Visit of the Territorial Cadet Brigade to Ypres.
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The Ypres hmes.
AN IMPRESSION.
To see Ypresthat was the keynote of our visit to Belgium this year. To stand
on that historic ground where the tide of war ebbed and flowed continuously for four
years. To endeavour to realise the positions and conditions of the opposing armies and
to view the piteous remains of one of Europe's greatest architectural beauties, the Cloth
Hall of Ypres.
Our tour commenced with a visit to W aterloo on a day somewhat similar as regards
weather to that on which the great battle was foughtcontinuous rain the whole day,
but fortunately the panorama served to illustrate most, clearly the events that took place
there no years ago.
Zeebrugge came next. Here the few remaining wrecks and wreckage bore eloquent
testimony to the mighty daring and wonderful achievement of our glorious Navy.
It was a perfect morning, when on August 3rd Reveille sounded at 5 a.m. in the
Guards' Barracks at Brussels, in which we were most comfortably accommodated.
Breakfast eaten and armed with a substantial haversack ration we were soon on our
way to the station, a two-mile march, and entrained for Ypres.
After leaving Comines Station the railway runs alongside the Ypres Canal till it
passes over the famous Hill 60, where numerous cemeteries testify to the struggle that
took place there.
On arriving at Ypres we detrained and after a short interval embarked on tram-cars
which took us out along the Menin Road to Clapham Junction."
As we left Ypres, Hell Fire Corner was pointed out by those who were acquainted
with it during the War, and then shortly before reaching Ilooge the cars drew up at a
Memorial to the 18th Division, which was being unveiled by General Sir I. Maxse and
Lieut.-General Sir Richard Lee.
Hastily leaving the cars one battalion ranged itself round the memorial, while the
other battalion halted on the road. At the conclusion of the service General Maxse
addressed the cadets. He emphasised the very important if somewhat obvious fact
that the sacrifices made in the War for liberty and freedom were for the benefit of the
present and future generations and that it was up to them to take proper advantage of
these valuable possessions. A little further along the road the Brigade divided up into
groups, each group having its own lecturer, who described to them the happenings in
the surrounding country.
Our group entered a young fir plantation called Inverness Copse, from which a splendid
view was obtained. A perfectly clear day the flat country around was dotted with
farm houses, their red roofs and yellow walls making brilliant patches of colour among
the green crops. No sign of devastationand yet seven years ago every building in this
area had been destroyedWhat enterprise, what industry
To the south-west on the horizon rose conspicuously the hill Kemmel, while farther
to the south could be seen the celebrated Wytschaete and Messines Ridges, the latter
being the scene of Lord Plumer's spectacular victory. Looking north our lecturer pointed
