Branch Notes.
246
THE YPRES TIMES
LONDON COUNTY COMMITTEE.
Informal Gatherings.The new season com
menced on September 17th, when we enjoyed an
exceedingly interesting evening listening to a
talk by Brig.-General A. Burt, C.B., C.M.G.,
D.S.O., and the following description has been
received by one of our members present
With the Service in the Baltic post-war as
their background, and canvas, tactics, adven
ture and Bolshevism, marked a fascinatingly
informal talk racily told by Brig.-General A.
Burt at the first Informal Gathering of the season
General Burt gripped his audience for an hour
and a quarter, and received the cheers of some
ninety members attending the reunion.
The evening was notable in a different way
as marking the first gathering to be held with
the Bedford Head Hotel, Maiden Lane, as its
headquarters. Songs at the piano followed
General Burt's Baltic,' and we broke up
determined to have those 100 new members
enrolled by December 31st. One a day till
the end of the year. A plan of the state of
enrolment will be displayed at all forthcoming
monthly meetings at the same place, with the
names of the members introducing recruits given
honourable mention. It should not be difficult
for each member attending the next Bedford
Head gathering, on October 22nd, to induce a
recruit to accompany him. He (or she) will
be assured of a cheery evening as a prelude to
his (and again, or her) association with the
League. So all London members have three
weeks in which to talk the Ypres League and
to sellthe League to a friend." V. H.
All future Gatherings will take place at the
Bedford Head Hotel on the third Thursday in
each month from 7 to 10 p.m., and we are looking
forward to a very successful season. Particulars
of the programmes will be found on opposite
page.
The sad loss of Captain F. H. Davies was
indeed conspicuous at the last gathering and will
remain so at all future reunions, for he was a
regular attendant, and his wise counsel and able
support is badly missed.
The work of compiling an album containing
snaps of the Ypres Salient is progressing, but we
are still anxious to receive photographs from
anybody kind enough to make such presenta
tions. The album, when completed, will be on
view at the Informals for particular interest of
those who have not had the opportunity to
re-visit Ypres since the war.
The London County Committee again wish
to draw special attention to the recruiting
campaign, and 100 new members must be en
listed by December 31st, 1931.
ANNUAL SMOKING CONCERT.
The London County Committee have arranged
to hold this Ninth Annual Reunion on October
31st (Ypres Day) at the Caxton Hall, Caxton
Street, Victoria Street, S.W.i. The chair will
be taken by General Sir Hubert Gough, G.C.M.G.,
K.C.B., K.C.V.O. Among the guests who have
kindly consented to be present are H E. The
Belgian Ambassador, H.E. The American
Ambassador, Colonel H. Nerincx, Military
Attaché, Belgian EmbassyColonel R. Voruz,
Military Attaché, French EmbassyColonel
C. Parker, Military Attaché, American Embassy
Lieut.-General Sir W. P. Pulteney, G.C.V.O.,
K.C.B., K.C.M.G., D.S.O., and Lieut.-General
Sir H. Uniacke, K.C.B., K.C.M.G. The doors
will open at 7 p.m., and the concert commences
at 7.30 p.m. An excellent programme has been
arranged under the personal supervision of
Major C. J. Edwards, O.B.E.
Because this Reunion is being held on Ypres
Day, we make a strong appeal to our members to
do everything in their power to make it a record
function, so it is up to each one of us to attend
and bring friends.
Cornflowers will be on sale at the Hall, price
2d. each, and everyone present should wear one.
Applications for tickets, price is., 2s. 4d. and
5s., including tax, should be made as soon as
possible to the Hon. Secretary, London County
Committee, Ypres League, 9, Baker Street,
W.iLadies are cordially invited.
A very limited number of tables can be
reserved for parties of four and upwards on
payment of 2s. per table on the 2s. 4d. tickets,
and 2S. 6d. per table on the 5s. tickets. Last
date for applications is October 21st. See
page 254.
VISIT TO THE FLANDERS
BATTLEFIELDS.
A party from the Gothic Works, Edmonton,
paid a visit to Ypres during August Bank
Holiday. The party consisted chiefly of ex-
service men and, under the leadership of Mr.
Eric Glover (the local representative of the
Ypres League), left Victoria Station on August
1st. At Dover they embarked on the Belgian
State Railway boat, the Prince Charles."
