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GLAMOUR OF THE MENIN GATE MEMORIAL.
By Henry Benson, M.A.
DURING the last two summers the citizens of Ypres have made a custom of
paying a delicate and graceful tribute to the British dead who fell in defence
of their gallant and historic city, by sounding at 8.30 each evening the Last
Post in the Hall of Memory" at Menin Gate, the gendarmes on duty stopping
all traffic two minutes before that hour.
SOUNDING THE LAST POST AT THE MENIN GATE.
This brief, but impressive, little ceremony was inaugurated by M. Sobry,
Burgomaster of Ypres; by M. Vandenbraansbussche, Commissaire of Police; and
by M. Kock, the proprietor of the Hotel Britannique, who has been mainly instru
mental in the matter of finance.
It is emphatically laid down that no British visitor shall be asked to contribute
towards the fund to pay the musician, and the other incidental expenses, as the
Yprois wish it to be their personal tribute to our glorious dead.
The four silver bugles, however, upon which the Post is sounded by
members of the local fire brigade, were presented by British admirers and friends
of the Ypres League.
In previous years the ceremony has been performed each evening from July 1st
to September 30th only, but in response to the requests of many bereaved relatives