Friday, 23 January 2015

Poem ~ Arms and the Officer - Saturday, 23 January 1915



Source: File: Officer, Service Dress 1915.jpg, 2015. By Mike Chappell from The Guards Divisions 1914-45 (Osprey). The Grenadier Guards. [online] Available at: <http://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/armyunits/britishinfantry/grenadier1915.h> [Accessed: 23 January 2015]

Image show a lieutenant dressed for service in France; The sword and pistol is supported by two strap Sam Browne belt - a whistle is attached on one side; Leather cases contain compass and binoculars; Webbing straps on the shoulder to carry knapsack with a haversack attached to his waistbelt; There is a webbing strap over left shoulder for the water-bottle; A rolled raincoat would also be strapped to the back of the belt - The cap khaki including the peak, with a brown leather chinstrap and gold embroidered grenade badge. Two garter star rank badges on each shoulder strap, a distinction of the Guards, as line infantry officers showed their rank stars on their cuffs. 

Until this time, a familiar habit
Had been to reduce differences
For the men and their Officers,
Serving on the frontline - with
Issues of equipment and arms.

An Army Order of 22 January,
1915, declared that officers
Were then to be equipped
In distinct ways - as with any
Officers in peace, who carry
A sword upon their persons.

Upon the field of active service -
With exceptions of infantry
Units - the mounted officer
Will carry sword and pistol,
Which in peace, as currently
Done, will all be laid down.


Officers of Royal Engineer units
And infantry officers - to include
Mounted officers - when in field
Activity - are all to be equipped
In same way as rank and file.

Exceptions are to be bayonet
Frogs', carriers and entrenching
Equipment - all these items
Were to be held as regimental
Implements - issued to the unit.

The warrant officer, was also
To follow the same rule for the
Officers and corps, on active
Service - and in times of peace.

All non-commission officers,
Within the dismounted units,
Would in times of peace -
Be armed with the sword -
But in war are armed with rifles.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. Officers Arms on Service - New Army Order. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 23 Jan. P.11. Col.1. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11358011/Daily-Telegraph-January-23-1915.html [Accessed: 23 January 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 23 January 2015). 



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