Free The Telegraph Book of Readers' Letters from the Great War by Gavin Fuller

here, as are the English doctors, and already there is a considerable colony of English in residence.
    As all the men here and throughout France, between eighteen and forty-eight years old, are away with the great French army fighting with us the same battle for freedom, the assistance afforded to many of their families and the population generally by the presence on the Riviera of the habitual English visitors will this winter be especially welcome.
    Yours truly,
D. Allison (Hon. Canon of Ripon)
    British Chaplain of Christ Church, Mentone
    28 December 1914
CHILDREN’S SELF-DENIAL
    SIR – The children of this small rural school are very proud and happy to send brave King Albert a little Christmas offering. This small sum (5s 6d) represents some self-denial on the part of the donors. One little orphan lad, who was allowed a halfpenny weekly as pocket money, produced the precious coin with an evident pride and joy most touching.
    With hearty congratulations on the splendid response to an appeal which has gone straight to every heart, I remain, dear Sir, yours faithfully,
    (Mrs) Eliza Bradbury
    Adderley School, Market Drayton

    THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE
    SIR – A short time ago I pointed out the fact that an alien naturalised as a British subject is none the less a subject of the country of his origin unless he formally, and according to the law of his country, relinquishes his own nationality.
    I might point out that a further inconsistency is that on being naturalised a British subject, the alien subscribes to an oath of allegiance that he will be ‘Faithful and bear true allegiance tohis Majesty King George V, his heirs and successors, according to law’, and at the same time he still retains his allegiance to the sovereign of his own country.
    No man can serve two masters, and it is obvious that his oath is, to say the least, a matter to which he would attach secondary importance.
    Yours, etc.,
    H.S.A. Foy
4 Walbrook, E.C.

    29 December 1914
NATIONAL GUARD
    City Guild Units
    SIR – The admirable proposal of the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor to form a National Guard should meet with an enthusiastic response. Every man ought to know how to shoot straight, and submit himself to some form of efficient training, so that in the event of invasion he will have a fair chance to fight for his hearth and home. That he will fight is certain, but it is equally certain that every man found bearing arms, unless he belongs to an organised force, will run the risk of being hanged or shot off-hand, his family exterminated, and his home given to the flames. We canexpect no mercy from a ruthless foe. What has happened in Belgium and France may be repeated here with even greater severity.
    In view of imminent possibilities, not to say probabilities, every man who, by reason of age or circumstances over which he has no control, is unable to join our Regular forces, should without delay do something for his country, and in this connection it has occurred to me that the members of the Guild of Freemen, a body over 1,000 strong; every one of whom is a Freeman of the City of London (and of which I have the honour to be the Master for 1915), might usefully raise a unit, which could be enrolled in the City of London Corps of the National Guard.
    Other associations could very well follow suit, and all together serve their King, their country, and their city.
    I am Sir, yours, &c.,
    H.S.A. Foy, Member of the Corporation of London
4 Walbrook, London E.C.

    31 December 1914
FIGHTING MPs
    SIR – I have read with pleasure Captain Spender Clay’s tribute to our hero soldiers and his unbounded admiration of their heroic conduct in the field.
    I should like to record my unbounded admiration of the gallant though modest captain. I know for a fact that he placed his estate at the disposal of the Army, offered his mansion for a hospital, found forty units for the Territorials amongst the workers on his estate, provides for their