THE YPRES TIMES
3
The Dean of Westminster, The Right Rev. W. Foxley-Norris, D.D., conducted
a short service and gave the following address
This is not a moment for many words, but it is my privilege to voice what is in
many hearts to-day and to witness before God our undying memory to the faithfulness
and courage which made this day for ever one of the decisive turning points in the
history of Europe and indeed of the world.
These days of commemoration have great and permanent value. For three
thousand years the memory of the liberation of the people of Israel has been kept vivid
and real by the simple expedient of annual commemorationWhat mean ye by this
service is asked every year and the story is once more simply told, at the Feast of
the Passover. Our Lord Himself has set His seal upon the value of this method, when
He said Do this in remembrance of me
So we owe a debt of gratitude to the Ypres League and to your Royal Highness
for identifying yourself with it in this annual commemoration.
Year by year we have this simple ceremony and remember that terrible battle
area where the turning point of the war was reached where a quarter of a million
men laid down their lives where our old army proved itself invincible, our new armies
established their reputation and our Colonial troops proved their loyalty to the old
country.
We know not who it is whose body lies beneath this stone, but we know that he
represents to many of us those whom we love and have lost, and in laying a wreath,
here we renew our precious memories of them and mark again our undying thankfulness-
to God who through their sacrifice has given us the victory.
THE Seventh Annual Smoking Concert organized by the London County Committee
was held at the Caxton Hall, Westminster, on October 24th, 1929, and again
proved an enormous success. The attendance numbered 500.
The chair was taken by Field-Marshal The Viscount Plumer and the Committee
had great pleasure to welcome The Viscountess Plumer and Lady Monro. The Chairman
was supported by General Sir Charles C. Monro, Bt. Colonel H. Nerincx, Military
Attaché, Belgian Embassyand Major Gailliard, Assistant Military Attaché, French
Embassy.
A very excellent and amusing programme was arranged by The Roosters of
the late 60th Division Concert Party.
At the interval Lord Plumer called upon Major E. Montague Jones (Chairman of
the London County Committee) to make his report.
Major Montague Jones said it was his duty as Chairman of the London County
Committee to give a short account of the activities of the League during the past year.
Since we last met he said we have had no less than six pilgrimages to the battle
fields and cemeteries of Belgium and France, and have been able to pay the entire
expense of seventy poor pilgrimsmothers, widows, and next-of-kinof those who
have fallen.
We shall be able to take a similar number of pilgrims to Ypres next year with the
balance of the fund that was collected on the appeal of Lord Plumer at the time of the
opening of the Menin Gate, and the Ypres League Appeal Committee which was so
well organized by Mrs. Edwards.
