Out
of Paris came a hopeful story,
Of
such bravery and determination
By
Belgian women, standing up in self-defence.
Lying
between the cites of Verviers and Liege,
Nestles
an almost insignificant town of Herstal.
Unremarkable
perhaps, except for one advantage,
A
Belgian flag flying over a factory of small arms.
With
the town's men being called to the colours,
This
town's population consisted of older men,
Women
and their children.
Alerted
to the fact of German army’s approach,
These
women gathered together to take charge.
In
making possession of their employers factory,
They
now took up arms loading revolvers,
Rifles
and any other weapons, they had made.
As
the Uhlans approached this women’s army,
Opened
rapid fire and back they drove the enemy
Back
- until no ammunition was left.
After
this they waited in their barricaded homes.
Silent,
watching, waiting, quietly anticipating
Until
the Germans marched down their streets
Who,
in self-assurance of marked success,
Invaders
realised too late as windows opened
And
boiling water was poured and thrown
Upon
their heads in scolding compromise.
Therefore upon the Friday the Belgian flag
Still flew over this Heroic Women’s self defence.
by
Jamie Mann
Anon.,
1914. Fight for a Factory. Heroic Women's Defence. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 12 Aug. p.6. Available at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11025922/Daily-Telegraph-August-12-1914.html
[Accessed: 12th August 2014].
Mann, J., 2014. 100
years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 12
August 2014).
#WW1centenary
#GreatWar #WW1 #WW1poem #GreatWar #ww1centenary #worldwarone
#worldwaroneremembered #Herstal #Liege #BegiumWW1
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