THE YPRES TIMES
115
Everywhere we were amazed at the prolific crops of corn, vegetables, tobacco
and hops, where at one time we saw only mud and the havoc of war. The site of Tyne
Cot was significant of all that our operations in the Salient involved.
Dinner in the evening was the time for the summing up of our day's activities,
and at 9 p.m. all members of the party attended the sounding of the Last Post at
Menin Gate which was in accord with all that had previously impressed us.
Monday comprised a whole day tour of the country further South, including
Armentieres,, Fleurbaix, Neuve Chapelle, La Bassee, Hohenzollern Redoubt, Vimy
Ridge, Bethune, Bailleul, and Meteren, and again at the various halts events of long
years ago were recountedThis is where we had our Officer's Mess Our first
Officer casualty occurred here."
Some time was spent at Hohenzollern Redoubt, as although our Brigade was not
in action there, a number of gunners and drivers were employed on carrying parties to
the Infantry Brigade, who were relatives or neighbours at home and whose exploits
were closely followed by our mob, and who gave a good account of themselves there on
October the 13th, 1915.
Bethune also held considerable interest, for had we not entrained there for leave
to England, and well did we remember the concert party's efforts in the glass-domed
theatre in cushy times
A note of a different tone was struck when we found ourselves at a Cemetery
behind the old line where a scrutiny of the register divulged the names of 28 of our
former comrades who rest beneath the soil of a foreign land. We were reminded of a
fateful day when 14 of them were killed together.
Tuesday morning entailed a short run round Ypres district, including a call at
the renowned Talbot House, Poperinghe. At Kemmel we located our first bit of Front
and recollected the days when ammunition was strictly limited and where spare time
was devoted by the gunners to cultivating bits of garden a feature which was out
of the question when matters subsequently livened up.
The time after lunch on Tuesday was originally intended to be spent at Ypres,
but the general desire was to have a look at Zeebrugge, so an earlier train was taken
to Ostend from whence the electric tram was used to have an enjoyable run along the
Belgian Coast to the Mole, where an interesting time was spent on the scene of the
Navy's exploits on April 23rd, 1918.
Dinner at the Avenue Hotel, Ostend on Tuesday night was the final item on the
itinerary, and 15 tired pilgrims journeyed to Victoria, there to disperse after a three
days' tour crowded with interest and good fellowship.
It is of interest to mention that in addition to the small snapshot cameras carried
by members of the party, one enthusiast took along his cinema camera and exposed a
number of reels on the places visited and the activities of his pals, and if results are
successful, our next Annual Dinner will see the innovation of a news reel, which if not
up-to-date on current events, will be of outstanding interest to the members of the
Association and no doubt whet the appetite of those who were unable to be numbered
among this year's party.
Warmest thanks are due to the Ypres League for the great care and consideration
extended on this, our first, collective tour, every minute of which was smooth running.
One point which added to our pleasure was the provision of a British Ex-Service driver
who knew every inch of the ground covered. His answers to our many queries helped
us considerably to locate objects of the landscape, and link up our memories with events
of almost a score years ago.
Our talks with the natives and grave attendants also gave us some impression
of the procedure of re-establishing the devastated areas, and in one meandering we
were pleased to assure a troubled mind that we were not reConnoitering for another
war, but that our visit was of a purely peaceable nature.
