Impression sketch
of in the Pavilion grounds - by Jamie. See the
original at: http://brightonmuseums.org.uk/royalpavilion/history/ww1-and-the-royal-pavilion/
With Brighton's past, Indian influence
Of Royal Pavilion
might have seemed
An obvious choice
for the wounded,
Of the Indian continent
to be treated.
The destination
for Mr Chamberlain
And his wife's
visit, for an inspection
Of the hospitals,
tending to Indian
Soldiers who had
suffered wounds.
The belief was that
Brighton would stay
In hearts as a
sacred place for many
Years, as
Brighton’s people and Mayor
Gave out a great
deal of generosity.
Mr Chamberlain had
spent the first day
At Kitchener's
Hospital - adjoining
The racecourse
was a grand looking,
Converted
workhouse building.
With a curved
sign, stating in English
And Indian text,
the 'Kitchener Indian
Hospital' - which
would house 2000
Patients - all
with modern medicine.
Working with
complete personnel
Of Indian staff, were numbers of British
Orderlies, who
worked in success
Together, in
carrying out their duties.
Mr Chamberlain
took a keen interest
In arrangements
for providing patient
Food, in nine
kitchens - for all the sects
Of vegetarian and
meat eating castes.
Thus separate
kitchens, slaughter
Houses and
sections all distributed
The food; along
with the cooks taught
Methods in using
gas and counters
On the following
day Mr Chamberlain
Saw York-Place
Hospital, under the rule
Of Colonel Sweeny
and Indian medical
Service, catering
for 600 Indian men.
Later the visit
moved to the Pavilion
Hospital, holding
722 beds - India's
Secretary of
state stayed till 6 p.m.
To see arranged
beds under Dome
And the music
room chandeliers.
To mark end of his visit Indian officers
Assembled,
to march past secretary
Of state, with
whom he shook hands -
And also Subadar
Mir Dast, in recovery
In gaining the VC for his act of gallantry.
In gaining the VC for his act of gallantry.
Subadar Mir Dast,
weak from poison
Gas; lay in a
bath chair - the man's story
Was gaining Order
of Merit in bravery
Of 1908 - his
officer had joked that greatly
Disappointed not
to get VC, but he did.
In dining with
Mayor, Mr and Mrs Otter
And the Chief
Constable, Colonel Gentle,
Who made
assurance to secretary of state
The behaviour of the
Sepoys as gentlemen,
Whose care
received was in appreciation.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1915.
Wounded Indians - Mr A Chamberlain's Visit. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 14
July. P.3. Col.7. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11732036/Daily-Telegraph-July-14-1915.html
[Accessed: 14 July 2015].
Mann, J., 2015. 100
years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 14 July
2015).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary
#worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1India
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