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110 years of Blind Veterans UK

Published on 29 Jan 2025

On 29 January, Blind Veterans UK celebrates 110 years of dedicated service to vision-impaired veterans.

On the outbreak of the First World War, our founder, Sir Arthur Pearson, a publisher and newspaper owner who had lost his sight due to glaucoma, quickly recognised the urgent need to support soldiers and sailors blinded on the battlefield.  

On 29 January 1915, he launched the Blinded Soldiers and Sailors Care Committee at Bayswater Hill in a building leant by Mrs Lewis Hall, a kind supporter. 

A historic photograph of a muti-story building in Bayswater Hill, London. The building features large windows and a grand entrance, partially covered by overgrown foliage.
A historic black and white photograph of vision-impaired Belgian soldiers walking in a line, each holding onto the back of the man in front. A young boy at the front reaches out to guide them forward.
A blue commemorative plaque mounted on a brick wall, marking the site of Blind Veterans UK's first training centre at 159 Bayswater, London (formerly 6 Bayswater Hill). The plaque states that the charity was located here from February to March 1915.

Our first training centre in Bayswater Hill, some of the first blinded Belgian soldiers, and our centenary plaque.

Although the newly-formed charity only stayed in the building for a short time, in the early days of February 1915, the charity received its first two blinded soldiers - both Belgian – and began its work in earnest. The first soldier - almost certainly the first soldier to be blinded in the war - was Oscar Daumont. A rifle bullet had pierced his eyes on the first day of the siege of Liege.

As with nearly all wounded Belgians in those early days of War, he had been sent to an English hospital and eventually came to us. We went on to support seven other Belgians, who lost their sight before the Belgian authorities began caring for their own wounded.

A black and white photograph of Sir Arthur Pearson seated in an armchair in his office at St Dunstan's Lodge. He is dressed in a suit and appears deep in though. A woman sits at a nearby desk writing.
A cheque dated 10 February 1915 signed by Sir Arthur Pearson, for the amount of £6,000. The cheque is made out to "Blinded Soldiers & Sailors". The document has visible stamps and handwritten details.

Sir Arthur Pearson in his office at Regent's Park, and the first donation made to the charity, signed by Sir Arthur Pearson for the amount of £6000 in 1915.

A move to St Dunstan’s Lodge

When the move was made on 26 March 1915 to St Dunstan's Lodge, there were just 16 war blinded men but, before the end of 1918, there were over 1,500 names on our books.

St Dunstan’s Lodge was put at Sir Arthur's disposal by Mr Otto Kahn, the well-known American financier, as it was his London residence set in Regent's Park. It was a spacious and splendid house with grounds extending over 15 acres. Not only did he place St Dunstan's at the service of the blinded soldiers free of charge, but he also maintained the grounds and gave Sir Arthur absolute carte blanche to erect any buildings and effect any alterations necessary.

Over the following months, workshops, classrooms, offices, storehouses, chapels and recreation rooms sprang up over the gardens, while additions to the house extended on all sides.

Like most people at that time, Sir Arthur Pearson imagined that the war would be of short duration. But it was certain that among the wounded would be many blinded, and he was naturally concerned that everything possible should be done for them after medical science had performed its work.

An archive group photograph of blind veterans, nurses and staff outside our headquarters at Regents Park in 1918
A group photograph of blind veterans, nurses and staff at St Dunstan's House in 1918.

Teaching men to be blind

In his 1919 autobiography, Victory Over Blindness, Sir Arthur Pearson wrote:

“With practically no exceptions all the soldiers and sailors of the British Imperial Forces blinded in the war came under my care, in order that they might learn to be blind.
“The main idea that animated me in establishing this hostel for the blinded soldiers was that the sightless men, after being discharged from hospital, might come into a little world where the things which blind men cannot do were forgotten and where everyone was concerned with what blind men can do. A world where they could learn to be blind!”

It was decided to teach the veterans a variety of eight trades and occupations - massage, shorthand writing, telephone operating, poultry farming, joinery, mat making, boot repairing and basketry. It was felt that these provided the most practical openings for the sightless man who desired profitable work.

A black and white photograph of a vision-impaired veteran operation a telephone switchboard. He is wearing a headset and using a Braille notetaking device.
A group of vision-impaired veterans study anatomy using a skeleton model and bone replicas during a massage training session.

A wide variety of occupations were taught at St Dunstan's Lodge.

The home of happiness

Sir Arthur also knew that sporting and social activities at Regent's Park were crucial for our early veterans to accept their sight loss and feel a sense of achievement once again. He knew that learning to be blind involved a change in their mental outlook and how important this was in them being able to return home and reclaim their position in society. Writing further in his autobiography, Sir Arthur said:

“St Dunstan’s had been called many names by writers who have visited it; some have called it the Palace of Hope; it has been called the House of Good Comfort; it has been called the Home of Happiness — and the last name is the one I like the best, for happiness has always meant so much at St Dunstan’s.
“It meant that the men there were content with the lot that the Fates had dealt out to them. It meant that they had conquered a foe who threatened to destroy spirit as well as sight. It meant that these determined men had dragged themselves from the dark morass in which they were plunged, that they had set their feet on the velvety, flower spangled lawns which lead through the garden of Endeavour out on to the broad highway of Normal Life.”
A blind veteran jumping mid-air during an outdoor sports event, surrounded by other veterans, staff and onlookers.
A group of blind veterans push a large exercise ball across a field outside a historic building.
An archive photograph of a blind veteran rowing with an instructor in a boating lake at Regent Park

Sports days and boat races took place at Regents Park with the help of VADs and volunteers.

Supporting blind veterans into the future

Our 110th anniversary provides us with another opportunity to celebrate our past and remember the mission we hold dear to honour the legacy of Sir Arthur.

With a strong foundation built over 110 years of service, we are determined to continue providing essential support to blind veterans into the future, giving all the training and rehabilitation they need to ‘learn to be blind’.

With your continued support, we'll be here to support future generations of blind veterans to live the life they choose.

Thank you for standing with us - then, now and in the future.

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