BRANCH NOTES.
THE YPRES TOWER AT RYE, SUSSEX.
20
The Ypres Times.
It is difficult to realise that the Ypres Tower
at Rye, perched high on its rock, was surrounded
by water when built by William, de Ypres in the
12th century. The sea has now retreated nearly
two miles, and left the Tower high and dry. Its
construction is an interesting indication of the
methods of defence of the Norman period. The
narrow slotted windows enabled archers to wing
their shafts in safety, while its turretted battle
ments, from which stones could be hurled on
attackers, gave protection to the sharpshooters.
There are numbers of similar towers along the
Channel coast, and in later times they served as
watch towers against surprise invasion, particu
larly during Spanish naval activity at time of
the Armada and the Napoleonic invasion scares.
Rye was one of the famous Cinque Ports, and the
Ypres Tower was kept garrisoned for defensive
purposes. Nowadays it serves as the Town
Prison.
Reproduced by kind permission of Messrs. Nicolas
Sarony Co.
YPRES DAY CELEBRATIONS—MADRID.
31st October, 1925.
The Madrid Branch of the Ypres League cele
brated the anniversary of the First Battle of
Ypres by an entertainment and dance at the
Hotel Nacional, Madrid. The honours were done
by Captain Burgess, late Dorsetshire Regiment,
helped by his sisters. The distinguished company
included the British Ambassador, Sir Horace
Rumbold, Bart., G.C.M.G., K.C.B., M.VO., Lady
and Miss Rumbold, the Staff of the Embassy, and
the British and American Consuls. The American
and French Members of the League were also
present.
On Armistice Day the Ypres League sent a
wreath to decorate the Catafalque at the ceremony
in St. George's Church, and 315 pesetas were
collected by the sale of Flanders Cornflowers at
the church door while similar sales at Vigo and
Malaga brought in 202.85 and 143 pesetas
respectively.
The Madrid Branch of the League also con
tributed to the success of the Old Comrades
Dinner, held at the British-American Club, Gran
Via 16, Madrid, at which 40 comrades sat down
together with the British Military Attaché, Major
W. W. Torr, D.S.O., M.C., and the American
Military Attaché, Major C. B. Hodges. After the
toasts were drunk, Major Torr suggested that Old
Comrades with a job might like to help Old Com
rades without, which resulted in a collection
realising 275 pesetas, sent to Lord Haig's Fund.
Guests Present.
Hon. Francis G. Agar-Robartes, M.V.O., Mr.
C. G. Blackhurst, Captain P. W. Burgess, Miss-
W. W. Burgess, Captain U. de B. Charles, C.B.E.,
Mr. R. S. Children, Mrs. W. B. Douglas, Miss-
V. D. Eve, Captain H. L. Farquhar, Mr. and Mrs.
W. H. Faulkner, Mr. A. W. Ferrin, Miss E. M.
Haskins, M. and Mme. M. J. Lecomte, Mr. H. C.
McCarthy, Miss E. Mcintosh, Miss A. McKeone,
Mr. J. H. Milanes, Miss F. Moore and Sister,
Major L. N. Rock, Mr. D. J. Rodgers, Rt. Hon.
Sir Horace G. M. Rumbold, Bart., G.C.M.G.
M.V.O., Lady Rumbold, Miss C. Rumbold, Mrs.
G. W. Shaw, Miss E. M. Sullens, Rev. and Mrs.
F. Symes-Thompson, Mrs. W. W. T. Torr.
SHEFFIELD AND DISTRICT BRANCH.
The Branch held their Fourth Annual Re-union
Dinner at the King's Head Hotel, Change Alley,
Sheffield, on the evening of Ypres Day, the
31st October last. Owing to the unavoidable
absence of the Branch President and Vice-
President, the chair was taken by Mr. J. H. T.
Holmes, and the toast to "Absent Friends
proposed by Mr. J. H. S. Randall. While those
present were not quite as numerous as in previous
years, a good evening was spent, and after dinner
the party proceeded to the coffee room, where
members had an opportunity of going over old
times again.
On the invitation of the City Council the
