Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-02

LONDON.--When the Prince Of
wales decided to give a dinner to all
holders OF the Victoria Cross the
highest award Of the fighting servicesl
In the royal gallery Of the Houses OF
Parliament on November 3. 1t was re-
vealed that out Of 467 now living the
whereabouts of fully 100 were unknown.
The British Legion. whose duty it
was to transmit the princes invitation,
made gallant efforts to get into touch
with this lost legion and was able. with
the great assistance given by British
newspapers, to reduce the number OF
missing to about 30.
It might reasonably be expected that
the admiralty, war Office and air force
would have in their possession complete.
up-to date records Of the names. ad-
dresses. occupations and condition OF
the holders Of the highest decoration
this country can bestow.
No Complete Records Kept.
No such records, however. exist. In
the army list. It is true, a list of mill
tary v. C.'s is printed. Ali officers who
have left the service are directed to re-
port, in writing. twice year to the
undersecretary Of war. A typically bu-
reaucratic note adds that any ex-oflcer
who fails to report within three months
will be assumed to be dead and his
name removed from the list.
"other ranks" who hold the. highly COW
eted decoration is in the hands Of the
various resimental paymasters, whose
duty 1t is to pay the pension Of $50 a
year which goes with the cross except
to officers who get nothing
It is doubtful-indeed. almost impos-
sible-that all who have the right will
be at the princes reunion dinner. but
large assembly is promised, 200 men
at this time having accepted the invi-
tation.
Many Live in Distress.
ARRANGEMENTS have been made to
meet every " c. on his arrival in Lon
don. Railroad omnibus and tramway
companies have announced that free
travelling facilities will be available. The
Union Jack Club and Toe H. have
offered sleeping accommodation to those
who desire it, while the public has sent
generous donations of money and
clothes for needy heroes.
1t has been revealed that many hold
ers of the Victoria Gross live under con-
ditions of real distress. But although
faced with hardshipS. the men have not
complained. One, who is now a post
man, was four years searching for regu-
lar employment. moving from town to
town. But, with that same courage
which earned him distinction, he man
aged to get through in the end. and is.
to use his own expression. mot doing
80 badly now"
At the dinner rich and poor will meet
on common ground. Among those pres
ent will be: A viscount. stockholders,
bus driver, policeman. a doorkeeper
and a warehouseman. one holder is
not British. He Is wealthy Danish
business man of Copenhagen. who came
to England in 1917 to join the British
Army, and had been serving only short
time when he won the v. c.
Youngest q Newfoundlander.
The youngest man at the dinner will
be a Newfoundlander who is journeying
in this country for the occasion. He
was less than II years old when he was
awarded the cross.
For the second time the Shyest v. c.
has been drawn from hiding. The pre-
vious occasion was when he came from
obscurity to disclose fraud. A man
ity and success that the impostor was
able to attend the Kings garden party
for v. C's. and it was only when he
had been buried with military honors
that the real hold Of the decoration
made himself known.
Since the decoration was instituted
by Queen Victoria In 1856, the holders
have numbered list, of whom 627
gained it during the Great War. All
these awards were for conspicuous
bravery in face Of the enemy. though
sometimes. when many men shared in
a meritorious action, vote was taken