THE BATTLEFIELDS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 6 August 1928, Page 5

THE BATTLEFIELDS

BRITAIN'S PILGRIMAGE

“AN ARMY-OF PEACE”

GREAT MEMORIAL SERVICE AT MENIN GATE

United Press Association—By Xleotrlo Telegraph—Copyright. Australian Press Association

LONDON, 4th August. Tho British army of peace has begun its pilgrimage to the battlefields for the anniversary of the outbreak of war. Thirty-six special trains are bringing 11,000 pilgrims from the provinces to Dover and Harwich, while twelve steamers have been chartered for tho crossChannel trip. The majority are men who made the same journey in khaki years ago and are now revisiting places which the valour of the Empire’s armies made memorable. Others will be parents paying a first visit to spns’ graves. As the newspapers say, all are going to pray that war will never return to trouble the earth.

I Tho pilgrims will be billeted in concentration towns in Northern France and Belgium. Sunday will be devoted to private exploration of battlefields. On Monday there will be an impressive ceremony on Vimy Ridge. On Tuesday they will go to Bethune, where the Prince of Wales will join the assembly for the anniversary of the great stand which checked the German advance.

Prince Charles of Belgium will meet the legionaries at the Belgian frontier ou Wednesday. Then the pilgrims will march in relays to Ypres for a great memorial service at Menin Gate, to be addressed by the Archbishop of York. • Paris messages state that the quiet dignity of the pilgrimage arrangements has made a most favourable impression.