LEAGUE SECRETARY'S NOTES.
204
The Ypres Times.
TO OUR NEW MEMBERS.
We are, as always, glad to extend a hearty
welcome to those members who have recently
joined the League, and who, by so doing, are
helping to keep green the memory of the men
who perished in the defence of Ypres.
The League, as you are aware, was formed to
perpetuate the spirit which has made Ypres
not only a glorious and proud tradition in the
history of our race, but an inspiration in times of
difficulty and hardship. The heroism and sublime
sacrifices, which were such outstanding features
of the defence, are justly commemorated by an
association such as ours.
It will be recalled that in the April, 1927, issue
of our Journal, we appealed to our readers to
recruit at least one member a year. Prom many
quarters came a quick response, but we confidently
hope for a still bigger augmentation of our
numbers by a more general effort. Will you, who
have lately joined, do your share to bring this
about
Soon, some of us will be privileged to take part
in the ceremony of the unveiling, by our President,
Field-Marshal Lord Plumer, of the Menin Gate
Memorial, on which are inscribed the names of
the 55,000 officers and men who fell in the Salient
and who have no known resting-places. The
occasion affords a unique opportunity to spread
the knowledge of the League among those who
are still ignorant of its existence. Por this pur
pose we shall be pleased to supply membership
forms to all willing to help in the way suggested.
Or forms can be obtained on the spot from the
Hotel Splendid and Britannique, Grand' Place.
Let me end by asking you to pay a tribute to
the Pallen on July the 24th, not only by your
presence at the unveiling, but by your endeavours
to extend the membership of the League, which
aims at perpetual commemoration of all who
laid down their lives in the immortal defence.
TO BRANCH SECRETARIES AND
CORRESPONDING MEMBERS.
When we last had the pleasure of reporting in
these columns on the League's activities, we were
on the eve of our Easter Pilgrimage, two in
teresting accounts of which appear on pp. 196-198.
of the present issue, to which I would refer my
readers. Our Whitsuntide Pilgrimage to the
Somme area, of which we print a short account
on p. 198, although small in numbers, was very
successful. We desire to express our grateful
thanks to Captain JWilkinson (Secretary,
Sheffield Branch, and most loyal of supporters) and
to Mrs. L. Jones (member of the League, Burnham,
Bucks), for their generosity in advertising the
Pilgrimage at their own expense in the local
Press.
In connection with the unveiling ceremony
of the Menin Gate Memorial, we are organising
the following
(1) A one-day Pilgrimage, July 23rd-24th,
prospectuses of which will be gladly supplied
on application.
(2) A Free Pilgrimage for a limited number of
relatives of dead soldiers whose names are
inscribed on the Arch. The principal funds
have been given by Mr. D. G. Somerville
(contractor for the Memorial), augmented
by the League.
(3) Individual travel. For the convenience of
our members we engaged the entire Hotel
Splendid and all accommodation is now
booked up.
Preparations for the August Bank Holiday
Pilgrimage, J une 30thAugust 2nd, are now
complete, and already the number of applications
received encourages us to hope that we shall go
out a good party.
The Junior Division, which, as you are aware,
it was proposed to make the League's special
memorial to our late beloved President, Field-
Marshal The Earl of Ypres, received the splendid
addition of 55 more members from Pannal Ash
College (Harrogate), recruited through the energy
and efforts of Mrs. Briggs (Corresponding Member),
who has done more than anyone else in the League
to develop this important branch. We are glad
to place on record our sincere thanks for her
excellent work and for the interest which she
has shown in the Division ever since it was
started. We would appeal to others to emulate
her example and to make it a worthy memorial
of the great soldier whom we wish to honour.
It is hoped to open a Branch of the League in
Toronto, Canada, in the near future, and I shall
be very much mistaken if it does not prove to
be one of our keenest centres. Our enthusiastic
and energetic Corresponding Member, Mrs.
Lindesay Kelsall (Melrose), who has the League's
interests so much at heart, is working hard to
form a branch in Edinburgh, and we are looking
forward to the time when we shall have a flourish
ing branch in Scotland's beautiful capital.
New members have come in well during the
past three months, thanks to the united efforts
of Branch Secretaries, Corresponding Members
and others.
In conclusion, I desire to thank you all most
sincerely for the help which you have given us
during the past quarter, which emboldens us to
ask for just that little more that means
so much.
BACK NUMBERS OF THE YPRES
TIMES."
Will any member willing to part with copies
of April and October, 1923, numbers, kindly
post them to the Secretary, who will be very
grateful
