A
Hard
Case
THE YPRES TIMES
148
to the 13th Belgian Artillery was yesterday appointed Chief of the General Staff of the Belgian Army,
General Cumont.
Before concluding, I want most heartily to congratulate the Ypres League on its many achieve
ments. It seems at first a most easy undertaking to keep the Lamp of Memory burning when a
whole nation and a great Empire have been stirred to the depth of their souls by great sacrifice made
in a noble cause, but life, w;e know, is very relentless, generation succeeds generation and the future
seems always more attractive than the past
With the lapse of time it becomes more and more difficult to maintain numbers and to find
financial means to carry on one's work. Individual energy has to come to the rescue, and the wonder
is that such individual energy is never lacking. I do not pretend to explain this wonder, though
I may perhaps suggest that part of that heroic strength which spent itself so generously on Elanders
Fields remains with you still, and prompts you to fresh action."
Sir William Pulteney, then expressed a cordial vote of thanks to His Excellency,
The Belgian Ambassador and other distinguished guests for the honour they had given
us by their presence.
The Chairman, Major Montague Jones, also spoke and recounted the League's
activities throughout the past year, again stressing the urgent need of enrolling new-
members. He paid tribute to the untiring work and energy of the League's worthy
Secretary, Captain G. E. de Trafford, M.C., who conducted affairs so ably from head
quarters, and also to Mr. John Boughey who continues to perform innumerable tasks
connected with the London County Committee.
An exceptionally fine concert was given by the Bubbles Concert Party under
the personal direction of Mr. Will Seymour and the individual performance of the
artistes were warmly appreciated, as were those of the Enfield College of Music, whose
members, under the able direction of Mrs. Doris Lee Peabody, provided musical items
throughout the evening.
In keeping with the occasion, the memory of those destined to pay the full sacrifice
was hallowed by everyone standing in silent reverence whilst the immortal words of
I.aurence Binyon's To the Fallen were recited by Captain H. D. Peabody, D.C.M.
This was preceded and followed by the strains of The Last Post and Reveille respectively.
The inevitable conclusion to these affairs is the community singing of old war-time
choruses and Mr. A. E. Nickolds conducted the gathering in vociferous efforts of their
vocal talents.
During the evening a message of loyalty was sent to His Majesty the King from
whom a telegram was received in reply, reading:
The King has received with much pleasure the message you have sent on behalf of the
Members of the Ypres League asembled at their annual reunion. In thanking them, His
Majesty wishes all present a very enjoyable evening."
A further message was received as follows
"Thank you for giving me an opportunity of conveying to the members of the Ypres League on
this occasion of their Annual Re-union an expression of friendship and admiration from comrades
in arms across the sea. I regret that I am unable to be with you."
Having dissipated our remaining few piastres on such army pastimes as Crown and
Anchor and Housey Hotisey aboard the transport from the Near Eastern battlefields,
we arrived at Marseilles in January, 1919, thoroughly broke and with rather mixed
feelings.
The thought of being back again to civilisation, particularly in so colourful an
atmosphere as Marseilles with its inviting gay cafes, shops and general night life with
out a bean, was a little too much for one of the party, so a regular debate followed on
just how we might raise the wind. An examination of personal effects brought us to
Robert W. Bingham.
American Ambassador.
A. R. F.
