At the camp of Folkestone,
There were four gunners
From the Royal Field
Artillery,
Who hired a small rowing
boat,
'Enterprise,' on Saturday
afternoon.
On the premise of a small
trip,
For some time on the water.
Delany, Cowen, Cook, Walker,
Began to row out to sea.
After the passage of hours,
The soldiers did not return.
With the falling of night,
There was still no sign,
Rising concerns for their
safety.
Then on the Sunday morning,
Arrived the steamer, 'Le
Nord,'
Sailed from the port of
Calais,
Bringing the story over,
Of the gallant four Gunners.
Attempt to row to Calais,
In order to join their
comrades.
Having never seen the Cliffs
Of France, being white as
Dover,
Believed the distance was
closer
Than it was - without food
or water
They rowed on for the shore,
A bright sun blazing upon
them.
'It was a bit hot,'
explained one
Man later. 'We took off our
tunics
And shirts to do our very
best.'
Close to Calais a fishing
boat
Came upon them. The French
Could not make them out at
first.
But on realising they were
British
Soldiers, gave them their
best.
The men slept soundly on
board,
Until they reached Calais
quay.
The gunners had suffered
thirst
More than any kind of
hunger.
The steamer 'Le Nord'
carried back
The boat 'Enterprise.' Being
lifted
Over the side was rowed
ashore,
By the men, who then
reported
Back to the camp
authorities.
Officials, who looked on the
grave
Business, could not resist
to give
A smile at the 'boys'
exploit,
Who had wanted to get to
France
And give the Germans a
'slap'.
by
Jamie Mann
Anon.,
1914. Gunners' Exploit - Cross-Channel Row - Making For The Front. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 31 Aug. p.6. Col.4. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11064335/Daily-Telegraph-August-31-1914.html
[Accessed: 31st August
2014].
Mann, J., 2014. 100
years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 31
August 2014).
#WW1centenary
#GreatWar #WW1 #WW1poem #GreatWar #ww1centenary #worldwarone
#worldwaroneremembered
No comments:
Post a Comment