League Seeretary5s Notes
THE YPRES TIMES
182
The gracious act of Her Royal Highness
Princess Beatrice in contributing an introduc
tory message to this edition of the Ypres
Times will be received with unanimous ap
preciation by every member of the Ypres
League, and our Patron's solicitation to us all
in this Jubilee Year will surely result in whole
hearted response, and with this in view, we are
enclosing a membership form with each copy
of this journal headed "Jubilee Membership
Appealand we trust that every form will
play a practical part in helping to swell the
League's membership before the end of 1935
when we shall look forward to the pleasure of
conveying to Her Royal Highness, a good report
of our loyal endeavours.
We struck an optimistic note in the last
J anuary edition of the Ypres Times and the
first quarter of our 15th anniversary year has
shown that, so far, our forecast was justified.
February is usually regarded as the month in
which time can be given more leisurely to office
records and to the preparation for the summer
pilgrimages and independent travel to the cemet
eries and battlefields, but this year, the month
proved a happy exception and even busier than
any period during the height of a summer
season for no less than four regimental lecture
battlefield tours were organized to take place
this March, namely March 1st to 4th thirty
three Officers of the 168th Infantry Brigade to
Amiens., March 15th to 18th thirty one Officers
of the 167th Infantry Brigade to Ypres., March
18th to 22nd, 33 Officers of the 4th Guards
Brigade on a circular tour ParisCompie'gne
CambraiYpresBoulogne., March 22nd to
24th a syndicate party of 90 Officers and other
ranks of the Honourable Artillery Company
with headquarters at Arras. We consider it
a privilege and a great honour to be entrusted
to carry out the arrangements for these official
Regimental Tours.
Membership, so important an item in our
sphere of activities, is also very satisfactory, and
for an exceptionally good start to the year in the
matter of new members recruited, we are indebt
ed very much to our three principal Branches,
namelyPurley, Colchester and London, all of
whom have already shown extremely creditable
returns. There certainly appears every prospect
of a highly interesting competition between these
Branches for the honour of winning the fifth
annual recruiting prize in this 1935 Jubilee year.
The outstanding effort of the Purley Branch
in recruiting 31 new members at their last Re
union Dinner deserves special praise.
The London County Committee have con
tinued to hold their popular monthly gatherings
and an account of the Childrens Christmas
Party will be found in Branch Notes. Successful
annual re-union dinners have proved the
strength of our Purley and Colchester Branches
and the Purley Branch again deserves special
thanks for their extremely generous gesture in
contributing ten guineas towards the League's
charitable work. Also during the past quarter
our Brisbane representatives, Mr. C. H. Green
and Mr. G. Lawson have been prominent in their
recruiting of new members and we owe them
gratitude for the way in which they have re
tained the interest among our existing Brisbane
members.
It is pleasing to note that the January, 1935
edition of the Ypres Timeswas so well
received by our members. Many letters have
been received emphasising the interesting read
ing of this particular numbera great en
couragement, because as the years roll on it
is becoming increasingly difficult to procure
suitable articles of the standard required, and
we appeal to all our ex-service members pos
sessing literary ability, who have not already
contributed to the columns of the journal to
help in this direction either by writing their
own reminiscences or forwarding to head
quarters the name and address of any of their
friends whom we might approach. Such valu
able assistance would be immensely appreciated.
Financial aid for the maintenance of our
journal is still very gratefully being received
from both Subscribing and Life Members and
we would like to place on record, a recent and
most generous cheque for £5 to the fund from
our true and faithful friend, Mrs. L. K. Briggs
of Broadstairs who has also conformed with
many other members and paid in advance for
the next four quarterly editions.
As Secretary of the Ypres League I would
like to add a personal word to conclude this
note, and that is my desire for all members to
strive their hardest in loyal support of our
distinguished Patron's message. Let us all
make a firm resolution to recruit one new
member for the Ypres League before Christmas
and double our membership in this Silver J ubilee
Year of our Patron-in-chief, His Majesty
The King.
BURNING OF THE CLOTH HALL 1915-
A few remaining coloured prints now in stock
are being offered to our members at the reduced
rate of is. each, post free.
Since further copies are unobtainable we would
advise those interested to make their purchase
without delay.
