The Ypres Times.
J 31
THE EDITOR'S PAGE.
THE BELFRY.
We wish to announce that the drawjng of the
Belfry published in the Special Pilgrimage Number
of the Ypres Times was not one that had been
decided upon, but merely a suggestion.
EX-OFFICERS INSTRUCTION IN
AGRICULTURE.
Arrangements have now been practically com
pleted for the opening of the Courses in Agriculture
which are to be given at the Army Vocational
Training Centre, Hounslow, for the benefit of
Army Officers retired on reduction of establish
ment. Intending applicants should communicate
without delay with the Commandant at Hounslow.
The training given will be necessarily of a
preliminary nature. Only such general principles
of agriculture as are applicable to almost all classes
of farming will be included in the courses. But
the instruction as a whole will be of special value
to those who desire to settle overseas, and will
enable them to decide which Dominion or indivi
dual State offers the most suitable openings in
their particular circumstances.
A feature will be made of Manual Training,
which provides instruction in the running of such
simple machinery and the carrying out of such
constructional work and repairs as may be
necessary for practical farming on a small scale.
By joining these courses ex-officers will qualify,
so far as training is concerned, for those settlement
schemes for which some preliminary knowledge of
agriculture is essential.
Copies of the Army Council Instructions dealing
with forms of civilian employment open to
ex-officers retired on reduction of establishment
may be obtained from the Officers' Association,
The Overseas Settlement Committee, or the
Appointments Department of the Ministry of
Labour.
TO THE EDITOR, "Ypres Times."
Sir,
I, No. 7703, Private Pink, of the 5th Dragoon
Guards, and Machine Gun Corps Cavalry, No.
41131, fought under Lord French at the first and
second Battles of Ypres. I also passed through
the town when it was burning and the Germans
were shelling on the night of the 13th May,
1915. I billeted in the town when it was thickly
populated, and the markets were in full swing
in front of the Cathedral, which was surrounded
by scaffolding. I made many friends in the
town, some of whom I met at Monte Cats, where
Prince Louis of Battenberg was killed, by the
monastery. On the corner wall of the monastery
there is a hole where the bullets from our machine
gun hit a skirmish just before the first Battle of
Ypres.
General French made comments on our brave
Colonel, G. K. Ansel, who was killed on the
retirement just off Compenie when the fateful L
Battery was smashed. No finer soldier ever lived.
There are many incidents which happened in
the town of Ypres I shall never forget. Also I
found they were the kindest people I met in my
three years eight months experience in France
and Belgium, and it touched me very much to
see them leave with their carts and dogs and
bundles just before the bombardment, although
there were many killed and buried in their homes,
taking the off-chance that the shells would not
penetrate their homes. After the burning of
the town by incendiary shells there ended one
of the most beautiful cities of Belgium. My
sympathy and best wishes to those people and
relatives of the historic city who suffered so much.
From One who did a
little in the Great Fight,
A. A. Pink.
130 MILES TO YPRES."
An old milestone, the eighth on the Dover Road
from London Bridge has been placed in front
of the War Memorial in the Churchyard of Christ
Church, Shooters Hill. It bears a plate inscribed
130 miles to Ypres," the exact distance between
the church and the Cloth Hall. This is, indeed,
an excellent idea, an inspiration in the same
spirit as the Unknown Warrior.
OUR PRIZE COMPETITION.
The prize goes to Mr. G. M. Otway. of 66,
Portland Road, S.E. 25, who first spotted the
photograph as one taken on the Poelcapelle Road
showing the ruins of St. Julien. There were a
great many solutions which were nearly correct.
INFORMATION WANTED.
Any officer or soldier of D Battery who took
part in the attack at dawn November 3rd, 1917,
at Passchendaele. Major Kenneth Young, D
Battery, 246 Brigade was with them. Gunner
Peter Reginald Spray killed, reported buried at
the back of gun position. To any one, officer
or soldier, who can give any account of him, I
shall be very thankful.
His Broken-Hearted Mother.
17, St. Paul's Street,
Portwood Street,
Stockport, Cheshire.
Can any of your readers supply me with the
address (if alive) of Mr. E. Tobias, Southend-on-
Sea, late Signaller M.G.C., 46th Division, 1916,
K.R.R., 1915. He was in the 46th Division
Rest Hospital, near Foncquevilliers, November
1916 and was then sent to the Base and afterwards
transferred to the M.G.C. 2nd or else 3rd Division.
I shall be glad to have news of him.
Information required of the death of Sgt.
Walter Pether, No. 8604, ACompany, 9th
Battalion Machine Gun Corps, attached Seaforth
Scottish Division. He was reported killed in the
