Tuesday, 12 May 2015

Poem ~ Identifying the Dead - Wednesday, 12 May 1915


Source: File: Alfred Vanderbilt.jpg, 2015. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [online] Available at: <http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alfred_Vanderbilt..JPG> [Accessed: 12 May 2015].

11 May 1915 saw the Steam Tug Poolzee,
Under employ of the Cunard Company,
Take the task to look for victims,
Of the RMS Lusitania.

South of Cape Clear, at about ten miles,
Poolzee came across wreckage,
Along with drifting bodies,
Numbering 17.

All bodies had been wearing their lifebelts.
There were a total of nine men, five
Women and three children;
A girl and two boys.

The Poolzee tug on making their grim,
Recovery conveyed them
Back to Queenstown,
And onto shore.

Using improvised stretchers, one
By one, bodies were placed
In Cunard Wharf Stores,
Laid out in rows.

Once there the identifying began -
Waiting relatives and friends
In enclosed tension looked
On each one for clues.

The bodies, in sea-soaked clothes,
Were examined closely for any
Identifying documents,
Or possessions.

One grieving woman sadly came
Across her sister who had
Left New York, to place
Hyacinths in her hand.

The three children lay to one side,
One of the boys described
As handsome; his wet
Auburn curled hair.

In another row of victims were laid
Mrs Stuart Mason, who had
Recently married from her
Name, Leslie Lindsay.

Other documents carried, identified
Names such as George Cropping
David Chabot, Miss Condon,
And Ernest Hene.

A printed notice about Queenstown,
Requested information over
Two missing children,
From the ship.

Percival Booth Jones and Ailsa
Booth Jones - with blue eyes
And gold hair - likely to be
Those found drowned.

Even more bodies were soon to be
Identified - fetched by the tug
'Flying Fish' - ten bodies
Waiting at Baltimore.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. Sad Scenes at Queenstown - Bringing in the Dead. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 12 May. P.10. Col.2. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11593210/Daily-Telegraph-May-12-1915.html [Accessed: 12 May 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 12 May 2015). 



#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Lusitania

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