Branch Notes
THE YPRES TIMES
Children's Christmas Party
155
5th Army Re-union.
On Saturday evening, November 24th, a repre
sentative party of some twenty to thirty members
of our London Branch attended he first Trench
Supper organised by the Fifth Army, 1916-18,
O.C.A.
The Bedford Head Hotel, Maiden Lane,
Strand, W.C.2 was made headquarters for this
auspicious occasion and the whole function was
a marked success. The Ypres League contingent,
headed by Captain C. Alliston, was accorded an
extremely warm reception and emphasised
another instance of the keenness of our members
in supporting their old comrades in the activities
of kindred Associations.
The surroundings were typical of trench life
as only the tommy knew itbare tables, copies
on the wall of La Vie Parisienne, humerous
remarks pencilled or chalked here and there,
sand-bags, tin hats, etc., in fact most things
that one found or did not find in dug-outs of
years back. The atmosphere of trench life was
re-captured again at the sight of orderlies bring
ing the rations along in sand-bags following the
sounding by the bugler of the familiar 44 cook
house."
Our now rather delicate digestions were sorely
taxed with a combination of machonachies, bully-
beef, ration biscuits very hard, rice and raisins,
margarine, plum and apple jam, pickles, mar
malade, cheese, etc., with ten sharing in one
loaf. Following the sampling of the above varied
ingredients, there were only a few very weak
replies to the Orderly Officer's question of 44 any
complaints and most interest at this period
was centred on the Quarter-bloke's parade with
the familiar rum-jar. It did not escape notice,
however, that the evening's Orderly Sergeant fWt
compelled to taste two or three times before re
porting the contents suitable for issue. This of
course started the gathering singing that
immortal army ballad 44 If the Sergeant drinks
your rum never mind," although the words
applied did not seem to appear on the song-sheet.
After the feed, the company settled down to
enjoy an impromptu concert interspersed with
full-blown rendering of favourite war-time
choruses. Altogether the evening was voted an
exceptionally pleasant one and then came the
call for 44 stretcher-bearers." Many of the old
swets could be heard asking whether there would
be another held next year.
N.B.The Hon. Secretary, London Branch,
desir,es to express his grateful thanks to the
5th Army O.C.A. for its kind invitation and
warm welcome extended to the members of th'e
Ypres League at the above function; and also
thanks the many members of the London Branch
of the League who supported him so admirably.
THE ELEVENTH ANNUAL
organised by the
LONDON COUNTY COMMITTEE
will take place at the
WESTMINSTER CITY SCHOOL,
55, PALACE ST., VICTORIA ST., S.W.I.
(By permission of the Governors of the School)
On SATURDAY, JANUARY 12th, 1935,
at 4 p.m.
Admission
Junior Division Members, Free. Friends 6d.
each.
Application for tickets should be made to the
Hon. Secretary, London County Committee,
Ypres League, at 20, Orchard Street, W.I., not
later than January 10th, 1935.
Tea commences at 4 p.m., followed by a
ventriloquist entertainment.
To many children who attend, this is perhaps
the only treat enjoyed by them during the Christ
mas season, so we earnestly request our members'
generous support to enable us to give them a real
good time. Father Christmas will again be there
in state, and with your kind co-operation we are
looking forward to seeing him supplied with a
sufficient number of toys to ensure 'each child
receiving at least one present from his bag.
Gifts of toys or donations will be very grate
fully received and welcomed by the Hon. Secre
tary, London County Committee, Ypres League,
20, Orchard Street, London, W»l.
If members are in the vicinity of Palace Street,
Westminster on the evening of January 12th,
they are cordially invited to pay us a visit and
join in the fun with the kiddies.
Informal Gatherings.
At the Bedford Hotel on October 18th last, an
exceedingly instructive lantern lecture on 44 Sea
Power was delivered through the kindness of
the Navy League, by Lieut.-Commander D. S. E.
Thompson, R.N., and which was followed with
keen interest.
Our November gathering welcomed Mr. Walter
J. Morrison who gave us a talk on 44 Five Years
with the Y.M.C.A. in France and his numerous
slides enabled us to realise the great work accom
plished by that organisation during the Great
War. W'e are glad to say that Mr. Morrison
has promised to favour us with a further talk
on some future occasion.
The December Informal was very kindly
arranged by Mr. O. Mears of headquarters and
to whom we express our grateful thanks and con-