League Secretary's Notes
-2IÖ
THE YPRES TIMES
So much to do and to see that the time is all too short, and much too soon
do we have to pack up and return with a friendly call at "Toe H" at Pop." on
our way back.
Thanks to the courtesy and help of the Ypres League we have had a most
enjoyable time and look forward already to next year.
Why do we set this time apart each year? No doubt because it lifts us out
of our routine life. But surely one of the greatest joys is to feel that once
again we have visited the scene of so much that happened in our lives and that
once again we have satisfied ourselves that our boys are sleeping in peace round the
country-side and are so well cared for.
W. S. B.
TO OUR NEW MEMBERS.
Each quarter brings its quota of new members,
to whom we are always very delighted to extend
a most hearty welcome. The recent recruits
have come from London, Essex, Kent, Sussex,
Bucks, Warwickshire, Wiltshire, and also from
Canada, New Zealand and America.
We thank these new members for coming
forward to make the League an increasing power
for patriotic unity, and we appeal to their
loyalty in recommending others to enroll, because
personal contact brings the most faithful
supporters.
The Ypres League depends entirely on its
membership, and it is not easy for a sentimental
association to thrive during the present financial
difficulties of the world, but nevertheless, past
experience has proved that those who are
acquainted with the League's aims and objects
are willing to pay the 5s. annual subscription
to forward the interests of the great cause in
which survivors and relatives of the fallen are
all united.
Nothing gives headquarters greater pleasure
and encouragement than to receive letters from
our members requesting application forms with
a view to finding prospective recruits, and we
have pleasure to publish an extract from a letter
received from J. A. (Edinburgh), June 1st
In connection with our worthy League
I am very pleased to report to you that
I have secured two recruits and very good
ones too, but I have only one membership
form, so I should thank you much for six
more and I will try and enroll more new
members."
We earnestly trust that those who have
recently joined will follow J. A.'s fine and
practical example and so assist so valuably in
maintaining the strength of the League.
TO BRANCH SECRETARIES, CORRESPONDING
MEMBERS AND REPRESENTATIVES.
April, May and June have been particularly
active in the travel department and some 200
persons have visited the cemeteries and battle
fields of France and Belgium under the auspices
of the League, and what has helped so much to
promote our travel facilities is the fact that our
Branch Secretaries, Corresponding Members and
friends have generously given, at our request,
some valuable publicity in their local Press.
For this, special thanks are due to Major Graham
Carr (Purley), Mr. W. H. Taylor (Colchester),
Mr. E. Wilson (Welshpool), Mr. W. N. Channon
(Chatham), Major A. W. Shea (Chesterfield),
Lieut.-Colonel G. T. Willan (Carlisle), Capt. J.
Wilkinson (Sheffield), Mr. J. Burman (Birming
ham), Miss J. M. Wilkinson (Matlock), Mr. H.
Carey (London), and to our exceedingly staunch
friends Mr. H. Benson, Mr. J. Brunskill and Mr.
S. H. Geiler. Also we are very largely indebted
to the Editors of the News of the World, Referee,
and Empire News for being so kind as to insert
notices of our pilgrimages in the Old Comrades
Column of their valuable papers.
Our pilgrimages and tours for the past three
months are as follows -
April 15-18 Easter pilgrimage to Ypres.
April 21-24 167th Infantry Brigade, T.A.
Lecture tour to Ypres.
May 26-29 85th Club tour to Ypres.
June 3-5 Pilgrimage of poor relatives to
Ypres at the League's ex
pense.
June 3-6 WhitsuntidepilgrimagetoYpres.
June 3-6 Whitsuntide pilgrimage to Arras
and the Somme.
This year, our Sheffield and Colchester
Branches were given the privilege of selecting
ten poor mothers to accompany the League's
pilgrimage to Ypres at Whitsuntide, and an
expression of sincere gratitude is due to these
two indefatigable workers, namelyCapt. J
Wilkinson and Mr. W. H. Taylor, who went to
infinite trouble in choosing most deserving cases,
and we congratulate them on having performed
this arduous but charitable task so successfully.
The Whitsuntide pilgrimage to Ypres was
honoured by the presence of Capt. and Mrs. R.
Henderson-Bland. Capt. Bland, as you are all
aware, is the Ypres League's representative in
America, and we hope that his initial re-visit to
the Salient since his fighting days with the
Gloucestershire Regiment will convey a deep
