LEAGUE SECRETARY'S NOTES.
The Ypres Times.
191
NEW PRESIDENT.
A great honour has been paid the Ypres League by Field Marshal Lord Plumer, who has kindly
consented to become our President. As Vice-President Lord Plumer has always displayed a keen
and sympathetic interest in the welfare of our society.
The Committee is desirous of keeping in much
closer touch with Corresponding Members (in
cluding Branch Secretaries) than has been possible
hitherto, and the League's one-time Secretary, now
a Member of the Executive Committee, has con
ceived and put in practice the idea of writing to
those of you'who have expressed the wish to
receive one, a monthly letter, omitting the months
in which the Ypres Times appears, when an
open letter will be addressed to you collectively.
In the first letter of the series the opinion of
Corresponding Members was canvassed with
regard to the acceptability of a monthly letter,
and to those (no inconsiderable number) who
welcomed the proposal, further letters were sent
on May 1st and June 1st respectively. While
reluctant to leave out any names from the com
plete list of Corresponding Members, we hesitate
to write again to those from whom no replies
were received in the first instance. Will those of
you, therefore, who come under this category,
kindly drop me a line stating whether you would
care to be brought into the scheme At the same
time I should be deeply grateful if you would out
line in brief the League's position in your particular
district, in order that we may realise with greater
clarity the conditions tinder which you are work
ing. Headquarters desire to share your dis
appointments as well as your successes, and to
give that sympathy and encouragement in the
case of the former which may act as a spur to
renewed effort. We want to make a special
effort in memory of our late illustrious chief who
took such a true and active interest in the
cause.
Recipients of the monthly letter will be supplied
(for purposes of propaganda) with three copies
of the Ypres Times in excess of the copy to
which membership entitles them and, if expressly
asked for, some old copies. Printed cards, adver
tising the League, suitable for display in shop
windows, clubs, public libraries, etc., will be
forwarded on application. The Committee are
always ready to consider any reasonable request
brought to their notice.
Finally, we need many more Corresponding
Members who would like to take an active part in
the work of increasing our membership. Will
those willing to act in this capacity in any quarter
of the globe, kindly send in their names Letters
will be written throughout 1925, and at Christmas
the results of our combined efforts will be carefully
examined and full information given you.
In addition to what the League has already
done, well-known to all our members, we are
pleased to announce the following achievements
during the past eighteen months:(1) Organisa
tion of a Junior Division to which children (and
certain other near relatives) of those who fought
in the Salient have the right to belong. (2)
Erection of Sign-Boards marking important mili
tary points in the Ypres Salient, (3) Publication
of a Guide-bookThe Immortal Salient. Members
will be glad to hear that this book is in great
demand, and it is not surprising that this excellent
guide to the Salient should have met with so
unprecedented a success.
JUNIOR DIVISION
We desire to draw attention to this Branch of
the League, formed more than a year ago for
children under the age of eighteen who are lineal
descendants of those who fought in the defence
of Ypres. At eighteen they may become full
members. The annual subscription is one shilling.
The Division had our late President's complete
sympathy and support. Speaking in public on
behalf of the League last summer, he urged the
necessity of inspiring in the youth of to-day a
pride in the heroic deeds of their fathers on the
battlefields of Flanders. It is to rescue these
deeds from oblivion that the Junior Division has
been formed, and it is felt that we can raise no
more fitting or acceptable memorial to our beloved
President than the establishment, on a firm basis,
of a Junior Division keeping alight the lamp of
remembrance.
WREATHS ON WAR GRAVES IN
FRANCE AND BELGIUM.
Arrangements are made by the Ypres League
to place wreaths for relatives on the graves of
British soldiers situated in France and Belgium
at the following times of the year
EASTER, ARMISTICE DAY, CHRISTMAS.
The wreaths may be composed of natural
flowers, laurel, or holly, and can be bought at
the following prices 12s. 6d., 15s. 6d., and 20s.,
according to the size and quality of the wreath.
The above prices to include placing on the grave
and one unmounted photograph and negative,
post card size, which will be sent to the relative,
showing the wreath in position. For wreaths
placed at the request of relatives on special dates,
other than Easter, Armistice Day and Christmas,
an extra charge will be necessary, according to the
location of the grave.
Applications for wreaths should be sent to the
Secretary, together with remittance, giving the
regimental particulars of the soldier, name of
cemetery, and number of plot, row and grave.
