THE YPRES TIMES 61 in the League's organisation. At the last dinner their membership was 48, and to-day it had increased by 75 per cent, to 84, and they had a bank balance of £20. Colonel Herring added that it was proposed to hold a Branch pilgrimage to Ypres in July. Mr. M. McKinley thanked the artists of the evening, who were Miss Jenny Bradley, Mr. Granville Offord, Sergt.-Major J. Bird, and also the quintette of the band of the 4th Q.O. Hussars, who played during the repast by per mission of the Colonel and officers. PURLEY BRANCH. The Sixth Annual Re-union Dinner of the Purley Branch took place on Friday, March 2nd at the Red Lion Hotel, Coulsdon. Every year this popular function sees a large number present, so that it was natural to find a record attendance (132) this year, with Captain R, L. Haine, Y.C., M.C., in the Chair As an entirely ex-Service dinner this is an occasion of great good comradeship, all Arms, all Services and all ranks joining in an even ing entirely given up to the lighter side of war; the guests of honour, General Sir Hubert Gough, G.C.M.G., K.C.B., K.C.V.O., etc, and Lieut. General Sir William P. Pulteney, G.C.V.O., K.C.B., etc., being among those who enjoyed the whole programme as much as anyone. According to Operation orders, troops began to assemble at 7 p.m. ready for zero hour and rations at 7.30 p.m. Rations were expressed on the menu in codea copy of this, the Super B.A.B. Code, being attached for exer cise; but all members and guests got very well fed, whether they solved the thing or not. After "The King" and The Silent Toast had been properly honoured, the C.O. held a pow-wow, opening the proceedings with a very witty speech, in the course of which he wel comed the two distinguished guests, recited a list of units and fronts represented, announced a dance to be held in October, eulogised the Adjutant and presented the prizes won in the 1933 Bombardier's Foursomes. Capt. Vernon Lee, M.C., next entertained the company and continued in his usual won derful form when called on for duty through out the evening. Then the Adjutant reported, sometimes seriously and sometimes extremely flippantly; the membership of the Branch stood at 200 before the Dinner; for the third consecutive year the recruiting prize was won. G.H.Q. might frown if we won it again all the 1933 golf and other news; plans for bigger entries; and how remarkably members responded to his notices, or otherwise. At this point all the guests were enrolled as members without resistance. Our Gallant Allieswere proposed by Father Major H. G. Harris, who cordially greeted all guests, especially General Gough who enjoyed the previous dinner sufficiently to come again, who had played golf with us too and was still a friend; there was also a great welcome for the Chairman of the Ypres League. The Army Commander and the Corps Com mander replied. They enjoyed this meeting with those who had served in the war; those who went through those different forms of hell had something in common, something which others had not; this comradeship was a fine thing. The troops were much cheered to think they really had enjoyed it. General Pulteney expressed his very grate ful thanks to the Branch and complimented the Committee on the efficient organisation of the re-union. Capt. Ray next read a paper concerning one Queen, Sheba. It was a clever work (and too clever for some)well rendered. The toast of the evening, The C.O." was proposed by Bombardier Burden (there are others, but he is The Bombardier). Here was our Bill in command; we liked and honoured him for himself, apart from his V.C.he had always met the enemy unafraid; whenadversity came later, he still met it smiling; a very modest and withal a very weighty C.O. And when the troops sang that he was a jolly good fellow, they meant it. Capt. Haine acknowledged briefly, and turned on the entertainment again. The songs that won the war were, as usual, a feature of the evening, rendered by the full company. Stretcher bearers were scheduled for 11 p.m. but were not required. On the way home, however, one field officer was heard insistently explaining that if ever there were another war, here was the nuclus of at least an Army ready made KENYA BRANCH. Since the publication of the January "Ypres Times," we have received very welcome news from Corporal C. H. Slater informing us, that on Armistice Day he arranged for the placing of a Ypres League wreath on the Cenotaph at Nairobi. We desire to express our very grateful thanks to Corporal Slater, and to the following gentlemen who so generously sub scribed towards the wreath Brig. General A. R. Wainwriglit, D.S.O., M.C.Captain D. P. Petrie; Cpl. S. W. Kemp; Major W. N. Mackenzie, Colonel G. J. Henderson, Cpl. C. H. Slater, Cpl. C. H. Beer. The fact that this commemoration is carried out each year by. our staunch Kenya Branch is most grati fying to us at headquarters.

HISTORISCHE KRANTEN

The Ypres Times (1921-1936) | 1934 | | pagina 31