THE YPRES TIMES hi Many of the pilgrims had dear ones resting in the numerous cemeteries, and no effort was spared by our guides, so that all could visit the places they each held so dear. What a tour it wasAlbert, Pozières, Delville Wood, and places too numerous to mention were each in turn visited, and never shall I forget the gratitude of those whom it was my privilege to help in their search for the resting-place of the dear ones. One elderly lady, having found the grave of her son, was given a spray of flowers plucked from the grave, replying I shall treasure this as long as I live By such actions as these does the League justify its existence, and all ex-servicemen, who know only too well what these poor mothers, wives and sweethearts were feeling, should without delay show their appreciation of the League's work by joining and so making it a real League for Good. Monday, August ist, the all-important day arrived, and again we were en route for the battlefields, to bear our part in the unveiling of that great memorial to the 73,000 heroes of the Somme. All roads seemed to be full of pilgrims, all with the same intent, Honour to whom honour is due." Typical Somme weather seemed to be the order of the day, heavy clouds massing, and then rain. How it rained And yet none stirredlike their comrades whom they were there to honour, they stood and awaited our Prince. How all cheered when H.R.H. The Prince of Wales arrived. A soldier, one who had served with the King's Army, the representative of the King and Britain, one loved by all who had served with the Army. Hearts were too full to join in the first verse of that grand old hymn, O God, our Help in ages past," but gradually and surely the singing swelled into a great Paeon of Praise to the throne of the Father of all. Prayers and hymns followed, and then the Chairman of the Imperial War Graves Commission, Major - General Sir Fabian Ware, invited the Prince to unveil the Memorial. I do not propose to quote the speech of the Prince the daily papers THE THIEPVAL MEMORIAL. have already given full reports, and all have no doubt read them this is only to give my impressions of this Sacred Day. The Prince's speech ended, a bell pressed, and as the Flag of England and the Tricolour of France fell from the Memorial, and others were hoisted on the two masts which surmounted the Memorial, the sun came out. Was it a promise of better days to come for the two Nations, who above all else had shared the trials of those awful days Following the speech of our Soldier Prince came the tribute of the French President, then the Dedication by Bishop Southwell, the Assistant Chaplain-General of the Fourth Army the Benediction of the Bishop of Amiens, followed by the Last Post" sounded by the buglers of the Durham Light Infantry, the Flowers of the

HISTORISCHE KRANTEN

The Ypres Times (1921-1936) | 1932 | | pagina 17