From the Port of
Plymouth, with a history
Of spectacles,
comes the latest event -
Whereon Wednesday
last came across
The Atlantic
Canadian Troop Volunteers
Departing from
homes in the far West,
Seen as coming to
aid of Motherland.
The place of
their arrival on English soil,
Being a secret to
the few, until the news
Spreading, in
creating crowds by the sea
Front, where
witness views said no sight
Like this had
been seen before nor ever
Forget the
grandeur in a link to Colonies.
From behind Mount
Edgeumbe came nose,
Of leading liner,
until the fall of dusk, came
England and
Canadian liners steaming
Into the Sound -
towed into anchor by
Government tugs –
while some of the boats
Were regular
sights others were quite new.
Old and Visitors
alike had been made united
Being painted
from masts to water line with
Royal Navy’s
slate-grey –some of the names
Were kept clear -
White Star, Red and Cunard
Ships were
apparent. The initial armada ship
Did not gain much
attention until in earshot.
Then came sounds
of cheers and bagpipes
Indicating such
an unusual occurrence - made
Further by the
sight of figures everywhere,
In crowding
masts, all the rope work and decks
Word flowed that
it was the Canadian troops
Then made shouts
from shore to ship to shore.
Calls of ahoy and
hello came in the vigour
Of men’s calls –
lasting for the whole day.
When a ship was
within range of the harbour
Came prolonged
rounds of shared cheers.
The crowds stood
all day upon the foreshore,
With their loyalty
highlighted at Devils Point,
Where artillery
is stationed - as night fell
The vessels
became ablaze with lights,
From stem to
stern - sounds of music flowed
To the still
cheering crowds upon the shore.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1914. Canadian
Troops at Plymouth – A Great Welcome. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 16 Oct. p.9. Col.4. Available at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11165436/Daily-Telegraph-October-16-1914.html
[Accessed: 16 October 2014].
Mann, J., 2014. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 15 August 2014).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #ww1centenary
#worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered
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