A highly skilled shot
with a rifle,
Lance Corporal Piper
H.G. Latham,
Was reported as killed
in action.
Serving with the London
Scottish.
On six occasions,
He had taken part
With the King’s Hundred,
At the Bisley Camp
competition.
In 1913, took he third
place
For the King’s prize -
As one of the Marathon
Winning team members,
Of the London Scottish
Latham helped in the
taking
Of the Daily Telegraph
cup.
Described in a letter,
From the Croydon
Advertiser,
Piper Latham’s keen
actions,
Were reported to have
Single handedly
bayoneted
Four Germans, in one
charge.
Latham was in action
with mates,
When bullets were being
fired
On them, from in front
and behind -
Described by the man
himself
As ‘phew-w-u!’ those bullets
Tried to whisper
‘Cheero!’
Into their burning ears.
Amid the enemy’s
tactics,
‘Cease fire’
instructions
Were frequently blown
On whistles by Germans,
As an attempt to fool
them
Into stopping -
They also called out
phrases
‘Scotland for ever!’
‘Here you are Scottish,
over here!’
‘Back to your trenches,
Scottish.’
While causing some
amusement
The tricks did not fool
Anyone – with one exception.
Form the midst of some
German group - a yell
raised
Calling out for the
Scottish.
The form of a youth
lifted,
To run for his life –
Chased by two Germans
With bayonets.
Latham having observed
Them, stood up to yell,
His position.
He shot the Germans,
As the youth,
With both arms wounded,
Dived in, exclaiming
His relief, then
collapsed
Into the piper’s arms.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1914. London Territorials
–Death of Piper Latham – How he Saved a Comrade. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 4
December. p.7. Col.2. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11271104/Daily-Telegraph-December-4-1914.html [Accessed: 4 December 2014].
Mann, J., 2014. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 4 December 2014).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #ww1centenary
#worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered
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