Finally
came a 100 years to the day,
Exactly
to that same hour.
Dawn
on 4/8/14, and in the clear new light,
Comes
a list of countries declaring war;
Austria-Hungary
against Serbia,
Germany
against France and Russia,
With
demands against Belgium.
But
this is no sporting tournament.
German
declares its self defence
Against
the powers of France.
But
the 1839 London Treaty
Guarantees
Belgium its neutrality.
In
a Grey speech the Foreign Secretary
States
that this English country,
Cannot
run from honour or interests.
Yet
an underlying gloom comes by paper sellers.
Bundles
of print, cut open stacked for half penny a time,
Make
statements 'for peace' or call 'for a fighting spirit.'
The
papers add their various thoughts.
The
Telegraph states: to do 'anything but slink away,
Like
a frightened cur from the menace
Of
the Prussian jackboot.'
To
risk imposition upon Europe
Absolute
'dominance of absolute power.’
By
8 a.m. still in fresh light of day,
Germany
seeks its own security blindly
Crossing
into Belgian territory.
The
frontier is breached at Gemmerich,
30
miles from the fortress of Liege
By
8.20 a.m. the first assault is led by Otto Van Emmich.
9
a.m. the first Belgian is killed, lancer Antoine Fonck.
Britain
still vows support -
Food
prices rise as the stock exchange closes.
9.10
a.m. The Belgian king appeals to his Parliament
For
defence of their country 'Yes yes!' Comes the reply.
9.30
a.m. once more a telegram request for Germany
To
respect Belgium neutrality;
Hour
by unfolding hour,
Back
and forth, back and forth.
The
first casualty of such conflict is always truth;
Germany
believes France will attack across Belgium earth.
By
2 p.m. London requests Berlin to honour the treaty of 1839,
Their
ultimatum for this, 11 p.m. British time.
9
p.m. and rumours spread around a waiting world;
Britain
is likely to go to war.
Still
false reports are intercepted, adding to the tension.
10
p.m. and the Berlin embassy of Britain is stoned.
Apologies
are made but it seems too late.
10.45
p.m. a Privy Council led by King George confirms war.
The
clock strikes 11 p.m. and Germany is silent.
Shortly
past the hour the navy fleet receives a note:
'Commence
Hostilities against Germany.'
11th
hour '14 to 11th hour '18 what irony!
So
what was it like to know
Nothing
of guns of trenches of mud,
Of
Flanders or the Somme,
Or
any other hellfire place.
Nothing
of barbed wire fences,
Nothing
of pals’ fate before they were battalions,
Or
friendships to be made,
And
friendships to be broken.
To
know nothing of bullet, shrapnel, gas and shells.
No
names carved in cross or stone,
No
war horse, war nurse or ammunition worker.
So
we ask ourselves what was it like,
What
would it be like, to know none of these?
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,
2014. Daily Telegraph August 4 1914. The Telegraph, [online] 4 Aug. Available
at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11004102/Daily-Telegraph-August-4-1914.html
[Accessed: 4th August 2014].
Mann,
J., 2014. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication,
4 August 2014).
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#GreatWar #WW1 #WW1poem #GreatWar #ww1centenary #worldwarone
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