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for explanations via St. Julien, Gravenstafel, Tyne Cot, Broodseinde, Becelaere, Gheluvelt,
Hooge and thence to Sanctuary Wood and Hill 60 where we examined with interest the
reconstructed trenches and tunnels. The barrage of questions put by the cadets at these
particular spots were as much as the officers could be expected to cope with in the limited
time available
Ypres was reached at 7 p.m. and after a welcome repast, the whole party assembled
at the Menin Gate Memorial where the resident Padre, the Rev. G. R. Milner, M.A., ushered
a few prayers prior to the sounding of the Last Post." The senior officer present then
placed a wreath as an act of homage to the 55,000 British soldiers who fell in the immortal
defence of Ypres and whose graves have never been located. At 9 p.m.. Hotel Skindles
was the concentration centre for a further lantern lecture on the battles of Neuve Chapelle,
Loos, and the Vimy Ridge, which places were to be visited on the next day. On Monday
we were again favoured with summer-like conditions and with haversack rations our
compass was set for La Belle France," via Wytschaete. Talks were given on the
Messines Ridge, Plugstreet Chateau, Neuve Chapelle and Loos. Passing through re
built Lens our itinerary was continued to the Canadian trenches on Vimy Ridge. Here
we relished our packet lunches and explored the formidable tunnels, mine shafts and
dug-outs which are to-day lighted by electricity and have a more wholesome smell than
when they were in original use It was amusing to observe how the whole party seemed
to suddenly disappear beneath the earth's surface and it was only with much persuasion
and blowing of whistles that everybody was finally recovered.
An interval of half-an-hour in Arras enabled us to visit the Cathedral which is shortly
to be dedicated and the two "Places" with their wonderfully restored Spanish type buildings
were worthy of note.
On the return to Ypres intermediate points of interest were Souchez, Bethune, Neuve
Eglise and Kemmel and we entered the town by the Lille Gate at about 7.30 p.m. After
dinner, the evening was spent very pleasantly in an atmosphere singularly reminiscent
of the old comradeship of the war, and time was found for the selection and purchase
of little souvenirs of this memorable trip.
Our reserved train steamed out from Ypres at 9 o'clock on Tuesday morning to the
accompaniment of a goodly send off by the Yprians with whom we had become quite
friendly in the course of our brief visit. After another smooth passage across the Channel
and through the customs we finally reached Victoria at 4.42 p.m. thoroughly satisfied
and pleased with our experience.
Naturally, those of us who had known France and Belgium in war-time often found
it extremely difficult to recognise the various reconstructed areas, but there still remains,
here and there, a few scattered concrete pill-boxes, a heap of rusty barb wire, a crater,
an occasional collection of duds and Mills bombs as a reminder of sixteen years ago,
but there is now so little evidence of the squalor, misery, destruction and awfulness of
modern war and we ask ourselves What were the younger generation making of it
This, perhaps was in their mindsHere we are on the spot where our elders fought,
struggled, and died during four long weary years and what is the result of it all At home,
money troubles and unemployment. Out here, painfully new villages, cemetery after
cemetery, endless memorials with their vast lists of Missingsuch as the Menin Gate,
Tyne Cot and Thiepvalthe tragedy, stupidity, and futility of it all."
If, as well, we made these young men even dimly realise the mental torture, the
heroism, the despair, and courage of those who had fought and died for them, the tour
was indeed not made in vain, and further, if our efforts have enabled them to understand
that they must work for an honourable peace so that such a catastrophe can never be
repeated, we may have added another stone to the Peace Structure which this country is
striving so earnestly to build. i
J. M. WEST [Major).
N.B.As a result of this tour, Cheltenham College have kindly promised to present a book prize each year
to the Ypres British School.
