204 England. Serving in Ireland in 1922, it was the last regular Battalion to provide a guard for Dublin Castle, while in 1926 it was the last to evacuate Cologne this involv ing the hauling down of the Union Jack from the G. H. Q. building, and handing over the keys of barracks. This flag is now in the possession of the Officers' Mess. On April 16th last 117 years since it last entered the county the Regiment started from Lichfield, where it is now stationed, on an historic march through Shropshire and Herefordshire, and on April 25th, in the presence of an immense gathering, H.R.H. The Duke of York presented new colours in the Quarry, Shrewsbury, where, in the same grounds, the first 85th Light Infantry Regiment had received its first colours in January, 1760. In connection with this latter ceremony, it is interesting to relate that after the trooping of the old colours, they were received on behalf of the Old Comrades (numbering over 2,000) for escort to the Regimental Depot, by three Ex-Warrant Officers, all of whom were on parade at Lucknow in January, 1877, when they were presented by the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, whose ancestor helped to form the existing Regiment. E. W. THE second official Public Schools O.T.C., Battlefield Tour, took place from April 27th to 30th last, and the arrangements were again entrusted to the capable hands of the Ypres League in co-operation with the Officers Training Corps Club. This Tour was another great success and all who had pleasure to take part were much indebted to the organisers for the care taken to ensure our comfort and interest throughout. In consequence of activities at many of the schools in preparation for Jubilee Celebrations, our numbers were smaller than last year, nevertheless, some seventy officers and cadets assembled at Victoria Station on Saturday morning, April 27th, all in buoyant mood and greatly looking forward to their forthcoming adventure. The party, as a whole, were in the charge of Major E. Montague Jones, O.B.E., T.D., M.A., Hon. Secretary and Treasurer, O.T.C., Club and a member of the Ypres League Committee, with Mr. O. Mears from the League Headquarters as business manager for the Tour. Alighting from our reserved compartments at Dover, we proceeded to board the Belgian s.s. Prince Leopold with slightly mixed feelings as to the nature of the trip ahead for in the distance we could observe a somewhat turbulent sea. Any doubts on this point were quickly dispelled, for we were soon tested by a strong north-easter and rough passage, but the Captain apparently considered our comfort by hugging the coast from Calais to Ostend, incidentally affording us an excellent view of Dunkerque and the battlefield of Nieuport. I am afraid the motion of the boat had proved a little too much for quite a number of the party, but once on terra firm, it was amazing how quickly spirits revived. On reaching Ypres, again our headquarters, the party was equally divided between the Hotel Skindles, Station Place, and the Hotel Splendid and Britannique, Grand Place. The writer can vouch for the excellence of Skindles Hotel, and he has no reason whatever to believe the other hotel was not as good. Following a refresher in the way of a wash and brush-up all appeared ready and eager for the inviting dinner prepared, after which a quiet saunter was made round the famous old city prior to congregating at Skindles for an illustrated talk by the official lecturers to the Tour. The War Office extended us a great favour by so kindly granting special permission to Lt.-Colonel Sir Colin Jardine, Bart., D.S.O., M.C., and Major H. Redman, to accompany the Tour and our sincere thanks are due to these two officers for the efficient and highly interesting manner in

HISTORISCHE KRANTEN

The Ypres Times (1921-1936) | 1935 | | pagina 14