1
THE YPRES TIMES
243
NORTHUMBRIA'S HEROES.
On September 1st, Field-Marshal
Viscount Plumer, G.C.B., G.C.M.G.,
G.C.V.O., G.B.E., unveiled the
Memorial to the 50th (Northumbrian)
Division. The memorial has been
erected at Wieltje on the main Ypres-
St. Julien Road, and takes the form of
an impressive obelisk designed by
Capt. R. Mauchlen, M.C., late 9th
Durham Light Infantry.
Major-General Sir Percival S.
Wilkinson, K.C.M.G., C.B., Chairman
of the Memorial Committeewho com
manded the Division during some of
the heaviest fighting—came forward
to the dais and inaugurated the
proceedings.
Special prayers were offered by the
Rev. Canon T. E. Crawhall, M.A.,
D.S.O., T.D., formerly senior chaplain
to the Division, assisted by the Rev.
H. G. Hastings Shaddick, O.B.E.,
T.D., the present senior chaplain, and
the Rev. Father Wolfiston, who was
Roman Catholic chaplain during the
war.
Lord Plumer, addressing the large
representative gathering, said
"You are assembled here to-day-
relatives, friends, comrades-to pay
tribute to the memory of the officers,
N.C.Os. and men of the 50th (North
umbrian) Division who paid the full
sacrifice and laid down their lives
during the Great War which termin
ated nearly eleven years ago.
On behalf of the British Army, I
wish to express grateful thanks for the
presence here to-day of representatives
of our Allies, the Belgian and French
Armies, and the Burgomaster of
Ypres. Their presence testifies that
they appreciate the services rendered
by the 50th Division to the common
cause.
It is indeed appropriate that the
Memorial should be erected in this
locality, where the Division had their
first engagement with the enemy. It
was an action which will always be
remembered, fought by them under
circumstances which would have been
difficult for most experienced troops,
and which were naturally very trying
for a young division. They had landed
in France, being one of the first
Territorial divisions to come overseas,
at a time when the Germans, under
cover of a gas' attack, had driven back
a large proportion of the Allied defence
line.
Photo] [Newcastle Chronicle Ltd. Copyright
THE 50TH DIVISIONAL MEMORIAL.
The situation was serious, and the
need for reinforcements most urgent.
Consequently, the division could not be
put into action, as it normally would
have been, under their Divisional
Commander, but had to be thrown
literally throwninto the fighting line
by brigades, and even smaller units,
where the urgency was most serious.
They suffered very heavy casu
alties in this action, but they established
a reputation of gallantry and heroism
which lasted throughout the whole
campaigna reputation that inspired