Arras Pilgrimage. THE YPRES TIMES 107 for a tour of the Salient, which was a wonderful experience. How well I remembered some of the names, such as Hell Fire Corner, Hooge, Sanctuary Wood and Bellewarde Farm (shades of 1915). The cemetery at Tyne Cot brought home to us how lucky we were to have served in the Salient and live to see it again. From Passchendaele Ridge, looking back, we had a fine view of Ypres and the flat country surrounding it. After a splendid trip we arrived back at Ypres in time for dinner. Our thanks are due to Mr. Parminter for his very lucid commentary during this trip, which enabled us to follow clearly the ground over which the battles were fought. At 9 p.m. we made our way to the Menin Gate for the ceremony of the sounding of the Last Post and Réveille," a very touching ceremony indeed. Monday we were off early for our trip to the Somme Battlefields, leaving Ypres at 9 a.m. After a most interesting journey we arrived at Thiepval in time for the Unveiling Ceremony by H.R.H. The Prince of Wales. The ceremony was beautiful, and I was surprised at the number of English voices that joined in the singing of the hymns. The Memorial itself is a wonderful piece of work and, standing as it does on the top of the ridge, can be seen for miles around. We also paid a visit to the Canadian trenches and tunnels at Vimy, also Newfoundland Park, Arras and Armentières. After another wonderful day, we arrived back at our Hotel at 10.30 p.m., tired out. Tuesday we commenced our homeward journey, leaving Ypres at 9.30 a.m. Packet lunches were provided for the journey. We arrived at Ostend about 11.30, and as we had several hours at our disposal we reconnoitred the town and especially enjoyed a walk along the sea front, also a visit to a dome-shaped building near the station, where we saw a wonderful panorama of the battle of the Yser, 1914." I think everyone who visits Ostend on one of these trips ought to see this, for it is a most realistic exhibition. Every day must come to an end, and so at 3.55 p.m. we left for Dover, where we arrived safely after another good crossing. Victoria was reached at 9.26 p.m., where we dispersed after a most pleasant and enjoyable trip. Our thanks are due to Captain de Trafford for the way he worked to make our trip so enjoyable. T. P. AN expectant, be-cornflowered party assembled at Victoria Station on the morning of Saturday, July 30th. Some were bound for Amiens, and the Arras party, distinguished by the attachment of yellow ribbon, were in charge of Mr. O. Mears, a genial representative of the League Headquarters. The pleasant task of getting better acquainted with our fellow-travellers, and pass port and ticket formalities, assisted in making the journey pass quickly. At Amiens the un-beribboned left us with many See you laters On arrival at Arras we witnessed a fine reception accorded to the R.A.F. Band by the Mayor of Arras and a large crowd of the populace. The removal of travel stains in the comfortable billets arranged for us at the Hotel Moderne, and the arrival of the obliging local representative of the Ypres League, Mr. P. Vyner (who has become so acclimatized that we felt we must address him as M'sieur Vyner), kept us occupied until we assembled for dinner. Dispatch of post cards to Blighty and a little game of Hunt-the-Mears before bedtime assisted our digestion. The next morning passed in different ways. Some visited the rebuilt local landmarks and others took a motor trip up the line along the ArrasCambrai road, by Tilloy

HISTORISCHE KRANTEN

The Ypres Times (1921-1936) | 1932 | | pagina 13