League Secretary's Notes.
154
THE YPRES TIMES
TO OUR NEW MEMBERS.
It is a great pleasure to welcome our new
members who have joined since the last October
edition of the Ypres Times, and I urge you to
do your best in 1929 to come to our support in
recruiting new members, because all those who
served in the Ypres Salient and those who had
relatives who fought and died in its defence
should join the League.
I hope that you find the Ypres Times of
interest. As time goes on greater difficulty is
experienced in obtaining suitable articles on the
war on the Western Front, and the Editor
depends entirely on members to submit contri
butions. Many of you kept diaries during the
war and can perhaps remember numerous
episodes from your varied experiences in the
line. The Editor would be most grateful for
any MSS which you are kind enough to send.
I shall be very glad to hear from you from
time to time, and I always value a personal
call at Headquarters should any of you find
yourselves in London and have time to spare.
Do not be afraid to ask for literature of the
League for distribution among your ex-service
relatives and friends.
With best wishes to you all for 1929 and every
success to your good endeavours in promoting
the objects of the League whenever the oppor
tunity arises.
TO BRANCHES AND CORRESPONDING
MEMBERS.
I have pleasure in wishing you all a very
happy and prosperous New Year, and I should
like to thank you for the help you have so
generously given during the old year. Recruit
ing of new members has been satisfactory.
My special thanks are due to Colonel J. G.
Henderson (Kenya), Mr. W. H. Duncan Arthur
(Congleton), Mr. L. E. P. Foot (Conn.), Capt.
H. Maslin (New York City), Capt. P. W. Burgess
(Madrid), Capt. Dudley Bartlett, Capt. Stuart
Oswald (Amiens), and to Mr. W. S. Hook (Yeovil).
Mr. Hook has now left Yeovil and I am very
grateful for his kind offer to continue to act as
corresponding member at his new headquarters at
Bristol. I wish him every success.
In our last October edition of the Ypres Times
we were looking forward to further expansion in
Canada, and I am glad to report that a very
active branch has been inaugurated at Magog,
Quebec, by members of the First Company
Canadian Rangers. The following officers have
been appointed:President, Mr. James Trew
Secretary, Mr. E. KingslandTreasurer, Mr.
Joseph Ewart. An extract from the Sherbrooke
Daily Record, reprinted on page 150, entitled
A Hint to Dominions," shows the splendid
enthusiasm of the Committee of the Magog
Branch, and I should like to see every country
follow a similar course through the columns of
their own press and so uphold the main object
of the League, which is to keep alive the heroic
deeds and sacrifices of the Great War.
There are now good prospects of forming
a branch at Las Palmas through the kindness
of our corresponding member, Mr. W. C.
Pritchard, and I expect to have the opportunity
to say more about it in the next April number
of the Ypres Times.
Our Travel Bureau has been exceedingly
active in 1928. The pilgrimages were detailed
in the October edition, so there is no need for
repetition. It is satisfactory to know that large
numbers of pilgrims, especially the assisted cases,
have joined as members of the League. My
grateful thanks are due to Capt. Parminter at
Ypres and to Capt. Stuart Oswald at Amiens
for the invaluable assistance and great part they
have taken in making our pilgrimages such
a success. I am sure that 1929 will prove an
equally successful year, for many will be anxious
to visit the Ypres Salient and also see the
completion of the British Church of St. George
at Ypres. The consecration of this church is to
take place on Palm Sunday, when we are con
ducting a free pilgrimage of poor mothers and
wives whose sons and husbands are among the
missing and whose names are inscribed on
the Menin Gate and Tyne Cot Memorials.
During the past quarter we have had a very
welcome visit from Mr. and Mrs. L. E. P.
Foot. Mr. Foot is doing such valuable work in
promoting the objects of the League in Hartford,
U.S.A., and I am delighted to have had the
pleasure of making his acquaintance, and think
him most kind to have spared the time to call at
Headquarters during his brief stay in London.
Grateful thanks are due to the London County
Committee for their many successful activities
throughout the year. The informal gatherings
are now more popular than ever and thoroughly
enjoyed by those who are able to attend. The
annual Smoking Concert on October 18th was
a record reunion, full description of which will
be found on page 146.
The Ypres Day Anniversary was held with
the simple dignity of past years. The ceremony
is described in the opening article of this number.
The presence of Field-Marshal Lord Plumer at
our reunion concert, and also at the Cenotaph,
was a very great pleasure to us all. His close
interest in the work of the League is immensely
appreciated and valued.
I conclude by offering you my renewed good
wishes for 1929, meanwhile we are anxious
to hear more favourable reports of the King's
health, and pray that His Majesty may com
pletely recover from his serious illness.
