Source: File: dummy
heads.jpg, 2015. Not just a German Trick, Papier-mache dummy heads were used by the French and British to trick
snipers in the trenches. 20 March 1915. [online] Available at: <http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1805449/posts/> [Accessed: 20 March 2015].
Light Infantry,
Private Albert Moore
Aged 39, offered
himself as a volunteer.
The battalion had
found themselves
Deep within the
fight, about Neuve
Chapelle, late
into night of 13 March.
A reconnaissance
of a German trench
Was needed - their officer stated risks
And would not
order any man to go.
They were in the
area of Armentieres,
As they crawled
out to the barbed wire
On the German
side, to see a sentry.
Trooper Moore
said to the officer to stay
Still, or the
sentry would raise the alarm -
Advising to lay
quiet; to work way forwards.
As some minutes
passed, they believed
They could take
the sentry prisoner -
At eighty yards
from the enemy trench,
The trooper said
how he would crawl
Nearer, to stalk
him from the rear -
As the Officer
kept his total attention.
With a stomach
crawl, Albert Moore got
To within ten
yards of the very still sentry,
Slowly pulling
himself up to the figure.
He signalled the
officer's approach, to state
It was a dummy -
to show they had no fear
The Officer said
that he should push it over.
Trooper Moore put
a hand to the shoulder,
A push resulted
in sound like a clock's turn.
As it might explode was advice of 'head
down.'
The trooper gave
second shove and the figure
Exploded - both
dummy and man flew up
Into the air - Moore came down in flames.
In the dummy’s
body had been a substance,
Like sticky
treacle, providing victim a lingering
Agony - Private Moore hit the ground in pain.
Unaware if his officer was still there, Moore
Pushed himself to a
ditch of water and fell in.
In dazed
awareness he jolted with a touch.
The Officer was
there - as Moore said farewell
Believing that he
would not live for very long -
But the Officer
picked him up, to carry him.
At six yards they
tumbled, Moore wracked
In pain - again
the officer held him stand
And somehow walked him to an open road.
And somehow walked him to an open road.
They quickly came a cross
a listening patrol -
Once in safety,
Trooper Moore collapsed
Then heard officer's words, stating his bravery.
Unaware of wounds severity, had likely allowed
Moore to walk each step to
safety - then blinded
Beyond recovery, with
many mutilated wounds.
Yet with his mind
sound, Moore recounted
The story, on his arrival
at Norwich Hospital -
To lie amid
wounded, a victim of a booby trap.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1915. Explosive
Dummy - Victims Graphic Story. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 20 Mar. P.10. Col.4. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11480917/Daily-Telegraph-March-20-1915.html
[Accessed: 20 March 2015].
Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 20 March 2015).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary
#worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Armentieres #WW1NeuveChapelle
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