To recount a failed German attack at sea,
Upon a Cruiser squadron of the British fleet.
On Sunday past the fleet in its' allotted naval
Settlement, found itself made sharp alert,
Of an approaching of a German flotilla.
This enemy's positions by their periscopes,
Breaking above the water’s surface.
The squadron's swift manoeuvre in their zone,
So that confused submariners were misled.
Then at full speed the Cruiser ‘Birmingham’,
Made speedy target in the danger zone
Targeting the sight of a nearby periscope.
By splendid gunnery the scope was shattered.
Hit square on - so the blinded vessel,
Avoiding any collision retreated under water.
Being hidden in the depth of rolling waves
Their associates made their quick escape,
Abandoning U15 to their dreaded fate.
In blind panic the submarine surfaced,
In the sights of the watchful British cruiser.
As the gunners saw the Conning tower
Lift from protection of its watery lair,
The Birmingham fixed on the tower and fired.
The base of the conning tower was struck
And clean cut from the body so that it sunk
Almost instantly, like a dropped stone.
The observes of that doomed vessel
Made out the letter and number – U15 -
In knowing of their Submarine's loss
Moral of the enemy would be undermined,
While a British nation being self possessed
Britannia ruled with all faith in her fleet.
by Jamie Mann
Anon.,
1914. Destruction of the German Submarine. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 12 Aug. p.7. 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).
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