J R Army Med Corps: first published as 10.1136/jramc-51-05-04 on 1 November 1928. Downloaded from

362

PILGRIMAGE OF THE BRITISH LEGION TO THE BATTLE-FIELDS. By COLONEL A. CHOPPING, C.B., C.M.G.

THE 8th of August-a never to be forgotten day; the day the tide turned for the British armies in . How better to celebrate the tenth anniversary than by a pilgrimage to France and Belgium, to visit the battle-fields and take part in the Commemoration Service at the Menin Gate, . The pilgrimage, organized by the headquarters of the British Legion, started from the various legion centres in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, and nearly 11,000 pilgrims, of whom about one-third were women, joined in this memorable visit to the scenes of trench warfare and also, in

a large number of cases, the grave of some fallen relation. guest. Protected by copyright. The arrangements made for the pilgrims worked according to plan. They were trained from their centres in batches of 500 to Dover, crossed over to and were taken by special trains to their destinations in France or Belgium, viz., Amiens, , St. Omer, , H, Lietard, , Lens, , , Bethune, Hazebrouck, , , Armentieres, Ypres and Poperinghe, where they were billeted in private houses by the kindness of the French and Belgian eople, or in hotels. The boats crossed ov.er to France on the evening of August 4-5, and all the pilgrims were comfortably settled in their.billets the next day, Sunday, ready for an early start on.the Monday m9rning to the battle-fields. The general idea of the pilgrimage was that all pilgrims should visit Vi my Ridge one day and Beaucourt the next, and that on the Wednesday all should concentrate at Ypres to take part in the Commemoration http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/ Se"rvice at the Menin Gate. The return to England to be direct from Ypres in the evening. For this purpose arrangements were made with the French and Belgian rail way authorities for special trains to convey the .pilgrims from the town in which they were billeted to Vimy, Beaucourt and Ypres, and to bring them back in the evening. The pilgrims were given their breakfasts and evening meal in their billets and a "carton" lunch was supplied by "Felix Potin," the Lyons of France, and was excellent, consisting of cold ham and beef, roll of bread, one tomato, one banana, Gruyere cheese, a bottle of mineral water or beer, a small knife on October 1, 2021 by and fork and paper cup and plate. On arrival of the pilgrims at Vimy or Beaucourt Station, they were handed their lunches. They then proceeded to walk to the ridge in the· case of Vimy, or to Thiepval or Newfoundland Park in the case of Beaucourt. Motor cars and chani.bancs were provided for those who J R Army Med Corps: first published as 10.1136/jramc-51-05-04 on 1 November 1928. Downloaded from

A. Ohopping 363 were unable to walk and for those who wished to visit any outlying cemetery. A certain number of the parties were accompanied by their own doctors, but medical arrangements were necessary in the towns in which the pilgrims were billeted and also at Vimy, Beaucourt and Ypres. Tberefore previous arrangements bad been made with French or Belgian doctors to give any medical advice required in billets and for admission to local hospitals if necessary. For the battle-fields a medical unit was sent out by the British Red Cross Society, consisting of;- 1 officer, late R.A.M.C. (P.M.O.). :2 doctors. 1 quartermaster. 1 matron. 3 V.A.D. nurses. 8 B.R.C. orderlies. 2 Ford ambulance cars (with lady drivers). 1 heavy ambulance car (joined the unit in France). guest. Protected by copyright. 1.'his unit was located at Arras, and was divided into two as under for work ;at Vimy and Beaucourt ;-- Vimy Unit:- 1 doctor. 2 V.A.D. nurses. 4 B.R.C. orderlies. 1 Ford ambulance car. Beaucourt Unit;- 1 doctor. 1 qnartermaster. 1 V.A.D. nurse. 4 B.n..C. orderlies.

1 Ford ambulance car, http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/ 1 heavy ambulance car. These medical units went out from Arras to Vimy and Beaucourt in ·sufficient time to establish their aid posts before the arrival of the first :train load of pilgrims. At Vimy au aid post was located in a hut in the station yard and was attended by quite a number of patients complaining of minor ailments; a second post was stationed half-way up the hill, about one mile from the station, and a third at the top of the ridge amongst the Canadian trenches. Provision was made to deal with accidents from bombs and shells, of wbich a number still lie in this area of 250 acres bought by the Canadian on October 1, 2021 by -Government and left as it was when the fightin·g ended. Here the .canadians fonght and it is here their Memorial is being erected. Fortunately no s.uch accident occurred, and only minor cases were treated. It was a wonderful sight, this gathering of the pilgrims on Vimy Ridge J R Army Med Corps: first published as 10.1136/jramc-51-05-04 on 1 November 1928. Downloaded from

364 Pilgrimage of the British Legion to the Battle-fields

PLAN OF POSITIONS, PfNS IN AVeNUe MARSHAL OF" PARTIES rRfNCH AND THf TWO AP­ MENINGATE P(?OACH ROADS ARE B PT. x 250 FT. CAPACITY :000 SQ_ FT., OR 4 SQ FT. PER PCRSON. A Lt. PARTIES, eXCePT M, N ANO specIAL GROUP, WILl.. BE IN FOURS

PENS FOR EACH j---'-'I GRO"P ~HOWN - ._._._. guest. Protected by copyright. http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/

CORNER X 2.. on October 1, 2021 by J R Army Med Corps: first published as 10.1136/jramc-51-05-04 on 1 November 1928. Downloaded from

A. Ohopping 365 on a perfect summer day. ,Vbat impressed me most was the quiet and solemnity of tbe great crowd spread over tbis sacred ground where so much figbting bad taken place. At Beaucourt also au aid post was located in a hut near tbe station, one at Tbiepval, and one at Newfoundland Park in a but in tbe centre of tbe park, wbich contains the wonderful memorials to the Newfoundland troops and the 51st Division. Only minor cases had to be treated. The posts at 'l'biepval and Newfoundland Park were in telephonic communication witb tbe post at the rail way station. guest. Protected by copyright. http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/

[P~p l"l) l luct" by ktlld pe ~f,"foli 0/ Meur&. TAt Ct ltlral l'rcu P11O'ol, Ltd. Pilgrims concentrating at the Mcnin Gate for the Scnicc on .'\ugust 8, 1928.

On August 8 both medical units left A rras early in the morning and arrived in Ypr.s at 9 o'clock, in order to prepare tbeir aid posts before tbe pilgrims concentrated at tbe Menin Gate for the Commemoration Service at 11.30 a.m. Two aid posts were established, one for tbe Service at tbe on October 1, 2021 by Menin Gate, tbe other in tbe square in tbe remains of the Cloth EaU, for the march past. A room in !Hafe Illude an excellent aid post at the Menin Gate, shown thu, + in the plan. Orderlies were posted amongst the pilgrims in the different ellclosures to render first aid. 'rhe ralllparts on tbe east of the gate were reserved for elderly men and women, cripples and J R Army Med Corps: first published as 10.1136/jramc-51-05-04 on 1 November 1928. Downloaded from

366 Pilgrimage of the British Legion to the Battle-fields those unable to stand the strain of a long wait. One V.A.D. nurse and one B.R.e. orderly with a small amo~nt of equipment were detailed to look after them. The concentration of these 11,000 pilgrims at the Menin Gate took place without a hitch, and all were in position before the time arranged for this memorable Service to start. After the Service, the march past the Prince of Wales was equally well carried out. Several hours were then allowed to the pilgrims in Ypres before entraining for England, which started about 4.30 in the afternoon. The only medical assistance reqllired in Ypres was during the Service for faints and hysteria. The n)llllberof these cases was small considering the number of women present and the emotional strain. The Service at the Menin Gate was very impressive and was joined in with deep feeling by aB this great crowd, who had come together to honour the memory of their dead in the land where they had fa.llen . guest. Protected by copyright.

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