Description:During World War 1 thousands of refugees escaped from war-torn Belgium and many settled in Birmingham. The Birmingham War Refugees Committee chaired by Elizabeth Cadbury found work for adult refugees, provided English lessons, ran a lost relative bureau, and distributed gifts of clothing, boots and other items. They organised homes and hostels across the city, and ran a maternity home at 19 Carpenter Road where a number of children were born. In the first year of war alone the Committee dealt with over 5,000 Belgians including a large number of children.