The Ypres Times.
199
have rusted in war museums, who heard the song of Tipperary going up the roads of
France and Flanders, who was part of the spirit which caught up all this young manhood
in defiance of high explosives, poison gas, the sweep of machine-gun bullets, and all the
destructive forces of twentieth century science.
Not any treasure will buy that privilege for future generations. But now it is within
the reach of the youth that lives. At any rate we should put it within the reach of our
own boys to go out to Ypres and the other battlefields under the guidance of ex-officers
and men who know the ground, can summon up the recent pasttheir own experience-
explain the meaning and method of the fighting, reconstruct the great battles, and say
to the boys at their side "I was there. The men who fell were my comrades. I
belonged to the Division that captured that ground. I heard the gunfire which swept
that hillside. It was here that they advanced through the enemy's barrage."
From a military point of view it is well that some of our boys should study the
•campaign in France and Flanders on the spot. But I look at its value from other angles
of vision. I think our younger generation should be taken out thereas many- as
possibleto get into touch with the spiritual memories that belong to that soil, to do
homage to the men who fell there so that these boys might live, and to be inspired with
some of the courage and faith which is the one glory of the War in which our best perished.
What happened then is a warning to humanity-may it never happen again on those old
battlefields!but the valour of youth demands remembrance and eternal honour from
those who belong to its spirit and blood. In the memorial chapel of one of our schools
this quotation from Thucydides is worthy of those who fell in the Ypres Salient and other
fields, and its words say more than any argument of mine on behalf of visits to that
ground by schoolboys and cadets.
They gave their bodies to the Commonwealth, and received each for his own
memory, praise that will never die, and with it the grandest of all tombs, not that in
which their mortal bones are laid, but a home in the hearts of men. For the whole earth
is the sepulchre of famous men and their story is graven not only on stone but lives on
far away without visible symbol, woven into the stuff of other men's lives."
WREATHS ON WAR ORAVES 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 Belgirun
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.
PHOTOGRAPHS OF WAR GRAVES.
The Ypres League has made arrangements
whereby it is able to supply photographs (nega
tive, and one print, post card size, unmounted) of
graves situated in the Ypres Salient, and in the
Hazebrouck and Armentieres areas at the price
of 10s. each.
All applications for photographs 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.
EMBROIDERED BADGES.
In the last April number of The Ypres Times,
it was proposed that the badge of the League
should be issued embroidered on cloth suitable
for wearing on blazers, or displaying as an
ornament.
We are pleased to announce that these badges
can now be supplied at 4s. each, post free. A
considerable number have already been sold, and
we are delighted to hear that the badges have
given entire satisfaction to our members who have
received them. Applications to the .Secretary.
b