THE YPRES TIMES
stones, and my eyes instinctively looked for cigar butts and cigarette ends. To be
able to walk on the pavements even after all these years seemed to be a daring thing
to do, because had we put a foot on them in those days a rifle butt in the face would
have been the answer.
Instead of transport and field wagons, roundabouts and booths now covered
the market place, and the top of the fine old church that had received a strafing
was almost completed. Another good dinner was much appreciated as I thought
of Raismes and a litre of cabbage soup, our usual fare after a visit to St. Amand.
I had noticed this restaurant before, but with different eyes, and it still seemed too
much of a good thing to see it from the inside. All my prisoner dreams were
coming true, even though they were belated.
Returning to Raismes, we idled the remaining time away sitting at some little
tables under the trees in the market square, as I had seen the Germans do. Only
one item was necessary to complete the scene of 1918, and that was the notice board
over the pump, TRINKWASSER." The old church, the circular tram shelter
still without its coat of paint, the Fóret de Raismes in the distance, the words
UNTERSTAND over a cellar to indicate a refuge from aircraft, and even to
the words that were painted on the houses during the occupation to register how
many men could be billeted therein, KELLLER für 10 MANN." These could be
read from a distance of 75 yards. The French had evidently put some colourwash
over the words, but it was now wearing off and the letters glaring out again,
because if there was one thing Jerry did well it was the use of the paint-pot for
signs and notices. Every house had its notice, and I do not think one had been
properly obliterated.
Our last vignette of Raismes was through the carriage window just as we were
leaving the station, of the allotments where we grabbed vegetables from right under
the sentries' noses. The fitting end to a perfect day would have been the purloining
of a couple of carrots as souvenirs.
A WEEK-END TRIP LONDON TO YPRES (taken at any time desired), 2nd Class
rail, 1st class boat via Ostend or Calais, with full board and first class accommodation
(three nights) to include service and taxes, is offered to any Ypres League member or
Corresponding Member who succeeds in recruiting the greatest number of new members
from January 1st to December 31st, 1931.
All membership forms completed must be received at Headquarters, bearing on
the top left-hand corner the name and address of the person responsible for recruitment.
It is realized that our Branch Secretaries have a more favourable opportunity of
recruiting in larger numbers, so we offer a second and similar reward, which can be
enjoyed by the Hon. Secretary, or any one of his committee whom he chooses to nominate.
All forms in this case must bear the name of the Branch responsible for recruitments.
Members, Corresponding Members and Branch Secretaries intending to compete
for these inviting prizes should lose no time in applying to Headquarters for member
ship forms. Competition, as we expected, is very keen.
