by Nicholas Schofield
There was much local sympathy with the victims of German aggression. In late September 1914 it was reported that ‘a beautifully enlarged etching of the famous Cathedral of Rheims, the shelling of which by the Germans appears to be their crowning act of vandalism, has been on view in a window of Messrs J. Turner & Co of Windsor Street.’ A local paper later stated that ‘Rheims and Louvain will always be associated with Europe’s realisation of the full horror of “Deutsche Kultur”.’
Around a hundred Belgian refugees came to Uxbridge in 1914 and 1915. They included seven members of the De Korte family: ‘Madame de Korte was at the seaside with one of her children when she was forced to flee and had to sell her property in order to obtain her fare to England. One of the party is a sculptor of some note in Brussels; another is a musician and, strangely enough, upon his arrival at Uxbridge he found among the refugees one or two of his pupils.’
Like many towns up and down the country, the refugees from ‘brave little Belgium’ were welcomed warmly. Properties were offered for their use, furnishings and clothing donated and an Uxbridge and District Belgian Refugee Fund set up. Two properties were set up for the refugees on Park Road – the former Cottage Hospital was renamed ‘Albert House,’ after the King of the Belgians, and the Uxbridge and West Middlesex Athletics Club became ‘Elizabeth House’, after the Queen.
It is interesting that those involved in the Belgian Relief often belonged to other denominations: committee meetings were held at the Providence Chapel, St Margaret’s Church Working Party made garments for the refugees and accommodation was provided at St Peter’s Mission Rooms (on the Greenway) and the Church Army Labour Home (on Villiers Street).
The Belgians found a spiritual home at Our Lady of Lourdes and St Michael church. At the end of 1914: ‘The Belgian refugees at Uxbridge adopted the English Custom and spent Christmas ‘At Home’…Midnight Mass was attended at the Uxbridge Roman Catholic Church, and after a night’s rest the festivities of the day commenced. Local people saw to it that there was [sic] plenty of provisions and the menu for dinner speaks for itself. It was as follows: Soup, turkey, Brussels sprouts, potatoes, plum pudding, mince pies, fruit salad, nuts and fruit.’
In 1915 a Belgian priest moved into the presbytery to work with the refugees: Fr Albert von Zuyt, a Scheut Father. The baptism, confirmation and marriage registers for this period contain many Flemish names and references to Antwerp, Ostend and elsewhere. At a clergy dinner organised at the Chequers Hotel on the occasion of an episcopal visitation, Fr Von Zuyt stated that ‘his country – Belgium – had suffered very much in consequence of the war, but they had one consolation. Belgium had maintained her honour.’ Fr Von Zuyt only remained at Uxbridge briefly, for he was soon back in Louvain looking after his congregation’s seminary. He later won fame as the founder of the Belgian Church in Camden Town (Our Lady of Hal) and was known as ‘London’s Cure of Ars.’
Miss Butt of Rockingham House, an independent Catholic school in Uxbridge, also did her bit. Two Belgian ladies lodged with her and she was zealous in collecting ‘cast-off garments’ which were sent off every week to the Catholic Women’s League.
