THE YPRES TIMES
and North Midland Brigade R.F.A.
Old Brigade's Association
114
IMAGINE long months ago a few war-time pals of the Association sitting in a
member's best room, awaiting the arrival of the rest of the party who were to
discuss the event of the Annual Dinner. Conversation drifts from one topic to
another, and one remark arouses extreme interestI'd like to see again some of
the places we knew during the War So would I Me, too Why not all
go were the rejoinders.
There came to life the germ of an idea to take a trip. The later arrivals were
acquainted with the subject, and so the plan gathered adherents.
This being a new line of activity for the Association, we were somewhat at a
loss as to the best way to proceed, but fortunately we had one member who had heard
of the services rendered by the Ypres League in this direction, and he was commissioned
to find out things and report at our next gathering. He faithfully carried out his
task and presented schemes for our choice along with approximate costs and periods,
so that when our Annual Dinner took place early in March we were able to present a
concrete proposal which was favourably received by the company.
From now on enthusiam got warmer and memories were searched for incidents
that had occurred during the Brigade's four years' service on the Western Front.
Intending participants in the tour wondered if a particular place of interest could
still be recognised, what had happened to the shattered villages and hamlets Are the
roads improved? Should we see any graves of comrades who had gone "West"?
How many will the contingent eventually number
Progress was made and Saturday, August the 4th, 1934 (a significant date) saw
14 of us greeting our conductor, Capt. G. E. de Trafford, M.C., at Victoria' Station.
We were an assorted crowd of civilians ranging in age from 29 to 54, some of whom
had carried through their bat with the 2nd N.M. R.F.A. from February, 1915, until
the conclusion of hostilities, some had suffered the pain of wounds and been dismissed
from the activities at various stages of the game, but all were now imbued with the
same ideato make the most of the opportunity, and satisfy the mind on points that
had been recurring since the germ had taken root.
A pleasant rail and boat journey found us at Ostend on Sunday morning with a
couple of hours to spare. After a light repast at the Buffet and a ramble round the
una wakened town, we entrained for Ypres, arriving in good time for breakfast at the
Hotel de la Gare.
Then commenced in real earnest our quest for enlightenment. The morning was
spent according to the desire of the individual, exploring Ypres and environs on foot,
and in security hitherto not experienced.
In Ypres itself one marvelled at the enormity of the work entailed in rebuilding,
from the vast scrap heap we had formerly known, the Cathedral, Cloth Hall, business
places and habitations. We saw the Menin Gate Memorial and the vast proportions
of the edifice were in keeping with all that it symbolised.
Following lunch a 'bus tour of the Salient was the programme, and halts were
made at points of special interest for members, who recalled their experiences of more
hectic times and saw spots of tragic or humorous moment. This is where we had an
O.P." Somewhere about here we had a forward gun That's the blinking
village Jerry used to shell us from with his 6-inch Here's the very cellar I kipped
in This is the road where we had six horses wounded in one afternoon were
the remarks heard in turn.
