Impression sketch
of attack on shipyard of Hoboken, 1915 - sketch by Jamie.
Source: File: U
Boat sections in transport.jpg, 2015. Sections of SM UB-13 loaded on
railroad flatcars for shipment to Antwerp. The boat was assembled and launched
there in March 1915.
[online] Available at: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sections_of_SM_UB-13_on_train.jpg>
[Accessed: 25 March 2015].
With German
workers building submarines in Antwerp,
It was the
British plan to destroy them.
The date assigned
for the mission for this being 24 March.
With Antwerp
under Germans hands,
The shipyard of
Hoboken became the target for pilots.
The three
aviators, from their French base, followed
Belgian coast -
at one enemy station,
An enemy Taube
lifted up to give them a hard chase,
But the British
moved at speed
Easily preventing
the Taube's abilities to catch them.
The hour was
early when the sea base came in sight -
7.30 a.m.
Cockerill's shipyard
Seen below - while
at some height they were in danger.
Anti-aircraft
guns opened up,
From varied sites
of the city came shells and gun shots.
The air about
bursts, but they failed to hit in the mist.
While two pilots
had to return
To Dunkirk Flight
Lieutenant Rusher and colleague
Commander
Courtney dived
Their craft down
towards the shipyard docks.
With descent at a
steep angle, the pilots leveled out
At some 100 yards
above
The dock, where
the submarines sat exposed,
Letting go of the
bombs.
Each one hitting
a target, enough for destruction.
Information had
previously leaked of a German ruse
To disguise a sea
craft as a boat -
Carefully crafted
behind a wall, the image of a boat
Disguised a
submarine underneath.
The foiled enemy
saw one destroyed another damaged.
The practice of
the Germans had been to bring their
Submarines in sections,
by rail
And construct the
sea craft in the docks, for launching.
A single German
aircraft
Took to the sky
after them, but was unable to catch them.
Wit the English
pilots leaving in southwesterly direction,
One pilot had
engine trouble,
Flight Lieutenant
Crossley-Meates had to make descent
On Zeeland island
of Kruningen.
Crossley-Meates
was later reported interned at Gronigen.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1915.
A Daring Exploit - Exciting Spectacle. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 25 Mar. P.9.
Col.4. Available at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11490657/Daily-Telegraph-March-25-1915.html
[Accessed: 25 March 2015].
Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 25 March 2015).
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11490657/Daily-Telegraph-March-25-1915.html
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #ww1centenary
#worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered
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