The work of the War Refugees Committee : An address given by Lady Lugard to the Royal Society of Arts, March 24th, 1915

In the spring of 1915, a determined voice rose before the Royal Society of Arts to recount a remarkable response to the unfolding tragedy in Belgium. Lady Lugard outlines how Britain’s island geography and long‑standing naval protection made it uniquely positioned to welcome those fleeing the war’s devastation. Her address weaves together the shock of early battlefield atrocities with the urgent need to shelter women and children displaced by conflict.

The speech details the rapid birth of the War Refugees Committee, built on the logistical groundwork already laid by the Ulster Council for a feared Irish civil war. By reaching across denominational lines—securing the cooperation of Catholic leaders and gaining the Foreign Office’s backing—the committee swiftly organized registration, transport, and safe homes. Listeners gain a vivid sense of the collaborative spirit and practical challenges faced as the first waves of Belgian refugees began their journey to Britain.