Salvation Army doughnut girls, 1917.

I recently discovered a great online store, called The Queen's Treasures.

They began shipping to Canada this year with very reasonable shipping prices.

I bought these darling WWI era outfits for 18" dolls, which are very well made.

I pressed them before putting them on Maryellen and Grace, as they were a little wrinkled from the box, but they ironed up very well.

Maryellen is a Salvation Army doughnut girl, representing Helen Purviance, who was sent to France to help American soldiers in battle. Her assignment was to offer comfort to home-sick soldiers so she and a fellow officer, Ensign Margaret Sheldon, decided to bake doughnuts. They fried up 2500 to 9000 doughnuts daily! Soon the delicious aroma drew long lines of soldiers, waiting patiently for a taste of home.

Today, the Salvation Army is known for offering comfort to people all over the world, in every sort of emergency; fires, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes. Salvation Army mobile canteens still provide the doughnuts, which stand for the Salvationist's loving concern and readiness to help.

(Information gleaned from the back of the package for the doughnut girl's dress)

10% off all proceeds from the sale of the dress and props is donated to the Salvation Army, East Stroudsburg, PA.

The prop consists of two bags of "flour", a tin, and a pile of plastic doughnuts.

By Loretta Houben

WWI centenary and Great Uncle William Williams.

I'm on the hunt to track down more information about my great uncle, William Joseph Williams. He fought in WWI with the RWF, the Royal Welch Fusiliers, enlisting in Wrexham Wales around August or September 1915 when he was 22 years old. He wound up in Salonika Greece (Macedonia) fighting with the 11th battalion, and giving his life on February 22, 1917.

I found the above book online, and would love to purchase it.

Here is the link. 

I also discovered a wonderful Facebook page; the Royal Welch Fusiliers, 1900-1919.

I'm hopeful they will be able to help me out with more details as to William's enlistment and death.

I've emailed them, and posted on their page.

I'm truly discovering the joys of technical media! The whole world lies connected at my fingertips.

What a shame the housework is neglected.

PS: Here is the wonderful page Ken Davies has put up online: 

The Great War 1914-1918

Way at the bottom he has included the information about my great uncle, William Williams.

I wish he would provide a link to each name, but that would be a lot of work.

I've never seen such a website like his; it's just phenomenal. Go and take a peek!

By Loretta Williams Houben

Memories of the War Years

William Williams was my Grandpa John Williams' brother.

I recently discovered this photo last evening while interviewing my Dad. He had it stored in a box along with the newspaper clipping below. He died in WWI.

This is the medal given to Williams' family. My Dad now owns it.

At last, I've found a picture with more information about William who was nicknamed Willie.

What a sad and awful thing war is.