THE BAILLEUL WAR MEMORIAL

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 110, 5 November 1925, Page 7

THE BAILLEUL WAR MEMORIAL

FRENCH AND BRITISH MEET

AGAIN

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

LONDON, Bth September

Bailleul, a little town well remembered by every New Zealand soldier who served in Flanders, has been the scene this week-end of an interesting ceremony when British and French met again to commemorate their sufferings during the wai\ The occasion was the unveiling of the monument which has been erected to the inhabitants of Bailleul, soldiers and civilians, who were killed either in action or dwing bombardments of the town. Bailleul lias been adopted by the City of Bradford, and the Lord Mayor of Bradford {Councillor J. H. Palm), who is the Labour member of Parliament for Newcastle-on-Tyne (West), and a delegation of city councillors had accordingly, been invited to be present at tho ceremonies.

Tlie. monument was unveiled on Saturday afternoon, in the presenco of a large number,of the inhabitants and -do-' legations' of- many societies, such as the League of Former Prisoners of War, the Society of the Orphans of the War, etc. The monument stands on the site of the Church of St. Around, whiuh was des-. troyed during the war, and is a copy of the ruined belfry and tower of the. Church of St. Vaast as they stood after the- bombardment. On ,a plaque on the face of the monument is inscribed the Army Order, which recalls that Bailleul was twice occupied by the Germans and was totally destroyed by violent bombardment.

The ceremony was very impressive. After, a. bugle had sounded the "Gard' a vous," a signal was.given, and bonfires were lit on the hills which surround the town. The Mayor then called the roll of the dead, and after each name the Orphans of the War responded "Moi't pour la Patrie.". There had been a religious ceremony at the monument in the morning, attended by the British delegation, which had previously visited the French and British cemeteries in company with the Mayoil of Bailieul and the members of .the municipal council.

On Sunday a banquet was given by the Mayor of Bjiilleiil in honour of the visitors. Among those present were, besides the Bradford delegation, General Moisson, representing the French First Army; General Maurier, the Military Governor of Dunkirk; Major-General Sir Guy Bainbridge, formerly G. 0.0., 25th Division; M. Coilaert, Burgomaster of Ypres; and the Abbe Vanderwelle, Dean of Bailieul. After the banquet the representatives of the municipality and the guests, both French and British, formed into a procession and visited the monument to the'2sth Division, on which wreaths were placed by the municipality of Bailieul and by Lieutenant-Colonel Goodman, representing the Imperial War Graves Commission.