THE SPIRIT OF THE LONDON SCOTTISH. 106 The Ypres Times. subsequent ceremony, this regiment of civilians, each of whom proved later to be of the mould and grit of a hard-bitten veteran, were sent into action, almost straight from London, at one of the most critical moments of the first battle of Ypres. The Germans got their range, and shelled them with a cold accuracy, enfilading them besides, and taking deadly toll of the Scots. The regiment, covered with glory, found itself at once ranked with the most seasoned and reliable troops in the British Army. It was the memory of this great deed that the monumental Cross was erected to perpetuate. The King of the Belgians, had promised to do the Regiment the unique honour of coming to unveil it himself. The rumour had gone round the night before that His Majesty intended to make the journey from Brussels, a hundred miles away, by aeroplane. Everything on wheels had been requisitioned to take us out from Ypres to Messines and on a brilliantly clear morning we stood expectant on the top of the ridge, peering into the blue reaches of the horizon. Quickly, two specks appeared in the azure, which proved to be the royal aeroplanes. They made long circuits high above us, then landed some distance from the scene. As the King and his suite approached along the cobbled road, Earl Haig (Honorary Colonel of the Regiment), Colonel Clowes (its Colonel), five former commanding officers during the War, and the Honorary and Acting Chaplains, went out to meet him. It was, indeed, a romantic dropping of Majesty from the bluea unique experience, which none of us who saw it is likely to forget. The King had performed the long flight in the space of one hour, and he was back in Brussels, we were told, ere the morning ended. After presentations and the inspection of the troops, a religious service was begun, the Rev. D. C. Lusk, M.C., the gallant Acting Chaplain of the Regiment, conducting it. Then the King pulled the cord, and revealed the beautiful monolith, with the St. Andrew's Cross sculptured on top of itand laid at the foot of the monument a giant wreath, bearing his own name and Queen Elizabeth's. Immediately thereafter I, who had known in the old days so many of the fallen, said the prayer of Dedication, and later gave the Blessing. King Albert made a long and most kindly speech from the steps of the pedestal, spoken in slow but perfect English. His kingly height and presence reminded me of the imposing figure of his noted uncle, the late King, whom I had seen on one or two occasions many years ago. The King's speech, and that of Lord Haig, who followed him, dwelt in detail on the long story of British valour with which the ridge would be for ever associated. Then followed the touching ceremony of placing wreaths at the foot of the Memorial by relatives of the fallen the Lament was played by the pipers, and the Last Post and Réveille were sounded. Again a Belgian Regimental Band played the National Anthems. Ere the King left, he had all the men brought to him who had taken part in the battle, and spoke to and shook hands with each of them. It was all over in little more than half an hour. But it was a great day for the London Scottish, whom the Belgian King had chosen, out of all other British regiments, especially to honour. Many a ruin still testifies to the dire destruction wrought by the ruthless invaders. But, in the long last, Belgium is still free, its industries are renewed, its people happy, grateful and prosperous. At a great price our gallant brothers bought them this freedom but the price had not been grudged. By MAJOR, R.F.A. On October 31st, 1914, the London Scottish were dashed forward to help defend the Messines Ridge. They got into action that evening and fought desperately all night. Next morning they were naturally much scattered and cut up. My battery was in action behind the Ridge, and next morning, about 8 a.m., a small bedraggled party of London Scottish, one officer and five men, appeared in the battery position. Imagine their conditionsuddenly thrown into their first battle under intensely difficult conditions at

HISTORISCHE KRANTEN

The Ypres Times (1921-1936) | 1924 | | pagina 20