Originating from the South
Of France, a Poilu found his first
Night in the trenches, was met
With a unexpected experience -
As he explained to a friend.
Under the unfamiliar conditions,
The soldier was unable to gain
Any sleep – to pass some time,
He conversed with a guard -
While they talked a large lump,
Of a shape, plumped beside
Them, into the trench bottom –
As the human shape fell, some
Kind of foreign hand, swept
The kepi from off his head.
Striking a match, so that by light
Of flame, he found huddling about
His feet, was a very drunk and live
German – he clasped the Kepi
In one hand, his other fingers,
Clung solidly to a bottle of rum.
The ad hoc prisoner was taken
Into the charge of two soldiers.
By the morning, in his recovery,
The German told his random tale,
As much as he could remember.
On celebrating Christmas, once
again,
The German stepped from his trench
For fresh air – Being drunk he came
Too far on his return back, so he
fell
Down into the trench of the enemy.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1914. Mistaking the Trench. The
Daily Telegraph, [online] 31 Dec. p.6. Col.2. Available at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11316461/Daily-Telegraph-December-31-1914.html
[Accessed: 31 December 2014].
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