142
The Ypres Times.
NOTES BY THE SECRETARY.
Ypres Day, 31st October.
Many thanks are due .to the "Times" and all
English morning papers as also to leading papers
Overseas for promulgating throughout the Empire
lately the wish of our General Committee that
the 31st October be universally recognised every
year as Ypres Day."
All branches of the League are earnestly ex
horted to celebrate the Day in some deserving
way.
In London, besides the street collection for
funds for the erection of our Hostelry and Club
House, there will be a simple ceremony at the
Cenotaph in Whitehall of laying there a large
wreath of cornflowers to the Memory of all those
killed in the First Battle. This will take place
•at 12 noon. There will be no parade or march,
merely the independent attendance of members
of the Committee and of the League. At the
same time, other wreaths and flowers will also
be laid at the Cenotaph that are expected to
arrive from individual members and branches.
All wreaths or flowers sent from members for
inclusion in this short ceremony should arrive at
100, Eaton Place, S.W. 1, by Monday afternoon
the 30th October. A wreath will also be placed
at the foot of the Ypres Flag in Westminster
Abbey shortly afterwards.
It had been hoped to hold a Review in Hyde
Park on Ypres Day of all officers and men who
served at Ypres during the War. The programme
would have included a march to the Cenotaph.
Two important factors, however, have caused the
scheme to be abandoned. The Review should
not take place in the absence of our President, to
whom the First Battle of Ypres meant so much,
but it is now definitely announced that the Earl
of Ypres will not return to London till the end of
the year. An attempt was also made to obtain
from our London branches a guaranteed minimum
of men who would attend the Review. The
small number sent in does not warrant our going
to the trouble of arranging the parade. It is
hoped that next year this fine scheme will success
fully materialise.
Annual General Meeting.
Hon. Secretaries of branches are asked to
kindly have two members of their Committees
nominated to attend the Annual General Meeting
of members of the League. The date of the
meeting has not as yet been fixed but will be in
November or December and will he notified to
all branches as soon as decided by the General
Committee at their forthcoming meeting. Ad
mission will be by ticket only.
Branches.
The whole question of the branches of the
League will shortly be revised by the General
Committee. It is expected that many excellent
amendments will be made with a view to make the
branches live organisations for the promotion
of social re-unions and membership propaganda.
Hon. Secretaries of branches are invited to
make this column in our journal the medium for
announcing proposed activities for the information
of their supporters and other branches.
The Annual Dinner of the Sheffield branch will
take place at 7.30 on Ypres Day, the 31st October,
at Stephenson's Exchange Restaurant, Castle
Street. The charge is 5/- per head, and members
are invited to bring relatives and friends. Ordinary
civilian dressdecorations to suit individual
taste. An orchestra will play during and after
the dinner. A Concert party may also be engaged.
All enquiries to Capt. Jack Wilkinson, Ivydene,"
Fieldhead Road, Sheffield.
It is proposed by the Southend branch to hold
a Procession and Memorial Service on Sunday the
29th October at the local Cenotaph which stands
on the cliffs at Southend. Local ex-service men's
organisations are invited to take part in this
ceremony. London branches have also been
asked to send to Headquarters estimate of
numbers of their members who would also proceed
to Southend for the ceremony. An excursion
could easily be arranged if numbers warranted
it. So far, a proposal has come in only from the
S.E. London branch. For particulars write to the
Hon. Sec., Southend branch, Mr. W. H. Read,
46, Tintern Avenue, Westcliff-on-sea.
During the Summer of 1923 it is hoped to run
more than one excursion to Ypres. These ex
cursions will obviously be organised on better
lines than that of 30th July last. We learn by
experience. It is proposed that there should be
one excursion per month beginning from the
month of May. Branches are urged to approach
their members at their next branch meeting to
ascertain the amount of support likely to be
given, and it is suggested that Ypres Re-union
Holiday Clubs be started by branches immed
iately whereby members may contribute weekly
sums towards the amount (say £2) the excursion
is likely to cost. By arrangement with Head
quarters special excursions may be organised
with railways North of London enabling members
to travel direct to Ypres via Hull or Harwich and
Zeebrugge, thus avoiding the necessity of travel
ling to London.
The "Ypres Ball"the Greatest BaCL of
the Year.
In order to carry out the necessary work of
propaganda of the League to increase membership,
to exploit our work overseas, and to carry out the
practical objects of the League, funds will be
required far beyond the subscriptions of our
members. It has been decided by the Committee,
therefore, to endeavour to procure what is neces
sary from the general public. The two chief
events earmarked for this year in which all our
supporters are begged to assist us are the Street
Collection on Ypres Day (see separate announce
ment for helpers) and the Ypres Ball.
