154
The Ypres Times.
paidAnd when you stand at the stone of remembrance,
and think awhile of the splendid men whose earthly
remains lie around, you will turn away with a feeling of
thankfulness and pride in the knowledge that you have
had the honour to be associated with them.
For all manner of thoughts will come crowding into
your memory as you wander again around spots and places
you know so well.
Go out along the Boesinghe road past Salvation
Corner, with its adjacent shattered ruin, which still
remains in the state Fritz's gunners left it. Explore
again the Canal Bank try to find your old dug-out
among the few that can still be noticed from the road.
Look once more upon the old brigade headquarters
at Bridge 4, still as good to-day as ever they -were, although
the inhabitants of Essex Farm near-by use them to stable
their goats in.
Gaze along the Canal Bank up to Ypres, or along to FROM NO. 4 BRIDGE,
where Blighty Bridge once stood it is all overgrown
now with tall rushes and deep grass, and excepting
the occasional yawning mouth of a dugout, which
has not yet completely fallen in, not a trace of
the war-time state of the canal exists.
Walk out through the magnificent memorial
arch now nearing completion at the Menin Gate,
up past Hell Fire Corner to Hooge, with its-
famous crater, now eating up a considerable
part of.the Baron de Yinck's front gardenpay
a visit to all the famous spots you knew so well
to the north and south of the Menin Road they
have been well marked out by the League and.
won't take much finding.
Go along the ramparts and out through the
Lille Gate to the memorable places beyond too
innumerable to mention, but each and all of them,
worthy of a place in your touring itinerary.
You must go; it's your duty. What would you say if it were possible for our
vanished legions to return and ask why their resting-places had been forgotten so soon
Just think it over.
E. F. WILLIAMS.
THOUGHTS ON A RE-VISIT TO THE BATTLEFIELD OF YPRES.
When the sun goes down at Ypres on those scenes of old,
When its rays tint wooden crosses with its deep rich gold,
When the shadows slowly stealing and the evening chimes are pealing,
It brings to you a feeling
Of the deeds untold.
For comradeship of men like them to-day you pine.
The lads that tramped through mud and rain towards the line
Their graves now quickly strew the ground that once you knew
I'm proud that I was with you,
Chums of mine. ROBERT FRASER-
