BRANCH NOTES.
The Ypres Times.
51
SHEFFIELD.
The reunion and smoking concert arranged by
the Sheffield and District Branch of the Ypres
League Lest we Forget and held at the King's
Head Hotel, Sheffield, on Saturday, J an. 30th, was a
most enjoyable affair, Colonel D. S. Branson,
D.S.O., M.C., was in the chair. The members of
the League all served in the Ypres Salient during
the War, and these reunions afford a much
appreciated opportunity of talking over serious
matters under the pleasantest conditions.
The Ypres Salient is the Holy Ground of
the British Army. Ypres is to the British Empire
what Verdun is to France. The Ypres League
was founded in 1920 to perpetuate the spirit of
Ypres as a living force in the Empire, in which
all men who served in the Salient are associated
as members of a brotherhood unforgetful of the
dead comrades who lie out there a quarter
of a million of themand mindful of their own
service in the ordeal of battle.
The excellent programme was contributed to
by Mr. W. J. Parker (songs at the piano),
Mr. T. Malcolm Wilson (baritone), Mr. John
Dixon (pianoforte selections), Mr. J. L. Taylor
(baritone), Mr. Harold Wilson (tenor), Mr. S. C.
Robinson (comedian), Mr. Dennis Whittington
(violin solos)and Mr. Frank Murfin (baritone)
The march song, Wipers," was sung during
the evening and was heartily received.
GALASHIELS.
Under the auspices of the Ypres League a
lantern lecture on YpresThe Immortal
Salient," was delivered in the Ex-Service Club
Hall on February 18th by the Rev. H. Shannon
Brisby, M.A., West Parish Church. Mr. W. L.
Weir, Chairman of the Club, presided over a good
attendance. The lecture was of a very interesting
nature, and was illustrated with over forty excel
lent lantern slides, illustrative of the outstanding
incidents in the important military operations
located in this very important salient during the
Great War. Mr. Brisby described very fully the
three great battles fought in this region, and
showed how the great efforts of the Germans to
break through the lines and reach the coast at
this point were so effectively checked, and how,
in the end the splendid resistance of the Allied
Forces was successfully turned into attack and the
Germans were driven back in confusion on their
own lines and forced to sue for peace. Mr. Brisby
also referred to the great sacrifices made by the
British Army in defending the Ypres SaUent, and
described the fine work which was being carried
on by the Ypres League in arranging for visits
of relatives and others to the graves of the men
who fought and fell in this field of operations. In
the course of the evening the songs, A Corner
in Flanders and Wipers," were sung by Miss
J. Tod, and at the close a cordial vote of thanks
was accorded to Mr. Brisby and Miss Tod for
their services, and also to Mr. J. McNish, who
officiated as lanternist. A collection in aid of the
Ex-Sèrvice Club Benevolent Fund realised a sum
of over fjt.Border Standard.
PORTSTEWART.
The success of an entertainment largely de
pends on two factors, the first of these being public
confidence in the promoter and the artistes, the
second a varied and tastefuUy chosen programme.
Both these factors of success were decidedly in
evidence at the concert on January 5th, and
each item was received with prolonged applause.
Portstewart is rapidly coming to the front as a
centre of musical and dramatic ability, and the
programme, which was well sustained throughout,
bears out this opinion. Well chosen and ably
rendered songs, 'cello solos, and duets, charmingly
executed recitations, plantation songs, and well
balanced quartettes led us pleasantly to J uxley's
Waxworks, which was the concluding item of a
delightful entertainment. The following artistes,
all deserving unstinted praise, gave their services-
to a deserving cause, in aid of which the concert
was held, the Ypres League The Misses Keenan,
Kane, Wilson, Lake, Smyth, and Gaussen, Mrs.
Uprichard and Mrs. Knox, Messrs. W. J. Wilson,
Henry, Steen, Reade, and Knox. The staging of
Juxley's Waxworks was in the able hands of the
chairman, Mr. G. W. R. Patrick, Miss Bingham
and Captain Munrow, while the accompaniments
were in the safe keeping of Mrs. Wilson and Mr.
Stephens. To Mrs. Paul, Seapark, who promoted
the concert, are due the thanks of everyone who-
had the good fortune to be there, and it is hoped
that her efforts in this direction will be repeated,
and that a similar measure of success may attend
them.By kind permission of the Northern
Constitution, Ltd.
MADRID.
We regret that owing to lack of space in our
last number we were unable to make mention of
the service held on Armistice Day at the British
Embassy Church (St. George, Madrid), when
Captain P. W. Burgess, our Corresponding Mem
ber, placed a wreath, composed of white palm
leaves tied with blue ribbon, bearing the inscrip
tion Ypres 1914-1918," on the Litany Desk in
the name of the Ypres League.
A large congregation assembled at 10.55 a.m.
when the service, conducted by the Rev. F. Symes-
Thompson, M.A. (chaplain), opened with the sing
ing of a hymn. At 11 o'clock the two minutes'
silence was observed, followed by the prayer,
Give rest O Christ to Thy Servants." After the
service a sale of cornflowers (organised by Captain
P. W. Burgess) was held outside the church door,
the proceeds of which were generously given to the
Ypres League. Among those who kindly gave
their services were the Misses Rumbold, Moore,
Symes-Thompson and the Masters Park.
