Arthur Keysall Yapp

"Arthur Keysall Yapp, KBE, was born in Herefordshire, son of Richard Keysall Yapp, farmer, and Jane (nee Gammidge). His brother, Richard Henry Yapp, (b1871), was Mason Professor of Botany, University of Birmingham 1919-1929. Arthur married Alice Maude Higson in 1901 and they had two children.He had a lifelong career with the YMCA, starting as honorary Secretary of YMCA Leominster, moving on to become General Secretary of Derby YMCA in 1892 and then District Secretary, Lancashire before being appointed National Secretary of the YMCA, a post which he held from 1912 to 1929. On retiring, he became Deputy President of the Association. His work for the YMCA is particularly notable for his commitment to initiatives for supporting the troops during the First World War including hugely successful fundraising drives and the introduction of the evocative red triangle symbol. He received recognition for his work for the services when he was made Knight of the British Empire in 1917. His war-time services also included a six-month honorary appointment as Director of Food Economy in 1917. Sir Arthur's published works include the autobiographical, In the Service of Youth (1927), also: Life's chess-board [c1900]'; Life's football [?1902]; The Blue Peter: or The voyage of life [1906]; The volunteer on active service [1906]; Active Service [c1914]; The Y.M.C.A. with the flag 1914-1916; Snapshots from home for lonely soldiers and sailors [1915]; Y.M.C.A. in France and Flanders (1916); The Romance of the Red Triangle: the story of the coming of the red triangle and the service rendered by the Y.M.C.A. to the sailors and soldiers of the British Empire [1919] and The Adventure of Youth (1929)."- http://calmview.bham.ac.uk/Record.asp...