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

HISTORISCHE KRANTEN

The Ypres Times (1921-1936) | 1929 | | pagina 21