The work of the War Refugees Committee

The address recounts how volunteers rapidly organized to evacuate and resettle civilians displaced by war, repurposing an existing Ulster registration network, coordinating with religious authorities and government offices, and arranging transport from evacuation points. It describes early negotiations with Belgian representatives, the improvised creation of headquarters and staffing under nonsectarian principles, and the logistical challenges of receiving large numbers of offers of hospitality. The speaker emphasizes cross-community cooperation, practical record-keeping, and the public's overwhelming response that transformed a hastily convened effort into a sustained relief operation.