Poem ~ Casualties & Deception - Thursday, 20 August 1914

The first names of casualties of war,

Of officer ranks are accounted.

Not from fighting, but accidents,

With no details given of how, or why?

While two named officers with injuries,

Being sustained from motor incidents.

In contrast is an account of the rank of officer being impersonated -

Centres on a young man, described of gentlemanly appearance.

Creates for himself deep problems, which will see him imprisoned.

This young man named as Keith Arnold, had no current occupation,

A temporary resident at Hotel Richelieu on Oxford Street London.

Presenting himself at the Empire Music Hall, on last Saturday evening,

Mr Arnold being observed at 9.45pm, by a Lieutenant Edward Ridley,

Of the second Battalion of the Grenadier Guards-who surprised at an officer

Being present - noted that he was a second Lieutenant of the Royal Artillery.

Lieutenant Ridley had never seen a uniformed officer at the Music Hall,

Generally believing that officers attend entertainments in evening dress.

He spoke with a fellow officer, a captain, regarding his quiet suspicions,

Prior to Lieutenant Ridley approaching this ‘officer’ in the American Bar.

In conversation he requested if he had information that would be of interest

To a serving officer - The ‘Lieutenant ‘ was keen to declare he had sailed

From Le Havre to Southampton that very morning, by a loaded troopship,

On which were Black Watch survivors, injured at Liege and from Alsace

Were 10th Hussars - many were dying of wounds and many buried at sea.

The ‘Lieutenant’ added his experience as four years in the Royal Artillery.

Suspicious of his delivery Lieutenant Ridley told the officer as his superior

To accompany him to the war office - where upon further examination,

By Adjutant-General’s department, Mr Arnold confessed - the story untrue,

He was not an officer and had not travelled on any troop ship from Le Havre.

Mr Arnold explained how he had applied for various commissions,

Approaching several regiments but failed in gaining an appointment.

At the Alhambra on the Friday night he had seen several officers

Enjoying the night’s entertainment, not in evening dress but uniformed.

Mr Arnold dining on the Saturday, had much to drink with his friends.

Then, accepted into the Royal Field Artillery, he had been turned down

On reasons of his health - although he had purchased the uniform

In anticipation. After this disappointment he became on probation,

After a Territorial officer of the Royal Army Medical Corps saw kind,

To pass him as fit - while the account of the troop ship he had given,

Had come from an acquaintance, which he had believed to be true.

Mr Arnold made his mistake of repeating account in the first person.

After detention at Scotland Yard, he was told that he would go,

And the case dropped. Taken to his hotel he removed the uniform,

And had then made the sincere promise not to wear it again.

An emotional Mr Arnold confessed while he was ready to be punished,

The publicity would ruin him and his mother who was in poor health.

In his appeal he asked the magistrate to dismiss the summons,

Having already suffered through the process. The magistrate though

Was not so willing as Mr Arnold’s conduct appeared quite calculated,

And brought contempt on the king’s uniform - further the statement

About wounded dying men would only bring distress to both Hussars

And Black Watch relatives - so in judgment he was to be imprisoned,

For one month. The stunned, disconsolate Mr Arnold, looked up

To the gallery as left the dock, where a judgemental public hissed.

by Jamie Mann

Anon., 1914. False War Reports - ":Black Watch Cut Up" - A Bogus Officer Sentenced. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 20 Aug. p.2. Col.5. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11034630/Daily-Telegraph-August-20-1914.html [Accessed: 20th August 2014].

Anon., 1914. The First Casualties - Accidents to Officers. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 20 Aug. p.6. Col.6. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11034630/Daily-Telegraph-August-20-1914.html [Accessed: 20th August 2014].

Mann, J., 2014. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 20 August 2014). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11034630/Daily-Telegraph-August-20-1914.html

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