The Ypres Times.
177
Il'f regret that, owing to lack of space in ottr last
numberj, we were unable to make mention of the
Madrid and Sheffield Branches' activities.
MADRID BRANCH.
YPRES DAY RE-UNION.
A very successful reception of members of the
Ypres I.eague was held at the Gran Via Hotel in
Madrid on October 30th, the twelfth anniversary of
the First Battle of Ypres. The guests were re
ceived by Captain P. W. Burgess, Secretary to the
Madrid Branch of the League, and by his two
sisters, at half past five o'clock. During tea.
selectional music was played and afterwards there
was dancing. Later, The Rest Cure," an amusing
one-act play by Gertrude Jennings, especially
prepared for the occasion, was performed by five
of the guests. The synopsis of the play is as
follows
Clarence, a writer of books, enters a nursing
home for the purpose of a rest cure. Once in,
his best endeavours are to escape from the nerve-
racking whistle of a pet parrot, a ballad-snorting
street vocalist, the melancholy anecdotes of one
nurse, the chilling politeness of another, and, worst
of all, tepid boiled mutton and suet pudding.
In a blundering housemaid he finds an unexpected
ally, and gladly avails himself of her assistance to
slip out of the place."
The play was heartily applauded and made a
happy ending to a very pleasant evening.
Among those present were the British Am
bassador, Sir Horace Rumbold, Bt., G.C.M.G.,
M.V.O., Lady Rumbold and Miss Rumbold. the
Staff of the British Embassy, the American Com
mercial Attaché and Mrs. Cunningham, the British
Consul, and the American Consul and Mrs.
MacEachran. Besides these there was a large
gathering of British, American and French mem
bers and their friends.
ARMISTICE SERVICE CELEBRATION.
An impressive service was held at Saint George s
Church, Madrid, on the eighth anniversary of
Armistice Day. The Chaplain, Rev. F. Symes-
Thorapson, officiated.
The two minutes' silence was observed by the
large congregation of British and American resi
dents gathered together as a proof of their devotion
to the memory of the Glorious Dead.
During the singing of the hymn, For all the
Saints," the British and American Ambassadors,
in representation of their respective countries, and
Captain Burgess, as deputy of the members of
the Madrid Branch of the Ypres League, placed
wreaths and a cross of evergreens and flowers at
the foot of the altar, which was draped with
the Union Jack and the Stars and Stripes.
Besides the members of the British and Ameri
can Diplomatic Corps, there were also present the
British and American Consuls, and Major F. \Y.
Manley, Military Attaché, of the American
Embassy.
SHEFFIELD AND DISTRICT BRANCH.
The Hon. Secretary, "accompanied by the mem
bers of the Committee and many Branch Members,
took part in the ceremony of laying the wreath
at the War Memorial in Barker's Fool. The
wreath bore the wording Laid to the Memory
of our Comrades who fell in the defence of the
Ypres Salient, 1914-1918." The cost of the
wreath was met by voluntary subscription from
Branch Members.
Continuing their usual policy, the Sheffield'
Branch held their 6tli Annual Re-union Dinner
at the Westminster Hotel, Sheffield, on the 4th
November, 1926. A pleasing feature of the
successful gathering was the continued support
of those members who have deeply associate'd
themselves with the Branch activities. It was.
also encouraging to have the support of the
Corresponding Member for Chesterfield (Major C.
Wilson-Sliee), together with several of the old
timers from that district. After the dinner the
company enjoyed a musical programme contri
buted to by Mr. Holmes (who took the chair), and
Mr. F. D. Banks Hill. Miss Cloves, who enter
tained at the piano, added in no small way to the
success of the evening. A remarkable feature of
the evening was that several life-long abstainers
(wives being present) were induced to become
members of Ye Ancient Order of Froth Blowers,
and in this connection the Branch Treasurer must
surely now be in the proud position of designating
himself as a fully fledged Cyclone or Grand
Typhoon, or whatever height it is possible to-
attain in that society. The various songs of the
Ypres League received necessary treatment,
although certain members deserved severe ad
monition for the manner in which these lilting
songs were treated. We understand, after further
enquiries, that the said members are not what is
considered entertaining singers, so we are letting
it pass at that explanation. The ladies of the
party added much to the pleasing nature of the
gathering in spite of the firm hand with which
they controlled (with ease let it be said, but don't
tell) any demonstration of the capabilities of
the new converts to the Froth Blowers. Alto
gether a jolly evening. A collection was made, and
generously supported, on behalf of the Branch
Wreath Fund for Armistice Day.
PURLEY BRANCH.
A new Branch has been formed at Purley under
the Secretaryship of Captain E. Featherstone,
M.C., of 2, Pretoria Terrace, Purley. i
We wish to convey many thanks to the Chair
man, Major H. G. Harris, who has taken such an
active part in the formation of this Branch.