EASTER PILGRIMAGES.
2nd London Regimental Association.
196
The Ypres Times.
A very happy party of members of the 2nd London Regimental Association and their
friends, numbering twenty-seven in all, assembled at 8.30 a.m. at Victoria Station on
Good Friday and left by the first train to Dover, where they embarked for Ostend. The
day was fair with a stiff breeze blowing, and the crossing was made in about three hours.
Luncheon was enjoyed on board, and on landing at the Belgian sea-port there was time
for a hurried visit to the Hotel Leicestershire, where the party partook of tea, which
had been ordered in advance. Ypres was reached shortly after 7 p.m., and the travellers
proceeded to the Hotel Splendid and Britannique, where a warm welcome and good dinner
awaited them. This substantial meal finished, a stroll round the town to do a little shop-
gazing concluded the day's itinerary.
On Saturday many were lured out before
breakfast to make purchases, as it was market
day, and the Grand'Place was filled with stalls
doing a lively and busy trade. After break
fast a visit was paid to the Menin Gate
Memorial, on which will be inscribed the
names of the 55,000 missing who fell at
Ypres. From thence to Hell Fire Corner (the
site is marked by a signboard erected by the
Ypres League), and back to Ypres by tram!
How many of those familiar with the spot
in war-time ever dreamt then that one day
they would go down the Menin Road by
tram! In the afternoon a char-a-banc tour
was made to the following places Shrapnel
Corner, Hill 60, Zillebeke, Sanctuary Wood,
Hooge, Inverness Copse, Gheluvelt, Becelaere,
Tyne Cot, Passchendaele, Poelcapelle, and St.
Julien. The first stop was Maple Avenue,
which is lined with young maple trees grown
in Canada. At the head of the road is
Sanctuary Wood, with its trees standing up
gaunt and bare as they were left in 1918.
On the edge of the wood is the memorial to
the Canadians. This magnificent piece of
work, which covers a very large area, has
been already described in detailsuffice it
to say that it is in every way a worthy
commemoration in stone of the gallant officers At the Ruined Church of Messines.
and men of the Canadian Army who laid
down their lives in the service of the Empire. The next stop was Hill 60. On the hill stands the
memorial to the Queen Victoria Rifles, and all around the scene is one of destruction and deso
lation. There was no time for further halts, but many interesting memories were brought back
to those who had served in the war by the sight of these well-known placesto others the
cemeteries made the strongest appeal, and nothing was more moving that thé many graves
of unidentified soldiers with the simple, but touching, inscription, Known unto God."
No special programme had been arranged for Sunday, which was spent variously,
some going to St. Quentin, others to Beaumont Hamel at the latter place a large sector
