YPRES MEMORIAL CHURCH FUND.
130
The Ypres Times.
Ablainzeville for its first objective, an attack which was the beginning of what was to be
the final phase of the war.
It was difficult to recognise the scenes of eight years ago as we travelled along a well-
metalled road through Ayette and on to Arras.
How many of the eight millions who served in the British Forces did not see Arras
at some time or other during the War years The streets of Arras no longer echo to the
sound of limbers and guns and the tramp of weary feet, but are thronged with light auto
mobiles and horse-carts. The shops display their wares where once were all the impedi
menta of war.
Arras is by no means completely reconstructed on every hand builders are hard at
work still, removing the debris of ruined buildings and constructing new ones in their
places. Many, too many, of those which remain standing show only too clearly the
marks of shelling.
We continued our journey by taking the Arras-Bens road as far as Yimv ridge. At
the summit of the ridge the French have erected a memorial to the Zouaves, and the
Canadian memorial is in course of construction. This latter, I understand, is to take
the form of a museum - surmounted with a monument to the Canadian dead. When
completed this memorial will be visible from miles around occupying as it does the very
summit of the ridge.
In a somewhat lesser degree Vimy ridge resembles Thiepval ridge, except that parts
of it have been cleared of the wreckage of war, whereas Thiepval is almost exactly as we
left itnevertheless, we descended a dugout on the ridge and saw barbed wire, trenches,
shell cases and other familiar signs of our past occupation.
Leaving Vimy ridge we turned back. Skirting Arras we stopped at Deauville to
visit the cemetery there. This cemetery, perhaps the smallest left in Francehaving
only eighty odd gravesis situated at the corner of a wood. The graves are mainly of
London troops, the majority being London Scottish. Although the smallest, it is kept
as well as any of the larger ones, and is the prettiest spot I have seen selected for a cemetery
by the Imperial War Graves Commission.
After a long run we passed through Doullens and back to Amiens.
Eight years ago, he who was able to get leave to spend an hour or two in Amiens was
considered a most fortunate person, but to-day this French town has little to recommend
it, except, perhaps, the station, for this (as I facetiously suggested in reply to enquiries
made by two English lady tourists at my hotel, who asked what was to be seen and done
in Amiens) is the way out." W. A. MICHELL.
It will be of interest to many members of the Ypres League to know that the
Committee have purchased a site close to the north-west end of the Grand Place, just
opposite the Cathedral, on which it is proposed to build a Church, Parsonage and School.
The site is about equidistant from the Menin Gate and the Railway Station.
The original site on the Ramparts was not easy of access to residents, and the cost
of the foundations would most probably have been prohibitive.
Sir Reginald Blomfield has just paid a visit to Ypres, where he inspected the site,
and has kindly consented to draw up a plan for the three buildings.
Eton College has opened a fund with which it is proposed to erect a School as a
Memorial to the 340 Old Etonians who gave their lives in defence of the Ypres Salient
and Channel Ports. Sufficient money has already been received to assure success, and
the building of this much needed School will be commenced as soon as the necessary-
plans are approved of.
W. P. PULTENEY, Lieut.-GeneraL
