Inauguration of the Ypres League
Branch in New York
the ypres times
Field-marshal viscount plumer, of messines, President of the
Inauguration Dinner
l?2
Ypres League, made a request to Major-General J. F. O'Ryan, commander of the
27th (New York National Guard) Division which served in the Ypres Salient with
the Second British Army, to co-operate in the formation of the League in the United
States. Those eligible to membership, in addition to the 27th American Division,
include the II American Corps, commanded by General George W. Read, and the 30th
(National Guard of the Carolinas and Tennessee) Division, commanded by General
Edward M. Lewis.
Major-General O'Ryan gladly accepted the invitation of Lord Plumer, and the
following officers have been constituted as the Executive Committee in the formation
of the Ypres League Branch in New York
Major-General J. F. O'Ryan (Chairman).
Colonel Edward Olmsted (Secretary).
Colonel Franklin Q. Brown (Treasurer).
Brig.-General C. Vanderbilt.
Brig.-General J. L. Kincaid.
Colonel George W. Burleigh.
Captain R. Henderson-Bland (Representative, Ypres League, in America).
On March 19th, 1931, a dignified and impressive dinner was held at the Roosevelt
Hotel, New York, attended by 500 representative persons interested in assisting the
extension of the Ypres League in the United States, with the representatives of Great
Britain, France and Belgium, and high ranking officers of the military and naval estab
lishment present as guests.
Telegram to His Majesty The King
The Ypres League in the United States send to your Majesty, as Patron-in-Chief, most
respectful and loyal greetings on the occasion of the inauguration dinner in America.
R. Henderson-Bland,
Representative of the Ypres League in America."
The Royal Reply, not yet known at headquarters, was sent direct from H.E. The British Ambassador at Washington.
Messages from our President and Chairman
As President on behalf of the Ypres League, As Chairman of the Ypres League, I have
I extend a very hearty welcome to the sister much pleasure to convey a sincere welcome to all
organization which is being inaugurated in the present at the Inauguration Dinner, a hearty-
United States of America. The members of the vote of thanks to the organizers, and best wishes
Ypres League send greetings to all present at the to the success of the branch.
Reunion Dinner, and hope that the gathering will
be an anuual one and grow in strength year by W. P. Pulteney, Lieut.-Gen."
year.
Plumer, F.M."
The Committee of the Ypres League extends its very grateful thanks to Major-
General J. F. O'Ryan and officers who have formed the Executive Committee of our
New York Branch, and to the untiring efforts of our representative, Captain R. Henderson-
Bland, whose great initiative has been largely responsible for the inauguration of this
Branch.
