League Secretary's Notes.
THE YPRES TIMES
89
TO OUR NEW MEMBERS.
It is a great pleasure to extend a hearty wel
come each quarter to new members, and we are
glad to be able to report an increased member
ship since the last issue of the Ypres Times.
We venture to hope that recruiting will not drop
below its present level, and to this end we ask
you to support us by enrolling your ex-Service
relatives and friends and all who are in sympathy
with our objects.
At this time of the year our thoughts go back
to the Third Battle of Ypres, which opened
on July 31st, 1917, and continued down to
November on a line between the Ypres
Comines Canal ahd Boesinghe. The offensive, an
heroic struggle through mud and foul weather,
has been justly described as the last word
in human misery." We look to those who
survived to help us keep alive the memory of
glorious deeds and sacrifices by joining the
League, which was formed in 1920 lest we
forget."
The scroll certificate issued by the League to
members who served in the Salient and whose
relatives fought and died in its defence is valued
by them as a memorial of honour, and will be
no less valued as a treasured inheritance by
their children.
TO BRANCH SECRETARIES AND
CORRESPONDING MEMBERS.
In my last letter I was able to report a steady
increase in our membership during the quarter
ending March 31st, and I am pleased to state that
the past three months have shown no falling off
in this direction. We have again to thank our
Branch Secretaries and Corresponding Members
for the energy they have displayed in this par
ticular field of our activities, and would single
out for special mention Lieut.-Colonel G. T.
Henderson (Kenya), Mr. W. H. Duncan Arthur
(Congleton), Captain H. Maslin (N.Y. City),
Mr. L. E. P. Foot (Conn.), to whose united zeal
and endeavours this lengthened membership roll
is largely due. We tender them and all. our
grateful thanks for their efforts in this valuable,
exacting and difficult work, the importance of
which it is impossible to exaggerate.
It is with sincere regret that we have received
the resignation of Miss Booth (Ripon), who has
done so much for the League, and whom we
regard as one of its truest friends. Miss Booth
is leaving Ripon, but before doing so she has
most kindly submitted the name of Miss Reid
as her successor, and we are very pleased to
welcome the latter in this capacity. Mrs.
Briggs (Harrogate), who has done such yeoman
service for our society, has also sent in her
resignation, but we look forward to her help
at Broadstairs, where she is taking up her
residence, and hope that she will continue her
activities in conjunction with Mr. C. E. King,
our representative in this town. We are pleased
to welcome Mr. J. Davie (Harrogate), Mr. W. E.
Roberts (Ilford), Captain F. R. G. Webb
(Ceylon), and Mrs. G. W. Shaw (Belgrade), who
have kindly consented to act as our repre
sentatives in these various places.
In response to a letter of thanks addressed
by the Executive Committee to Sir Horace
Rumbold, late British Ambassador at Madrid,
who took an active interest in the welfare of
the League as ably promoted by Captain P. W.
Burgess, the following letter was received from
him by the chairman
British Embassy,
Madrid,
March 17th, 1928.
Dear General Pulteney,
I am very much obliged to you for your kind
letter of March 13th with regard to the Ypres
League. It seemed to me only natural that I
should take an interest in the work of the League
in Spain, and it gives me much pleasure to testify
to Captain Burgess' activities on behalf of the
League.
Believe me,
Yours truly,
(Signed) Horace Rumbold.
We are glad to learn that Captain Burgess,
who is such a staunch supporter, will be in
England again in August, when we shall look
forward to seeing him and discussing League
affairs.
The Easter Pilgrimage, which comprised
some fifty persons, including a party of the 1st
Herts Regimental Association, and an account
of which appears in another column, was no
less successful than on previous occasions.
The Whitsuntide Pilgrimages to Ypres and
Amiens respectively, reports of which will be
found on pp. 83, 84, were also a complete suc
cess. The weather, always an important factor,
left nothing to be desired, and everything went
according to plan. This was all the more
commendable in the case of the pilgrimage to
Ypres, conducted by Mr. Gordon Steel, who had
no practical experience of this work, and who
generously gave his time and services and proved
himself in every way an excellent conductor.
The travel bureau has been busy for the last
few weeks with preparations for the Free Pil
grimage to Ypres on June 30th, when 97 indigent
persons, the majority of whom are mothers and
wives, will visit the Menin Gate and Tyne Cot
Memorials for the purpose of seeing the names
of their sons and husbands inscribed thereon.
The cost is defrayed out of the Fund raised last
July through Field-Marshal Lord Plumer's
broadcast appeal in connection with the
unveiling of the Menin Gate Memorial.
Applications for the August Bank Holiday
Pilgrimage have already started, and we are
