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For the Sake of
the
Soldier.

Voluntary Work of Brisbane
Women.
By
RITA MACLEOD.

Printers:
Gordon and Gotch (Queensland) Limited,
212-214 Queen Street, Brisbane.

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The following—“Remember the Men in the Trenches,”“Verdun,” and “The Return”—are reprinted by the kindpermission of the proprietors of “The Daily Mail,” Brisbane.3

Preface.

Anyone called on to write a preface for a bookdescribing the efforts of women for the sake of thesoldier should not complain of want of material forhis purpose. All over the British and Allied countries thesplendid work of women shines out brilliantly in contrast tothe dark background of the brutal horrors of war. Courage,patience, self-denial, self-sacrifice—with untiring energy anddevotion—make up a galaxy of virtues that, to some extentat least, compensate for the dreadful losses and shocks whichwomen have had to sustain, and when added to all these isthe abiding faith of women in the great principles ofChristianity, we have the foundation broader and deeper,than ever before, of a regeneration of the world of the futurefor the highest purposes. No effort of political or commercialorganization can ever be comparable in its results with thoseto come from the noble ideals which have actuated the soulsof the women and which they have now made portion ofthemselves.

In this country the women have risen to the occasion asreadily and as effectively as their sisters in any part of theworld. The war has touched them deeply—more deeplythan it has touched a large number of our men. They haveoffered their services in many directions, and haveappropriated to themselves spheres of work that areinvaluable. No record that has been or, perhaps, can be nowcompiled can do full justice to the work that they have doneand are still doing. Every day new avenues of useful helpare being exploited by them. One of the latest productionsis this little book compiled by a woman, presented by herfree of cost, embodying one of her activities “for the sake ofthe soldier,” and as a preface to it this is an expression ofhope and trust that the book shall prove a source ofinspiration to others, both women and men, to rise to thespiritual and ideal heights prompted by the crisis of the war.

A. J. THYNNE, Colonel,
Vice Chairman State Recruiting Committee of Queensland.

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Florence Nightingale.5

Contents.