The Vprbs Times.
39
SHEFFIELD AND DISTRICT BRANCH.
The Committee of the Branch and many
members duly proceeded to lay their -wreath on
the nth November, as announced in the October
issue of The Ypres Times.
The ceremony took place at thej York" and
Lancaster's Memorial in Weston Park, Sheffield.
Col. M. J. Duggan, O.B.E. (Vice-President of
the Branch) had charge of the arrangements, and
the troops present were under the command of
Lieut.-Colonel Stephen Rhodes, D.S.O., T.D.,
O.C. 5th Batt. York and Lancaster Regiment.
'The ceremony was conducted by the Rev. H. W.
Mackay, Vicar of St. George's Church. After the
sounding of the Regimental call the wreaths were
laid. The Branch wreath bore the inscription
Laid to the Memory of our Comrades who fell
in the Ypres Salient, 1914-1918."
The seventh annual dinner of the Branch was
duly held at Stephenson's Exchange Restaurant,
Castle Street, Sheffield, on Wednesday, 30th
November. In the absence of the Branch Presi
dent (Colonel D. S. Branson, D.S.O., M.C.) the
chair was taken by Lieut.-Colonel M. J. Duggan,
who was supported by Captain J. R. P. Warde-
Aldam, prospective Candidate for Parliament
for the Central Division of Sheffield at the
next election. A good muster of members and
their friends enjoyed a very pleasant time to
gether. The musical entertainment was splendidly
tackled by Messrs. Parker and Wilson.
The Chairman, addressing the gathering, drew
attention to the fact that the progress of the
League depended upon the activities of its present
members, who should make a special effort to enrol
those of their friends who are not already members.
He recalled the work the League had done to
enable people to revisit and proceed to the Salient,
to help which the local Branch had done its
share by the sale of songs, the proceeds of which
have gone towards making the visits of people,
unable to afford the expense, possible. As men
grow older their thoughts turn more and more to
associations like ours and we cannot let these
Service organisations die. They must be passed
on to your descendents, and it is for this purpose
that a Junior Division of the League exists.
A very pleasant time was spent, and the Ypres
League publications were on sale.
A pleasing feature of these re-unions is the
support the Branch is receiving from the Chester
field Branch. Major Shea, the Corresponding
Member in that quarter, made himself responsible
for a good contingent from Chesterfield, and it is
hoped that in the future, in order to prevent any
overlapping, Chesterfield will join forces with
Sheffield. Other Corresponding Members in the
district are requested to fall into line, so that the
gatherings can be fully representative of the
area. All announcements will appear in this
Journal in good time, to enable arrangements
to be made.
THE FIFTH ANNUAL RE-UNION SMOKING
CONCERT ORGANISED BY THE LONDON
COUNTY COMMITTEE, THURSDAY 20th
OCTOBER, 1937.
The Fifth Annual Smoking Concert was held
this year in the Large Hall at the Caxton Hall,
Victoria Street, S.W.I, on Thursday, 20th October,
1927, and again proved in every way a great
success.
The chair was taken by Sir H. Perry Robinson,
K.B.E., who was supported by Commandant
d'Epinay, of the French Embassy.
The London County Committee, on this occa
sion, departed from their usual custom of having
a concert party for the whole of the programme,
and began the evening's entertainment with
selections by the Hamelyn Band, whose items
were greatly appreciated by the audience.
The next part of the programme was excellently
carried out by the well-known concert party,
"The Clacton Entertainers."
During the interval the chairman announced
that a telegram of loyal homage to H.M. The
King had been despatched, and a gracious reply
was read, and received with general enthusiasm.
The chairman in his address congratulated the
London County Committee on the great success
of their work. Replying, Major E. Montague
Jones, O.B.E.Chairman of the London County
Committee, surveyed the activities of the London
Branch during the past year. A hearty vote of
thanks was proposed to Sir H. Perry Robinson
for his interest in the League and especially for
his kindness in presiding at the concert that
evening. Major Montague J ones also thanked the
Committee ior their hard work in connection with
the concert arrangements, as well as members and
friends of the League for their kind support. He
urged all present to bring the aims and objects
pf the League to the notice of others who had not
yet joined, and in this way help to increase the
membership.
The second part of the programme then pro
ceeded, after which the audience settled down to
community singing of some of the old-time war
choruses under the able direction of Mr. G. E.
Keech, a keen supporter of the League. The
choruses were accompanied by the Hamelyn
Band.
The concert concluded with the singing of the
National Anthem.
The Committee desire to express their gratitude
to the various friends who acted as stewards, etc.,
especially to the Scouts, whose services were given
by kind permission of Mrs. Rayner, O.B.E.
INFORMAL GATHERINGS.
In presenting the report of the Informal Gather
ings held so far during the present season the
London County Committee are pleased to announce
that the attendances have largely Increased and a
great deal of useful propaganda work has been
