Impression sketch of
a crowd saying goodbye to soldiers leaving Victoria Station in London, during
World War I - by Jamie. See
the originals at: http://www.vintag.es/2013/10/old-photos-of-world-war-i-in-1915.html#ixzz3hrtT2pAq
One war, like no
other,
Brought social
changes
In re-evaluations,
Of familiar
institutions.
In just barely a
year,
From one mans act,
By an
assassination
Of some archduke.
In passage of
slow days,
Came changed views
-
As in one time of
day
Sight of men in
khaki.,
Who made up
numbers
Of railway
passengers,
Would have caused
A great speculation
-
To become a regular
Presence - to
cause
No more attention
Than city
passengers.
Numbers of
soldiers
Would then
regularly
Outnumber others
-
All railway
stations.,
Became places
akin
To military camps;
Boys carried bags as
Women took tickets.
All ordinary type
folk,
Rubbed shoulders
Of men, who'd
seen
War’s vicious
effects.
Dust of western
front,
Was likely to
catch
On civilian
clothing -
With foreign
odours.
Hands held less
books
To favour
newspapers -
Becoming more
norm
In the traveller's
hands.
Some camaraderie,
Was almost
tangible -
With man to man
and
Chivalry toward
woman.
Depiction of that
state
Described as 'wonderful'
The changes to be
seen
Over August
holidays.
Stereotypes of
men
Aboard trains,
wrapped
In self, with new
eyes
Open civility to
those.,
Once disregarded
-
While the tedium for
Tedious troop trips,
Relieved by a
word.,
In honest good
cheer -
While those
deserved
Of sympathy, would
be
Newly enlisted
youth.
Youth in
trepidation,
To report to
stations -
New in dedicating
one
Life to country's
call.
Such train
encounters,
Is call essential
helping-
Hand to such
heroes -
As them in the
making.
By example,
people may
Have given cheer,
as in
Seasoned travellers,
Commercial
businessmen.,
In weekly moves
between
From Leeds,
Manchester,
Southwards -
might buy
Raw recruits a
cup of tea.
One belief given
is for
The fallacy that soldiers
All need fags - as many
Did not actually smoke
-
Prompting
awareness
Of soldierly cultivation;
Many a man came
from
Intelligent
professions -
Deserved of
intelligent
Conversations - to
state
The sober
behaviours
Of men turning to
soldiers.
In rare drunk
behaviour
The chivalrous
recruit,
Can be seen to
support
Women and
children.
Men such as
these,
Will ask
permission
Of women to smoke
In such
compartments.
Although tired
from
Marching, they will
easily
Stand throughout
long
Journeys to free
a seat.
A recruit's habit
aboard
Is help little
ones climb
Or leave their carriages
Additionally
these youth.,
Finding dining
cars
Might be devoid
of food
Will easily
resign selves
To their fate of
hunger.
Thus is one
articles hope
In influencing
civilian
Bank holiday
travellers
Of the khaki
presence
How to support
these
Men - not as hooligans
But simply
splendid men
Journeying their
way.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1915. Troops
in Trains - Civilian Interest. The
Daily Telegraph, [online] 31 July.
P.10. Col.7. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11773708/Daily-Telegraph-July-31-1915.html
[Accessed: 31 July 2015].
Mann, J., 2015. 100
years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 31 July
2015).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone
#worldwaroneremembered #WW1Trains
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