Ypres Day, 1930.
THE YPRES TIMES
143
Lest we Forget.)
N the morning of Monday, November 2nd, 1914, the Germans made a
I I violent attack on the line of Ploegsteert Wood and Le Gheer. The
detonation of the heavy firing came dully through the rain, but early in
the forenoon the noise of battle lessened, the rain ceased, and the sky brightened,"
so says Frederick Coleman in his book Mons to Ypres."
Such a day was Sunday, November 2nd, 1930; heavy rain in the morning, with
heaven's own artillery crashing, so much so that the hearts of those responsible
PhotoJ [The Daily Mirror
H.R.H. PRINCESS BEATRICE LAYING THE WREATH ON THE CENOTAPH.
for the great Parade and Service of Remembrance sank, and thoughts of cancel
lation were in their minds, but, as on the same date in 1914, the rain ceased at mid
day, the sky brightened, and, despite a high wind, a really wonderful parade was
held and a most impressive and inspiring ceremony carried out.
Although Ypres Day falls on October 31st, the celebrations this year were
held on Sunday, November 2nd, the tenth anniversary of the League's formation,
and therefore a singularly suitable date.
What a wonderful revelation it was, when in these days people are already
beginning to say Let us forget." Can we who served in the war forget, and is
it wise to forget? By forgetfulness wars are bred, and a generation is growing
up who knew nothing of the war's horrors, and we of the Ypres League, by our
presence at that ceremony, are doing our part to teach the younger generation the
meaning of war. At any rate, the hundreds who attended showed by their presence