THE SPIRIT THAT CONQUERS.
78
The Ypres Times.
EASTER PILGRIMAGE.
The second of the two pilgrimages organised by the Ypres League started for Ypres on Saturday,
April 3rd. The party consisted of fifty-two pilgrims, who had travelled from all parts of England,
Scotland and Ireland' The number passed all expectations considering the early season of the year,
and the uncertainty of the weather, which was fortunately in our favour for the whole period. After
an enjoyable crossing we reached Ostend, where we entered our reserved carriages on the Belgium
train. On arrival at Ypres we proceeded to the Hotels Continental and Skindles, where rooms had
been engaged for us, the Hotel Splendid and Britannique being occupied by the 2nd London Association
party. Ypres, now a new town, was looking at its best in brilliant sunshine, and amazement was
expressed on all sides at the handsome buildings in the Station Square and Grand' Place, which so short
a time ago had been a desolate heap of ruins. Interesting walks were taken round the historic ramparts
stretching from the station to the Menin Gate, where the memorial to the British soldiers whose
remains have not been recovered, is being erected.
Those visiting the graves of their loved ones naturally made this their first duty on Sunday
morning, after which they joined a half-day excursion to the battlefields which had been arranged by
Captain Parminter, our representative. The char-a-banc started from the Station Square, the route
followed being via Shrapnel Corner, thence to Hill 60, Zillebeke, Hell Fire Corner, Sanctuary Wood,
Hooge, Clapham Junction, Inverness Copse, Gheluvelt, Becelaere, St. Julien, reaching Ypres again
about 6.30 p.m. On Monday many of the party enjoyed a whole-day char-a-banc trip to Arras, via
Neuve Eglise, Armentières, Fleurba'ix, Neuve Chapelle, La Bassée, Hohenzollern Redoubt, Loos, Lens,
Vimy Ridge, Arras, returning by way of Souchez, Noeux-les-Mines, Béthune, St. t enant, Hazebrouck,
Poperinghe, Vlamertinghe, and back to Ypres.
Glorious weather still prevailed on Tuesday when we turned our faces homeward after a trip which
had recalled to those familiar with the ground in war-time both sad and happy memories, while to others
making their first visit it had been a wholly interesting experience.
By kind permission of the Southern Reporter we
print below an address given by Captain Taylor,
Adjutant of 4th K.O.S.B., on the occasion of the
unveiiing ceremony of the Bowden War Memorial
ntjMelrose last November.
During the War we knew that we were up
against it, and that strenuous effort and self-
sacrifice were necessary if we were to win through.
So we put our shoulders to the wheel, we laughed,
and we carried on, and we all pulled together for
the common good. And last, but by no means
least, we trusted to those in authority to see us
through, whether they were our leaders overseas,
or those in power at home, and so we came through
united to a successful issue. Then came the
Armistice and I wonder how often it was said
that things would be very different after the War.
We had had a tremendous lesson, had learnt how
to sink our own small ideas in the realisation of
sterner realities and all classes had striven to
gether in unquestioning co-operation.
All this, we said, was bound to make us a more
united and a healthier nation. But has it Do
we see the cheerful acceptance of adversities or the
splendid co-operation so evident in the War I am
very much afraid that we do not. Why There
must be a very simple answer, for the essential
characteristic of an entire nation cannot fund
amentally alter in a few short years. I think
possibly that the answer is this, that in reacting
from war to peace we lost an obvious motive for
strenuous effort and self-sacrifice. We have fallen
into the habit of expecting others to do things for
us, and to make the world a better place, while we
sit and criticise. We have also forgotten that, even
in the most successful of enterprises, there must be
temporary set-backs. Granted that there is not the
very evident menace of an active enemy to weld us
together again but nevertheless there are factors
in our national existence to-day that may well
cause the country's downfall, and unless we can
revive the war-time spirit of cheerfulness, of co
operation, and of implicit faith in those entrusted
with the task of seeing us through our national
danger, we are in peril of losing our proud position
in the world. May I give you a military parallel
In a battalion you may have the finest officers and
a most efficient staff, but unless the men have the
right spirit of trust in their superiors, and of co
operation amongst themselves, that battalion will
never be a good one. And so it is with a nation
like ourselves.
Let us on this day think of the things that pulled
us through the War, and see if we cannot apply
them to our ordinary life. A short time ago I was
present at the anniversary of the Ypres League in
Galashiels, and at the conclusion, a song called
Wipers wassung. This song was chosen out of
many, because of the call it makes for a revival of
the wartime spirit of laughing at your troubles
and when I heard a large audience singing the
chorus, I thought then that if we could only
whistle the way we whistled up to Ypres, we
should be doing our share in helping the country
through its troubles.
