SIR – Re the letter by Jo Hodges ‘City already has link in that part of Europe’ (Worcester News, April 12).
She quite rightly pointed out in reply to my letter ‘Could Worcester be twinned with Ypres?’ (Worcester News, March 28) that Worcester already has links with the Western Front.
While not aware of this,I was aware of the involvement of the Worcestershire Regiment in the action at Gouzeaucourt during the Battle of Cambrai.
My reasons for suggesting a twinning with Ypres were twofold.
Firstly, the significance of the forthcoming anniversary and secondly, the significance of the retaking of Gheluvelt.
Gheluvelt represented a serious gap in the British lines allowing for a German breakthrough (the artillery had already been ordered to move back to prepare for a retreat).
Had that happened, Ypres would have fallen and the road to the channel ports would have been open.
Had the channel ports then been taken Britain’s supply lines would have been broken and we may well have lost the war.
The counter-attack by the Worcestershires, and the retaking of Gheluvelt, closed the gap thus preventing the breakthrough and averting a possible catastrophe.
An action of such importance surely deserves some special recognition, and what better way of commemorating it than by twinning Worcester with Ypres during the centenary year of the start of the First World War?
N S DAY
Droitwich
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