THE YPRES TIMES
201
Photo] DanielYpres
SIR ALEXANDER COBBE, V.C., AND MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH WALES BORDERERS
AT THE MEMORIAL.
erected by the South Wales Borderers on the spot where the ist Battalion, reduced
and at a loss of three-quarters of their strength, achieved victory over an over
whelming hostile attack in the early days of 1914. Although the action which
then took place was fought by the ist Battalion, this spot has been selected by the
Regiment as emblematic of the fortitude, gallantry, and devotion of all the
Battalions of the South Wales Borderers in the Great War. The salient of Ypres
was successfully defended by British arms from the beginning to the end of the
Great War. In it a quarter of a million men of the Empire laid down their lives.
Ypres was the guard to the Channel Ports, and October 31, 1914the day
when the Germans attacked here at Gheluveltwas the critical moment when their
advance to the Channel ports was foiled. Thus the defence of the Ypres Salient,
on the soil of Belgium, may be taken as emblematic of the devotion of the British
So read the Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, V.D., H.C.F., as the Lesson
prior to the unveiling of the Memorial Cross to all ranks of all Battalions of the
South Wales Borderers on Whit-Sunday at Gheluvelt, near Ypres, where, in the
desperate fighting of the latter part of October, 1914, the ist Battalion, despite
great losses, stood unflinchingly and determinedly in the path of the enemy, and
barred the attempted drive through to the Channel ports.
To General Sir Alexander Cobbe, V.C., G.C.B., K.C.S.I., D.S.O., Colonel
of the South Wales Borderers, fell the honour of performing the unveiling. In
addressing the large and representative assembly, the General said:
The Memorial which we are gathered here to-day to see unveiled has been
