Saturday, 29 November 2014

Poem ~ Brave Driver, Job Drain - Sunday, 29 November 1914



 Source: File: Job Drain.jpg, 2014. The Daily Telegraph. [online] (updated July 30 2014)  Available at: < http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11258892/Daily-Telegraph-November-28-1914.html> Accessed: 29 November 2014].

Source: File: Job Drain's Victoria Cross.jpg, 2014. First World War: Barking’s Victoria Cross hero Job Drain commemorated in new book. Sophie Morton [online] (updated 10 August 2014)  Available at: <http://www.barkinganddagenhampost.co.uk/news/heritage/first_world_war_barking_s_victoria_cross_hero_job_drain_commemorated_in_new_book_1_3717372> Accessed: 29 November 2014].

A lad from Barking,
Of 18 years.
His name Job Drain,
Had already been
In the army two years,
When war broke out,
In August 1914.

With his full name,
Job Henry Charles Drain
In the position of driver.
Went to France and Belgium
In the Royal Field Artillery,
With the 37th Battery -
From the very start of war,
In August 1914.

On the day of the 26 August,
With the retreat of Mons,
Came conflict at Le Cateau.
A defensive line set
About the French town,
In forming protection
Of their forces - became
An artillery man's battle,
In August 1914.

In the chaos of retreat,
A formation of Howitzers,
Set out to protect BEF.
Among the teams,
A driver, Job Drain,
Caught in midst of fight,
To reform gun positions,
On a summers day,
In August 1914.

To regain two guns,
Captain Reynolds,
Of the 37th Battery,
Called for volunteers,
To recover their loss.
Driver Drain, Driver Luke,
And a man, Gobley,
Stepped forward,
At the battle of le Cateau,
In August 1914.

Together, the men
Moved forward,
Dodging enemy shots,
At a hundred yards -
Reaching the stalled guns,
Of 4.5 inch Howitzers -
Rapidly limbering up
They turned about
With Gobley mounted.
But the man was shot,
In August 1914.

With the Captain
Running, guiding
Another pair,
Driver Job Drain
Took the shot man's
Place, to move on,
And save that gun,
In August 1914.

This team helped
Prevent destruction
Of the BEF soldiers,
By their actions.
Captain Reynolds,
Driver F Luke,
Driver J Drain,
Received the VC,
Reported in November,
From August 1914.

Young Job Drain,
And Frederick Luke
Survived war,
Gaining the rank
Of Sergeants.
Later, Sergeant Drain
Formed the guard
Of honour, in the burial
Of the unknown warrior,
Long after that day
In August 1914.

Back in Barking
Life had changed
On Job Drain's return.
As he received honours
For his act of bravery.
Now his statue stands
To mark his courage,
With a foot forward
He looks outward,
From a battle day,
In August 1914.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1914. Boy V.C. Hero. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 29 Nov. P.3. Col.4. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11258892/Daily-Telegraph-November-28-1914.html [Accessed: 29 November 2014].

Mann, J., 2014. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 29 November 2014). 



#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #ww1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembere


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