THE YPRES TIMES
157
COLCHESTER BRANCH.
Second Annual Ball.
Much interest was evinced in the second annual
ball of the Colchester and District Branch of the
Ypres League which took place at the Red Lion
Hotel on Wednesday, November 21st, when a
company of 100 spent a very enjoyable evening.
Old and modern dances were intermingled in the
programme. The band of the 1st Lancashire
Fusiliers (by permission of Lieut. Colonel
L. H. K. Finch, D.S.O., O.B.E.) was in attend
ance and dancjng continued from 8 p.m. until
the early hours of the .morning.
The M.C.'s were Major G. C. Benham, M.C.,
Captain A. C. Palmer and Mr. A. McKinley.
Competitions were won by Mrs. Gerald Stan
ford and Mrs. E. Eyres, and among those
present, most of whom brought parties were
Colonel H. W. Herring (President), Major
General Harding-Newman, Colonel E. H.
Clarke (President Royal Engineers Old Com
rades' Association), Mr. Ralph Wright, Mr.
Gerald Stanford, Mr. F. J. Collinge, Mr. D.
Shadrach and Dr. Fripp.
The arrangements were carried out by a
special committee, of which Major G. C. Benham
was chairman and Mr. H. Snow, Secretary.
Armistice Day Service.
Lieut. Colonel W. H. Herring and a repre
sentative gathering of members of the Colchester
Branch attended the Service of Remembrance at
Colchester on November 11th and placed a
wreath on the Monument. The address was
given by the Right Worshipful the Mayor
(Councillor A. H. Cross) and the 44 Last Post
and Reveillé were sounded by buglers of the 2nd
Bn. the King's Shropshire Light Infantry.
PURLEY BRANCH.
Autumn Go!f Meeting.
The autumn Golf Meeting of this Branch was
held at the .Purley Downs Golf Club on the 2nd
October in a steady drizzle.
Notwithstanding the poor conditions 35 of the
41 who had entered went out and completed 18
holes.
The number constitutes a record for any
Autumn Meeting so far held by the Branch and
enabled the provision of 2nd prize in addition
to the 8th Wipers Cup.
The late starters provided all the excitement,
as improving scores were received almost up to
the last couple and Commander R. H. Shelton,
D.S O., a native of Purley Downs, was the
winner with the return of one up.
Captain A. S. Green, one of the successful pair
in the Bombadier's Foursomes this year, was
second with a return of all square his partner in
the Foursomes, Captain W. K. Scott, won the
Spring Meeting, so they may be considered to
have had a very successful season. Other good
returns were one down by T. G. Crump and
C. N. Bellingham.
At the supper in the evening, the Chairman of
the Branch, Captain R. L. Haine, V.C., M.C.,
presented th-e prizes expressing unbounded sur
prise that 44 Sockety Bob had won a prize at
lastwith Green it was different, as he was a
coming player. The Commander suitably replied.
During the course of liquid refreshment that
followed, the Secretary reported other returns,
notably the Chairman's own effort which
brought up the rear going strong at 14 down
Two members who failed to return their card&
were' reported and called upon for an explanation
in the usual way. After certain stories had been
circulated, the Chairman concluded the evening
by thanking the Host Club for giving us the
privilege of playing there, not forgetting the
attention of Howes, the Steward, an ex-service
man himself.
Armistice Day Parade.
A very successful Armistice Day Parade was
held on November 11th, when the Purley branch
mustered a party of 46 to attend the United
Memorial Service at the Purley Congregational
Church in the afternoon. As usual the parade
was under the command of the Chairman, and
it is satisfactory to note that Captain R. L.
Haine, was so well supported.
Dance.
The Ypres League Dance arranged by this
Branch took place on Thursday, December 6th
at the Greyhound Hotel, Croydon, and was
attended by a company of 314.
There was all-round regret that General Sir
Hubert Gough and Lieut. General Sir William
Pulteney were unable to be with us on that night,
but some recompense was forthcoming in the
presence of the League's Secretary, Captain
G. E. de Trafford who is always welcome at
Branch functions.
The Chairman of the Branch, Captain R. L.
Haine, was in command of the Committee
which had made all arrangements. Marius
B. Winter and his Band provided the
musicthe Western Brothers provided half an
hour's considerable laughter and the Committee
provided further diversion in the way of 44 funny
hats," hand grenades and balloons.
The revelry went with a swing and all reports
indicated an entirely successful evening which is
very likely to becom'3 an annual fixture in the
future.
Thanks of the Branch are due to the Dance
Committee composed of the Chairman already
mentioned, N. A. Zinn the M.C., Captain G. B.
Mutton (Dance Hon. Secretary), Captain A. S.
Green, J. R. Garbutt, M.C., and Major Graham
Carr (General Hon. Secretary)
