2
THE YPRES TIMES
WITH customary solemnity and dignity, the Ypres League commemorated
its fifteenth anniversary on Sunday, October 27th, when a record gathering
assembled on the Horse Guards' Parade which was particularly appropriate
in the Jubilee Year of our Sovereign.
At 11.20 a.m., the officiating Padre, the Rev. A. T. A. Naylor, O.B.E., M.A., senior
Chaplain of the 1st Cavalry Brigade arrived on the parade ground preceded by the
Choristers in red cassocks and a standard bearer with a famous war-time Union Jack
which is described in the Address.
Punctually at 11.30 a.m. Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice was received
by the Chairman of the Ypres League, Lieut.-General Sir W. P. Pulteney, G.C.V.O.,
K.C.B., K.C.M.G., D.S.O., accompanied^ by His Excellency The Belgian Ambassador,
and amongst those present included The Military Attachés of the Belgian, French
and American Embassies, Lieut .-Colonel G. P. Vanier, representing the High Com
missioner for Canada, The Dowager Viscountess Plumer, also contingents of the O.T.C.
Cadets, Old Contemptibles, 5th Army O.C.A., St. Dunstan's, 85th Field Ambulance O.C.A.,
and Ypres League. The service opened with the singing of the hymn O Valiant Hearts
accompanied by the Band of the 1st Surrey Rifles. Then followed the Address by the
Rev. A. T. A. Naylor, from which we quote
A deep sense of reverence and humility fills our hearts as we meet here
to-day. Memories of Ypres are among the most sacred we possess for Ypres was
the furnace which proved the temper of our armies, old and new. There they made
themselves worthy of the highest traditions of the British Army, and our presence
here is to express our gratitude to those who, knowing what laid before them,
made the supreme sacrifice in stemming the mass attacks of a determined foe.
This Union Jack we have here on the Parade is a well-worn flag which was
used in the Salient at Ypres to cover bodies of those who upheld these high tradi
tions. It was also used at the funeral of Lord Roberts when the sorrowing army
fired the last three volleys that are fired in the name of the Father, the Son and the
Holy Ghost. This same flag has covered men of every rank and every walk in life,
who fought to prevent the complete possession of the country of our Ally, our brave
Ally to whom we now tender our affection and sympathy in her recent grief. Nothing
that touches Belgium fails to touch the deep places in our hearts, and thank God
for the understanding between our nations, understandings which are based on
sentiment created by mutual appreciation of courage and loyalty such as shown
in the individual cases of heroism at Ypres, the sum total of which was founded
upon the righteousness of the cause.
Much has been written about the thoughts and feelings of those who were
engaged in the Great War. The last thoughts of men were for their friends at home,
loving thoughts, and in solemn letters that had to be written to those who were
left there was always the feeling No greater love hath any man than this, that a
man lay down his life for his friends.'
Let nations and individuals realise their need for and how God longs for
and yearns for their feelings to express Our Father which art in Heaven,' and
there will come Peace to the world.; There is one virtue in the Lord's Prayer to-day
in the fact that it unites us to those who are already in His Presence, beyond earthly
limitations."
At the conclusion of the Address, seven Pipers of the 2nd Btn. Scots Guards played
the Lament," and after a short silence the Last Post was sounded by the Buglers
of the 1st Surrey Rifles then all joined in the singing of O God our help in ages
past," and the National Anthem which! Was followed by the Reveille."
The whole parade now formed up .for the march to the Cenotaph headed by the
Band, and Princess Beatrice, after taking the salute at the Horse Guards' Arch, laved
the beautiful Ypres League wreath cpmposed of its cornflower emblems, lilies and
