BELLS OF YPRES

Hokitika Guardian, 18 January 1921, Page 4

BELLS OF YPRES

I.’OR HEROIC DEAD

The King has consented to become patron-in-chief of the newly formed S' pres League. Distinguished soldiers such as Earl Haig, Viscount Allenby, and Lord Homo have joir/H the League, and the “Ypres BookKf Remembrance,’ which is to be deposited at Ypres, already contains the names of thousands of private soldiers who served in the salient during the war. Parents, widows, and orphans of the dead from all parts of the kingdom have joined the League. Some widows of private soldiers applied for membership for their children, in order that these should bear in remembrance their connection with the holy ground of British arms. The objects of the League are-.—(1) To publish a register of the dead, which shall record the name of every soldier who fell in the defence of Ypres, and shall also indicate the spot where he lies. (2) To issue a chart of the battlefield showing the position of every battalion during the three great battles of Ypres. (3) To secure the erection of a worthy memorial of the defence, and to record outstanding feats of arms on the field of battle. (4) To establish close and cordial relations with the present dwellers on the battlefield. (5) To give prompt, and trustworthy information to relatives and pilgrims. (6) To hold an annual reunion of the officers arid men “who served at Ypres.

There is a plan for the erection of a belfry tower on the battlefield, with a peal of hells for special occasions. It lias been suggested that a party of bell-ringers could go out from England on some special annual day and ring a peal in honour of the dead. Such a belfry, it is thought, would be peculiarly appropriate in Belgium, and would evade religious and denominational difficulties. The following places have been recommended to bear a permanent sign or tablet:— Inside ring: Piffien, St Julien, Hooge, Hill 60, St Kloi, N ellvc Egliso. Outside ring: Poelcapelle Station, Passchendaele, ],lroodseinde cross-roads, Gheluvelt, Wytsehaete, and Messines. In Ypres itself the Cloth Hall, Cathedral, Menin Gate, and Lille Gate.