Lord and Lady North, of Wroxton Abbey, have kindly given shelter to, and are providing for, a number of Belgian refugees. The first party arrived on Monday last week, Lady North meeting them at the station. The party consisted of eight persons, two men with their wives, and one child each, and two old ladies of sixty-five and sixty-six. They all come from Louvain, speaking French and Flemish. Just before the Germans arrived at Louvain, they were sent out of the town by order of the Burgomaster, and were ordered to take the train to Ghent. They stopped some days in Ghent, but here they were told they must go to Ostend, and from there to England. These poor refugees have lost all their possessions, as they had to leave everything behind, and since the Germans have burned Louvain, they have practically no hope of recovering anything. They have terrible stories to tell of things they heard when they were detained in Ghent, but most of these stories have been published in different papers. The second party arrived on Sunday afternoon, and Lady North again met them at the station. This party was made up of two mothers, one with one, and the other with two children, and a young girl of sixteen. They all come from Malines, and speak both French and Flemish; they left Malines railway station when the Germans were bombarding it. The would-be passengers hid in the cellars and tunnels of the station, and when a train was ready to leave, the station-master went into the tunnels and cellars, shouting sauve qui peut, and then there was a wild rush for the train. In one of these rushes they were separated from their husbands, whom they think must have gone to Holland. One can better imagine than describe, the troubles and anxieties and cares of these people, who have lost everything and have nothing but what they stand up in. However, everything is done to make them comfortable and happy, and one can see how extremely thankful they are for Lord and Lady North’s hospitality and kindness. Another party is shortly expected.

Banbury Guardian, September 1914