YPRES LEAGUE.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 December 1921, Page 4

YPRES LEAGUE.

LORD FRENCH’S APPEAL. LONDON, October 14. Lord French makes an appeal to all j those who served at Ypres during the j war to become members of the Ypres j League. “To largo numbers of inen I who served in France *aml Flanders,” i he writes, “and to the relatives of many who fell in action, the name Ypres holds the most tragic and heroic memories. Tfiio defence of that old salient, which was the way to the coast, cost the lives of 250.000 British soldiers and in the three great battles of Ypres our liberties and honour as an Empire were saved h,v the supreme courage of our hard-pressed men. “At all times, and especially in the , rainy seasons (which lasted so long!/: the Ypres salient was a hard place j for men who served there. Tn mud. in i trenches, under continual gunfire which reached far behind the j lines, it demanded a grim ordeal of service, so that ex-soldiers who say to each other now, ‘I was at Ypres’, have said enough. They understand each other. What Verdun means to France, Ypres means to us. “ft is for that reason that an Ypres League has been formed. Its membership is open to all who served ill the salient, in order that they may have a record of' that service for themselves, and their descendants, and belong to tho comradeship of men who understand and remember all that Ypres meant in suffering and endurance. The Ypres Scroll, beautifully designed, is issued as a certificate of membership to those who pay a small subscription and nut v also, be obtained hy relatives as a memorial of honour to those who fob in the salient.

“The Ypres League has other objects which should have. T think, a permanent interest. Preparations are already in hand to preserve in Ypres. a Roll of Honour, recording, if possible tlie name of every soldier who fell in the defence. Tt is also proposed to cstalvlisl) a hostelry, where n«con nnod ntion may Ist provided for those who wish to visit the graves and battlefields in the salient, aalid where maps, information concerning historic sites, and guidance of every possible kind will hi' available, the hostelry to he endowed with free beds for those who can not afford a hotel. It is suggest'd that this hostelry should become a special memorial of the Ypres League, its panelled walls recording the names in divisions of those who fell in action thereabouts and in other ways serving as a reminder of what happened on that ground. For the purpose of founding that hostelry, funds will be needed beyond the annaal subscription of membership, and I hope they may be generously forthcoming as a tribute to the spirit of the Ypros defence.

“Membership of the League is a privilege which. I think, no soldi"!', of whatever rank', who served in the salient should fail to avail himself, and I shall lie very glad if any word of mine may assist tho Longue to get that large membership by which alone its spirit and purpose may be fulfilled Contributions to the erection of the hostelry should he thus earmarked and sent to the secretary. Tin- Prince of Wales as a soldier who knew the salient wel) and is a patron of tl" League has written to sav lie warmly supports the appeal, which is being made, and trusts it will meet with a generous response.”