The little girl in this photograph is Ruby Crane.....from the age of 3 years old Ruby walked blinded soldiers around a rehabilitation centre called St Dunstans at Brighton in Sussex, where Rubys Father was the head gardener....she knew they were blinded and just returned from the first World War.....wandering in the grounds she would take ahold their hand and ask them where they wanted to go ( individual workshops ) and guide them there....people were so affected by little Ruby walking the blind soldiers around they would send her dolls and toys as a thank you for all the support she was giving to the men and women affected by sight loss.....little Ruby was rewarded with a long life as she passed away in her late nineties, in 2011.
Ruby recalled..... " I always remember how my little hand seemed so small in their big hands....they were so pleased to have a child come and talk to them....it was something different away from the monotonous grind of not being able to see things, I think. "
Ruby was so popular that she featured on the front page of the St Dunstans first Annual Report for 1915/1916 and later Flag Day emblems incorporated a similar design that featured Little Ruby.

Evaline Brueton Consulting Historian:- Remembering brave children season

~Borrowed

Another reminder of the price paid by so many who served.

cool story

Her life was long and I pray it was wonderful.

Piece of history I never heard before.

It’s a blessing she was there- walking in matted switch grass is a trip hazard for the non visually impaired

This is really cool!

Great piece of history there!

Amen to that

Thanks 330! Love all of these photos, this one was over the top, never heard her story before.

Blinded by mustard gas or any of the other horrors of that war, can you imagine how deeply heartfelt it would have been to have a child take your hand? The woman is far too humble in describing what she did.

Osky

and the Regiments from New Found land lost 800 men in one day or 25% of all the men from the island were lost

Bless the little ones...

Garry-

Nice story, thanks for sharing.

The hearts of little chidren are pure and therefore, the Great Spirit may show them many things which older people miss.

Well said!