Easter and Whitsuntide Pilgrimages,
86
THE YPRES TIMES
Tilloy, visiting the cemetery at Beaurains where there are a number of graves of the
2nd London Regiment. The weather, unfortunately, was very bad, and we were
thoroughly soaked by the time we reached Tilloy, and had to take refuge in a
neighbouring estaminet. Fortunately the weather changed for the better, and we
were able to return from Tilloy in comparative comfort. It was, however,
disappointing to most of us that the weather turned out so badly, as we were hoping
to explore Tilloy Woods before our return. One could, from Tilloy itself, get a
very good view of Telegraph Hill and Neuville Vitasse.
On the Friday morning we made an early start by charabanc to visit the
following places:Gavrelle, Monchy, Vimy, Lens, Thelus to Armentières. The
tour itself was full of interest during the whole of the journey, and of the many out
standing things of interest one must make mention of the Newfoundland Memorial
at Monchy. It is in the form of a reindeer standing in the ruins of what had once
been a church, and, in the opinion of us all, it was the most effective memorial
we had yet seen.
Of Vimy one could say muchthe trenches (both Canadian and German), are
left as they were at the end of the war, including the crater between the two
lines. We were fortunate enough to be shown over the tunnels, and it is wonderful
to think that fifteen miles of tunnelling could be prepared between 1915-1918, with
the Germans in such close proximity.
Another interesting object was just outside Neuve Chapelle, of two boilers
left standing still full of holes from shrapnel and other shell fire.
We had a stay of an hour at Armentières, and many visited the streets in which
they were billetted in early 1915.
We did not make many halts on the return journey, and arrived back in Arras
by^ o'clock after a most enjoyable day.
Sunday was left to individuals to do whatever they desired, and as many were
able to spend an extra day abroad, seventeen of the party left Arras early on the
Sunday morning and took the train to Lille, which we reached before lunch, and we
all enjoyed a visit to this very prosperous town as a good finish to a splendid
tour.
Should any other regimental party wish for a change from Ypres, I can
thoroughly recommend visiting Arras, and staying at the Hotel Univers, and
although we did not enjoy the boat trip so much as we would the Dover-Ostend
route, one gets the advantage of having practically an extra day abroad.
As usual, the arrangements made by Capt. de Trafford, were excellent, and we
have much to thank him for.
W. A. Francis, Hon. Secretary,
2nd London Regimental Association.
THESE annual trips to Ypres were again very much enjoyed, but in each case
the dreaded torment of mal de mer was suffered on the outward journeys.
Nevertheless, we reached our destination feeling all the better for ozone,
and ready for a good meal.
Both pilgrimages were run on similar lines.
The first duty was to visit the cemeteriesall most beautifully looked after by
the War Graves Commission gardeners.
