it administered voluntary funds and later grants from the National Relief Fund, raised at the outbreak of war.

When war broke out, all the Reservists were called up and our men volunteered in tens of thousands.  The pay offices of the army, being small like everything else in our army, could not cope quickly with the numbers of claims for allowances pouring in, but the S. and S.F.A. stepped into the breach and looked after the dependants.  It secured vast numbers more of women in every town and village who visited every dependant and looked after them.  They advanced the allowances which were paid back to them later—­and this started in the first week of the war.  They gave additional grants in certain hard cases for rent, sickness or in event of deaths in family at home.  Every home was visited and no dependant needed to be in distress or want—­S. and S.F.A. offices existed in every town and representatives in every village and any difficulty or trouble could be brought to them.  The whole of this work is done voluntarily.  In some cases workrooms were started from which sewing and knitting for soldiers and sailors were given to the dependents and paid for.  It was not only the money and practical help that was of great service—­the S. and S.F.A. visitor to the soldier’s wife and mother brought sympathy and help and interest.

Another movement for soldiers and sailors dependents was the founding of clubs for them in many towns.  One hundred and thirty-five of these clubs are linked up now in the United Services Clubs League.  They are bright, cheery rooms in which the women can find newspapers, books, music, amusement, and opportunity to sew or knit comforts, can meet their friends and talk.

The Royal Patriotic Fund was another semi-official organization which was run voluntarily, gave grants at death of soldier or sailor and administered pensions.  It is now entirely merged in the Naval and Military War Pensions Statutory Committee and local committees set up in January, 1916, which administer all grants, pensions, wound gratuities, etc., and looks after dependants.

Women sit on the Statutory Committee and there must be women members on every County, Borough and City War Pensions Committee in our country.