A retired actor Sir John Hare reflects on a trip to Germany:
Embarking on July 22 1914 before any real account of war.
Sir John and companions finding Cologne full of charm,
Yet within three weeks on a return came a different score.
Amid few English visitors Sir John arrived in Homburg.
Initially everything was as usual, but as each day passed
Came a growing unease within the German principality.
Sir John and friends increasingly ill at ease requested
To leave immediately for London, their chosen destination,
But soon found as the railway and trains were occupied
By troops. There was to be a delay until army mobilization
Was complete: given no choice than to heed this advice.
Sir John's alarms grew with an order for all Russians
To be detained securely within the Hotel Augusta.
With this the English Visitors were given their orders
To gather together at the Hotel Victoria, from which
Entering and leaving was barred by the posted sentries.
Beyond odd shakes of fists in their faces from Germans,
Attitudes of the city's inhabitants were not hostile.
Amid their company was Lord Egerton of Tatton a man
Of Influence and respect, giving calm to their company.
By Tuesday came a rumour that the English would leave
Homburg on Wednesday afternoon - so by evening dinner
Everything was more assured. Joined by Colonel Calley,
Of the 1st Life Guards, who made the promise to meet up
On the following day of the planned departure home.
By 11pm Tuesday came a message stating importance
That the British lodging there go to the station by 5am.
From the Richards Hotel Sir John left in a grey dawn,
To find those from the Hotel Victoria not there - Neither
Did Colonel Calley appear - Sir John conceived fate
Of the Colonel detained, locked in some German fort.
Some others managed to join the leaving party -
But a man of a military age was also detained,
The parents of whom, missed the reassembly -
Like the Colonel they had quietly disappeared.
With warnings from an aide Sir John and party
Should not look from the windows of the train,
Or the guarded waiting room, or speak English
Any more than was completely needed.
While the German army treated them with courtesy,
The train officials were less than respectful.
Within some miles of Cologne, they were herded
Onto a platform to remain until 11 in the morning.
The waiting rooms being forbidden, they could not
Rest even by lying on the platform. Once in the city,
The governor gave the order that no English person
Could leave - from arrival to departure grew tension.
Next came news of a steamer to take any with permits
To Rotterdam. Trying for permits from the Governor,
With the aid of the American Consul, failed to work.
Only then by the determination of Lord William Cecil
Did Sir John and 35 detained English refugees gain
permits. By midnight Lord and Lady Cecil themselves
Went about all hotels, to rouse those needing to leave
Giving them the time of the boat's departure.
With relief came fear and dread: leaving in greyness
From hotel comfort, to find at the port came refusal,
Despite the Governors signature upon all permits,
Being endorsed by Dutch Consul, but police authority
Was lacking. Finally by phone came their permission.
Relief came with seeing the Cologne spires fade away.
Yet troubles did not end, as there were no vessels
For passengers running from Rotterdam to England.
Within their party Sir George Armytage intervened -
To find the only alternative to sail upon a cattle-boat.
The ladies of the party, for a second night on a deck
Remained. With little shelter they watched night pass.
Safely guarded by English Battleships to come home.
So ends the story of another battle of refuges.
Yet their relief surely tempered knowing others
Left behind, now dependent on mercy of enemies.
by
Jamie Mann
Hare, J., 1914. English Tourists
in Germany. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 15 Aug. p.7. Col.6. Available online at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11034515/Daily-Telegraph-August-15-1914.html
[Accessed: 15th August 2014].
Mann, J., 2014. 100
years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 15
August 2014).
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