Monday, 13 October 2014

Poem ~ A Swell of Recruits - Tuesday, 13 October 1914



A rush of eager recruits,
Occurred on 12 October -
Creating one of busiest
Mondays, since the news
Of the British retreat 
In France – now the fall
Of Antwerp, has boosted
Many more eager recruits,
Keen to take up arms.

In the region of 2000 men,
Made the lines, in London’s
Swelling Recruitment offices -
This could also be in part,
Of a reduction of infantry
Regulations – the desired
Height of men, reduced
From 5ft 6 to 5ft 5, while
As sizes of chest measure's
From 35 ½ to 34 ½ .

Thousands that could not
Previously be accepted,
Are now allowed to apply
To the army - once processed,
These smaller men are
Sent onto training centres.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1914. Rush of Recruits - Standard Lowered. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 13 Oct. p.6. Col.4. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11149706/Daily-Telegraph-October-13-1914.html [Accessed: 13th October 2014].

Mann, J., 2014. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 13 October 2014). 



#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #ww1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered  

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