Sunday 5 July 2015

Poem ~ The Blue Coats - Monday, 5 July 1915


Source: File: Wounded soldiers visiting Bristol zoo.jpg, The Original can be seen at: http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristol-Zoo-reveals-WWI-pictures-visiting-injured/story-22064580-detail/story.html#2
[Accessed: 5 July 2015].

A question made for the reader -
What new hue is made by war,
That they have invited to tea?

The new colour of blue had
Been seen most everywhere
On motor buses or in cars.

Also on hospital balconies, 
Stood out coats of wounded
Men, as chosen by authorities.

A tone of blue in honest hue,
Seen as a splash of colour -
As red had for past soldiers.

Wearers stood out in crowds,
As occurred on one Saturday
At local Zoological gardens.

Here those wounded soldiers,
Mingled by likes of antelopes
The lions and other animals.

The blues filled the grounds,
Either on foot or bath chairs,
Escorted by the many nurses.

The wearers of blue coats
Belonged to Yorkshiremen -
Visitors of London hospitals.

After all the birds and beasts
Were inspected, came tea -
With music of horse guards.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. The Blue Coats - wounded Soldiers at the Zoo. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 5 July. P.12. Col.7. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11720689/Daily-Telegraph-July-5-1915.html [Accessed: 5 July 2015].

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

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11720689/Daily-Telegraph-July-5-1915.html


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

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