Tuesday, 5 May 2015

Poem ~ Wanted: Fit Men - Wednesday, 5 May 1915


Impression sketch of Prime Minister Asquith  - by Jamie. The original can be seen at: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Herbert_Henry_Asquith.jpg

4 May at the Westminster Palace Hotel,
Gathered Wholesale and Retail Distributing
Trades Recruiting Committee. To stand
Was Mr Asquith gave out an appeal;
More men of the Empire were needed.

A request was for employers to let more
Men to be able to join army. This was
An initial meeting in purpose to address
Employers who have many available men
Whose places could be filled by reserves.

Women had answered an appeal from
Board of trade, to register their availability.
With process Sir George Pragnell asking
Mr Asquith that awareness be made
For employer's questionnaire to complete.

This was to state many men they employ
Fit to serve - Mr Asquith clarified points;
The appeal was to be a general movement
Not just aimed at trades -while 260,000
Had come from trade 220,000 remained.

Women had worked well in ammunitions
The need was for more to employ women
Thereby allowing men to join the forces
He said how reality was still unrealised
By the majority of the country’s men.

Liberal Prime minister H. H. Asquith gave
The empire a message of magnificent
Beginning - halting the aggressive tide
Best traditions, to give strength and spirit. 
Yet still more was needed in that direction.

In his conclusion Asquith felt confidence
That everything needed will be attempted
And nothing left untried in bring to an end
       ‘A decisive and glorious issue.’ 

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. Official Census of the Physically Fit – Premiers Appeal – More Men Needed Optimism but Preparation. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 5 May. P.9. Col.7. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11574553/Daily-Telegraph-May-5-1915.html [Accessed: 5 May 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 5 May 2015). 


#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1London

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