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