Impression
sketch Territorial Recruiting Rally in London, 1915 - by Jamie. See the original at: http://www.europeana1914-1918.eu/fr/europeana/record/2024904/photography_ProvidedCHO_TopFoto_co_uk_EU006984
Within the area of London,
Came intensified actions,
For this city's battalions -
This was to target all men
Of recruitment age, that
Were to enter the capital,
By bus train tram or tube.
Recent events had seen
Success - with approach
Of July's end, a new level
Of intensity was to be made.
21 July was to be centred,
Across suburban stations,
And mainline terminals.
21 July would see visual
Army presence, in capital's
Need for larger numbers -
Bands were to accompany
14 battalions - to march
About the city, to build up
To a Trafalgar square event.
Gatherings would also be
Before the royal exchange
And St. Paul’s - this would
Be followed, on 22 July,
With eight Battalions and
The Honourable Artillery
Company in certain areas.
Bethnal Green and Hoxton
For 4th
Fusiliers battalions -
An additional decision made
To march through areas of
3rd (City of London) Battalion,
(Royal Fusiliers) - marching
About area of Paddington.
This praised regiment had,
With Argyll and Sutherland
Highlanders, gained praise
In making charge At Neuve
Chapelle -1000 men from
Six city detachments, began
Marching from Harrow Road.
From their Headquarters,
Under charge of Captain
Moreing and their officers,
To move behind the sounds
Of their band - they marched
Along Harrow road and past
The Royal Oak tube station.
These soldiers came to halt
At the corner of Portobello
And Lancaster roads, where
Officers and men addressed
Gathered crowds - moving
With the march had been an
Advertised recruitment van.
As voiced raised to call men
Into the van, climbed one
Man and another - applauded
As they signed their names,
To join a London regiment -
From the marches outset,
Had followed eager women.
Now these same women
Were also addressed, to be
Called to asked to influence
Their men-folk - the marchers
Moved onwards by Kensal,
Goldborne, Cambridge Roads,
Reaching Kilburn High Road.
At this time of the day, men
Started to appear as they
Left their place of work - then
Efforts of the soldier recruiters,
Increased to catch attentions
Of young men who might,
In sight, join the Territorials.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1915. Men
for the Army - London Recruitment Rally. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 21 July. P.10. Col.5.
Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11736581/Daily-Telegraph-July-21-1915.html
[Accessed: 21 July 2015].
Mann, J., 2015. 100
years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 21 July
2015).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary
#worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1London
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