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.