League Secretary's Notes.
French War Memorial at Mont Kemmel.
THE YPRES TIMES
119
TO ALL OUR MEMBERS.
It has been my pleasurable duty in each quarterly edition of the Ypres Times to address two
separate letters, one to the New Members and another to our Branch Secretaries, Representatives
and Corresponding Members, but the present prompts me to write a letter to all our members when we,
of the Ypres League, are sadly lamenting the loss of our beloved President, the late Field-Marshal
Viscount Plumer.
Indeed, the conspicuous absence of this great figure touches the hearts of all who have served
him so faithfully during the war and later, as members of the Ypres League. It is significant that
since his death additional activity has been marked in the recruiting of many new members, whom we
are very pleased to welcome, and which clearly indicates that great efforts are being made in memory
of our late President, and also serves as a double motive, in that it gives a cordial reception to the
Field-Marshal's Old Chief of Staff, General Sir Charles H. Harington, who has accepted the Presidency
of the League.
On behalf of all our members, I wish to extend a very sincere welcome to Sir Charles Harington
and to say how proud we are to feel that he has given us the honour to elect him as our new President,
and I am confident that the League will grow stronger and stronger under his leadership.
Sentiment takes its place in front of many other worthy objects. Well do we remember what a
great part esprit de corps played in the war, so in the same way the League's principal object, Com
radeship," will help us through these difficult times of peace, and it is obvious that members who under
stand the meaning of 1914 to 1918 realize that a whole-heaited and united effort is the only method by
which to achieve a successful result.
Since May, 1925, I have had the honour to work as secretary of the Ypres League, and I can truth
fully say that it is only the exceedingly loyal support of our staunch members under privation of a long
period of depression that has enabled us to weather the storm. The splendid service rendered in the
recruiting department deserves my highest praise and also a deep debt of gratitude.
Let each one of us endeavour to definitely establish for ourselves a special individual memorial to
our late President by increasing the membership of the Ypres League, especially during the months
when the minds of every ex-soldier and relative are closely reflected on past events." Headquarters
will be glad to receive your applications for a supply of membership forms and literature, and a^few
complimentary copies of back numbers of the Ypres Times" can always be spared for propaganda
purposes.
There is nothing Lord Plumer would love more than for us all to work in his memory, and I wish
you continued success in the recruiting campaign and hope that your efforts will be well backed up by
the new members who join from now on.
May' I suggest that we all frame the supplement of this October edition and give it a prominent
place in our homes, for the fine character we knew so well may serve as an example to our lives and
to hand down to those who follow us.
As our next edition of the Ypres Times will not be due until January 1st, I take this opportunity
to wish you all a very happy Christmas and every success to your personal interests in 1933.
On September 18th the monument on Mont
Kemmel in memory of the 5,600 French troops
killed in its defence in April, 1918, was unveiled
in the presence of a large assembly, which had
climbed the hill in the autumnal mist.
Marshal Pétain described the German attack
which was designed to win through to the
Channel Ports, and referred to the prowess of
the British 9th Division, which kept the liaison
with the French on April 25th while helping to
withstand that attack.
King Albert was represented at the ceremony
by General Dubois, and the Military Attachés of
the Allies in Brussels were present. The
monument consists of a figure representing
France in front of a granite stele 54 feet high,
surmounted by a poilu's steel helmet reposing
on laurel sprays.
Reprinted by kind permission of The Times.