DLA003-0026  Transcription

OLD BUCKHURST, WITHYHAM, SUSSEX

My dear Mr. de László

For the first and I hope the last time I come a begging!

I want you most dreadfully to give me something – ever so much! – for the British Women’s Hospital. We have to collect the huge but necessary sum of £50,000 for the rebuilding fund of the Star & Garter. The present building and site as you know have been given to Queen Alexandra

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and when re-built the hospital is to be run and maintained by the Red X. As you also I expect know it is destined for the reception of those tragic cases – the men who have been rendered incurably helpless by the war. I don’t think there is anything so horrible in all this terrible

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nightmare as the thought of those to whom the Dignity and Peace of Death are denied, who have to live on with none of the powers that make life possible. Will you give me £25 for them. I know it’s unfair of me to bash you, who have already done very much for so large a sum but there is beyond the war, and beyond it

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however distant – when for most of us ordinary life will go on again, but for these unhappy ones – never – if any sort of contentment or utter misery lies before them depends so much on ? made now.

If you can’t give me all I ask, give me just anything you can spare – even a guinea is most helpful and gratefully received!

What do you say to ?

Ever yours

Sibyl Colefax

Editorial Note:

Mrs Arthur Colefax, née Sybil Halsey, later Lady Colefax (1874-1950) [4111], founder of the interior design firm Colefax and Fowler.