FROM THE EDITOR'S CHAIR. The Vpres Times. 95 well ahead. The account of the doings in front of Gheluvelt and Sanctuary Wood during the Third Battle of Ypres are as good as, and certainly a deal more to the point than, many other records dealing with that phase. The man in the line, or rather in the shell holes, the only cover we had, separated often as not by long distances from his comrades equally miserably situated, had a terrible time. It is with a feeling of satisfaction that, in such conditions as prevailed all along the line of the Ypres front during that battle, we learn that the Machine Gunners had a big say in the ultimate success of the operations. Mr. Russell takes us for a brief period to the Italian front, where it seems they had a good rest, then back again to Flanders to help put a spoke in the wheel of the German offensive on the L,ys front. The final phases of the War are dealt with and, after a steady pursuit of the retreating foe, Mr. Russell lands us in Cologne, where our forward move ceased, and where his unit became demobilised. The Machine Gun Companies were formed during the War with a very specific object, which they accomplished with distinction. They are now disbanded, but the work they did cannot be erased from the memories of those who fought side by side with them, and for that reason, if for no other, we commend Mr. Russell's book to our readers. J- w. "YPRES BOOK OF VALOUR." We hope to publish in January a Regimental contribution to the Ypres Book of Valour as a suggestion of what the book will be. This account, sent by The King's Regiment (Liverpool) at the request of Lieut-Gnl. Sir Charles Harington, G. B .E.. K.C.B., D.S.O., was the first to be received, and has been epitomised by Sir Philip Gibbs, K.B.E. Its quality speaks for itself. We have already received a great deal of material, and are most appreciative and grateful for the help and en couragement of the Colonels and Officers of many Regiments. We are not hurrying the publication, because we are trying to secure more individual achievements than have been sent in in most cases. There is a tendency to concentrate on accounts of actions of the same period, and though of great historic interest this sameness must spoil our aim, which is to make a collection of arresting achievements that will arouse for all time enthusi astic appreciation of that which was accom plished at Ypres. We are now venturing to ask if those sufficiently interested in what should be a great memorial will send us stirring narratives of outstanding incidents, which should be preceded by a brief reference to the team work of the Regiment. We suggest that in Regimental Journals, in Officers' Diaries, or in the records of Honours received, such material might be found. We realise that we are asking a great deal, but we want to make a great book. The Army has amassed a wealth of heroic story. Because it is so great, it is difficult to grasp, and already it is sUpping out of memory. A book that shall be an epitome of this should be a legacy to those who follow us. YPRES CHURCH APPEAL. We would draw our readers' attention to the appeal for an English church at Ypres which appears on the back page of the cover of this number. The idea was first mooted by Lord Ypres at the League Pilgrimage on August 4th, and the appeal is now sent out by Lord Plumer. It is hoped to include the League objective of a Belfry in the scheme. OBITUARY. We deeply regret to record the death, on Septem ber the 10th, of Colonel the Hon. Francis Colborne, M.V.O., of Nonsuch Park, Cheam, Surrey, Equerry to H.R.H. the Princess Beatrice. Colonel Colborne was one of the first members of the League when it was started in 1920 and served on the executive committee as long as his health permitted. His advice and assistance were greatly valued by his colleagues. CROSS TO THE 177th TUNNELLING COMPANY. The cross, made of wood from Ypres Cathedral, which so long stood at Railway Wood as a memorial tothemen of the 177th Tunnelling Company, R.E., has been transported to the Chapel of the Ascension, near Marble Arch (on the Bays water Road), where it will be permanently preserved, by permission of the Rev. F. N. Thicknesse. This has been done through the instrumentality of a lady whose son was killed at the same spot, and with the concurrence of Captain Dalgas, who originally erected the cross. This lady would be glad to hear, through The Ypres Times, from any of the relatives of the men of the 177th Tunnelling Company who are commemorated by the cross.

HISTORISCHE KRANTEN

The Ypres Times (1921-1936) | 1924 | | pagina 9