78
The Ypres Times.
A DIFFERENT IDEA OF YPRES.
By B. R. YOUNG, M.M., Late D Coy., 4th/60th K.R.R.
i have read with great interest Nos. 1 and 2 of the
Ypres Times," particularly the accounts of
different men's experiences there, but they all deal
with the horror of it, and I think my experience
of the Salient may be of interest. My battalion
left St. Eloi on April 8th after spending the winter
around Dickebusch in very wet trenches. And our
first impressions of Ypres were that it was the
ideal spot in the line to be billeted. We left for
the line the same night and took over some
trenches from the French and, quoting from the
K.R.R.C. Rifle Chronicle," 191/54th Battalions
War Diary After St. Eloi, what joy 1 com
munication trenches, loopholes, pumps, and
various little things tending to the comfort of the
occupants which up till now we had only heard of.
The outstanding features were that they were dry,
deep, accessible by day and almost continuous."
For some time we lived a happy and compara
tively peaceful life in our new trenches." We
were relieved in due course and retured to Ypres
to billets in the Belgian Barracks there, and that
was the Battalion's finest billet during the war.
We had beds to sleep in, each platoon had its
messroom, with tables and chairs. And the town.
We could buy English books I bought several
Nelson's Classics for one franc each, postcards were
sold in the street, hawkers had their barrows in the
Grand Place and steak and chips were obtainable
at nearly all the Cafés and Estaminets patronised
by the troops and, above all, you could buy
English Cigarettes. I also bought some shag there
but it had inside With the Compliments of the
Daily The streets were lit and the
shopwindows were equal to the majority of towns
miles behind the line.
After spending three or four days in this
luxurious manner we returned to the line (14th
April) and there the tale ends. We spent 26 days
in the line and came out on May 10th less than
100 strong We passed through Ypres about mid
night and the placé was unrecognisable, the major
part seemed to be ablaze and the rest hardly one
stone on another, the salvage parties were busy
putting the dead horses on the fires. The gun
teams must have suffered judging by the number
of teams lying two and two as if in harness. Our
next trips up the line were always via the railway
line, getting on the track just before the Station
near where the road to Vlamertinghe makes a
sharp turn, and leaving it at the (then) G.H.Q.
line on the Menin road. So we saw no more of the
actual town itself.
Other stories of Ypres before April, 1915, would
be interesting. Can anyone oblige Attention is
directed to Sapper's story in this number.
Editor, Ypres Times."
NOTES BY THE SECRETARY.
A Belgian Section of the League.
A branch of the League has been formed in
Belgium comprising all those Officers and men of
the Belgian Army who served under British
Command during the War and were in immediate
support of it. The majority of the members
belong to the Belgian Artillery and the Corps of
Interpreters. Amongst the members who are
patrons of this Belgian section areLt.-Genl. Comte
de Jonghe d'Ardoye, A.D.C. to the King, and
Major-General Moraine. The Hon. Secretary of
the Belgian section is Major L. Aerts, D.S.O., of
the Military College, Brussels, whose name must
be well known to manv officers who served on our
Staff.
News from Branches.
Hornsey.
All members in North London are asked to take
part in the Parade and March to the local War
Memorial on Saturday the 22nd April (the anniver
sary of the Second Battle of Ypres), and also
cordially invited to attend thé Ball to be given in
the evening of the same day. F.M. Earl French
and several senior officers who served at Ypres
will be present. The Band of the Grenadier
Guards will take part inthe short ceremony which
will be conducted by His Lordship the Bishop of
Willesden. Members may wear uniform or civilian
clothes.If the latter, it is hoped that the badge
of the League will be worn, PlaQe of assembly
the Drill Hall, Priory Road, Hornsey. Time of
assembly, 3 p.m. During the Memorial Service a
wreath made from wild flowers from the Ypres
Battlefield will be deposited at the Memorial.
Further information may be obtained from the
Hon. Sec. of the Hornsey Branch, Mr. Herbert
Sinclair, 147, Rathcoole Gardens, Hornsey, N.
Riverside District.
All members in the Thames Valley district are
asked to take part in the Church Parades at the
following places on Sunday the 23rd April (St.
George's Day) in commemoration of the Second
Battle of YpresRichmond, Twickenham,
Teddington, Kingston, Surbiton, Hounslow. For
all particulars kindly communicate with Major
J. H. R. Cox, c/o Barclay's Bank, Teddington.
Apply also to Major Cox for further information
about the Reunion, organized to take place the
previous day, Saturday, the 22nd April.
Thanet.
A Branch of the League was successfully
inaugurated on Saturday the 18th March for the
Island of Thanet. The meeting took place at the
Beresford Hotel, Birchington-on-Sea, where a
room had been purposely arranged by Mr. Remnant
of Beresford Lodge. Col. Spencer took the chair
for the occasion. A provisional Committee was
formed with its H.Q. at the Beresford Hotel. Mr.
Remnant announced that the Hon. Esmond
Harmsworth, M.P., had kindly offered to become
