Friday, 15 May 2015

Poem ~ Fighting Viewed from Imbros - Saturday, 15 May 1915


Source: File: General Headquarters, Imbros, 1915.jpg, 2015. From National Army Museum. [online] Available at: <http://www.army.mod.uk/firstworldwarresources/gallipoli-1915/general-headquarters-imbros-1915> [Accessed: 12 May 2015].

From the Turkey Island of Imbros, Monday News
Spoke of a quiet day about the Dardanelles -
After more than twenty days fights still raged,
For the gains of the Peninsula and Gallipoli coast.

Saturday 8 May, Cape Helles views saw Turkish
Attack - their guns across Asiatic shores,
On land between Dardanus and Ernekeui,
Targeting their fire in the Straits on British ships.

Gunnery on British destroyers made their reply.
With distant rolling boom in retort clouds;
One spat fury - the other back as angry
Vengeful, birds perched on opposing shores.

Midday Monday 10 May, began land battle beyond
The shore ridge of Gaba Tepe - three miles
Away, Ibrahima fired broadside at 1.45 p.m.
Onto Narrows of Boghali Kalessi and Khelia Liman.

Shells hit again and again - until black smoke
Appeared  towards Boghali Kalessi,
Dispersing into the sky - as flashes
Of guns, like a beast spitting fire, shot into air.

The plumes came from about Erenkeui town -
As ships gunnery gave their replies -
The mobile batteries in the Turkish
Town, took their aim on British in the Straits.

The defending retorts of shipping gunnery
Intensified, till 4 p.m. when shells died.
In Turkish defence the Krithia village
Remained on their side, halting their enemy.

From that Peninsula edge, Turkish defenders
Held Seddul Bahr to Cape Suvla -
With 11 May 13,000 wounded Turks
In Constantinople, raised their state of fears.

Figures grew to 40,000 injured, as crowds
Of Turkish women set out onto streets,
Cursing those who sent them to fight;
As Sultan Mahomed considered an abdication.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. Dardanelles - Enemy Spirited Attack - Movable Batteries. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 15 May. P.8. Col.6. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11600375/Daily-Telegraph-May-15-1915.html [Accessed: 15 May 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 15 May 2015). 



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