Ex-Serviceman Donald Taylor selling poppies in the village
Donald Taylor writes:
Last May I stood in a field in Langemarck, just north of Ypres. Preserved there are many canisters which had contained the chlorine gas used in the first gas attack in April 1915. The realisation that my father had been in the same field 100 years and 11 days earlier made my hair stand on end! Later that day there was a huge crowd some 40 minutes before the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate in Ypres. Amazingly this happens every day and on special anniversaries the crowd is even bigger. Following the Last Post, sounded by the Ypres Fire Brigade buglers, the silence was intense before being relieved by the bright tones of Reveille.
When collecting house to house I found that some of you already had poppies – from work or supermarket etc. However, you all seemed pleased to see me and were unstintingly generous. Many of you donated several times – at the shop and at the memorial service. I am sure the Vicar’s inspiring sermon played a part here.
God bless you all for your generous response to this vital cause – you donated a shattering £924.20 – absolutely wonderful!
Donald Taylor
The stories of those from the village who lost their lives in two world wars can be read on the next page.