Of 1827 - came three German
brothers,
From the Rhine Valley
Mumm, to be their trademark Champagne
Drink – their home becoming Rheims
Living there for nearly a
hundred years.
As war broke out - to lose all
their property,Being confiscated - as these Germans
Had never become French citizens.
Among the family of Mumm, was
one
To be imprisoned as a prisoner
of war,
Held at Fort Breton
Far from the front in Finistere , Brittany
In Paris
Detainees held within the fort
at Breton.
These prisoners of war had been
Receiving, from friends and
relatives,
Packages to contain winter
clothes.
In the process of giving these
out,
To the named prisoners, the
Governor
Of the fort, took the action to
open
Every parcel, for purpose of a
search.
On opening the very first parcel
was
Found an item, of a pair of
winter socks -
That held a vicious poniard,
with a horn
Handle and sleek sharp blade -
this was
Found to be repeated with same
contents,
Hidden within eleven other
packages.
The deadly knives were poniards
a style -
Of slender blades, traditionally
carried
By the upper classes, as
thrusting knives -
They were intended for prisoners
to stab
And kill their guards, in making
an escape.
The packages had arrived by the
German
Red Cross Society - via the
offices of United
States Government - Regarding the
event, the
American Consul, was asked to
sign a report.
On signing this, he said it was
disgraceful,
How that the flag of America
To cover an infamy – his aim
would be
Before any other packages
reached France
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1915. Daggers in Socks. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 2 Feb. p.11. Col.2. Available
at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11380292/Daily-Telegraph-February-2-1915.html
[Accessed: 2 February 2015].
Mann, J., 2014. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter]
(Personal communication, 2 February 2015).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar
#WW1poem #GreatWar #ww1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered
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