YPRES' BELOVED BURGOMASTER.
The passing of M. Rene Colaert.
The Ypres Times.
consider why we are here to-day. It is to recall that in October, 1914, came the crisis of
the First Battle of Ypres it was then that our line was re-established and the fate of
the Salient decided. At Ypres, the Old Contemptibles, as we proudly call them, proved
that they were second to no army in the world. At Ypres the Territorials and the New
Armies won their spursthe Canadians, the Australians, the Indians, and other Imperial
troops. The Ypres League was formed that we may not forget the example of the men
who gave their lives in the Salient. We honour the dead, and in doing so we challenge
our own spirit. God grant that their mantle may fall on us and that we may meet all
the difficulties, perplexities and problems of these troublous years with something of that
cheery courage and dogged tenacity that held the Salient in the long-drawn agony of war
and saved our country in its hour of danger. Let us see to it that we preserve it now in
grateful memory."
Tributes were again deposited, this time on the grave of the Unknown Warrior.
C.E.G.
[Specially contributed to the Ypres Times)
By HENRY BENSON, M.A.
On Sunday, 4th September last, the citizens of Ypres were grieved to find the following
notice posted in prominent places in various parts of the City
Chers Citoyens,
Profondément affectés, nous vous
annon^ons la triste nouvelle que notre vénéré
Bourgmestre, Monsieur René Colaert, Grand
Officier de l'ordre de Leopold, est décédé le
3 Septembre, 1927, et sera enterré le Mercredi,
7 Septembre, a 11 heures. Nous sons espérer
que vous lui donnez tous un témoignage
d'estime, d'affection, et de reconnaisance
pour, ses éminents services, en priant pour
le repos de son ame, et en rendant les
derniers honneurs a sa dépouille mortelle.
Pour le Collége Échevinal,
H. Sobry."
Thus Ypres was informed of the death of
the man who had been burgomaster of the
tragic city for the past twenty-three years,
and although the news was not unexpected,
neverthless it came as a heavy blow. With
the sole exception of the gallant Dr. Max,
Burgomaster of Brussels, M. Colaert was
better known to English-speaking people
than any other Belgian municipal chief.
Illness prevented him from realising a
cherished ambition of being present in his
official capacity at the unveiling of the
Menin Gate Memorial last July, but the
M. RENE COLAERT, King of the Belgians and Lord Plumer
Burgomaster of Ypres, 1904-27. visited, him on his sick bed. at the conclu
Last photograph taken March, 1927. sion of the ceremony.
