Wednesday, 1 July 2015

Poem ~ Men and Munitions - Thursday, 1 July 1915


Source: File: An English shell factory during World War One.jpg, Men's roles on the home front Schools World War One. 13 March 2014 The Original can be seen at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/0/ww1/26562483 [Accessed: 1 July 2015].

A statement made on last day of June,
Came from Mr H. Morgan, in his role
Of Assistant Director of the Munitions
Workers Enrolment Department.

His report stated methods of munitions
Enrolment had proved a success -
To say patriotism of men in industries
Of engineering has been proved.

In ending days of June came enrolments
Of 10,000 each day - Making no limits
To enrolment of skilled engineers, not yet
On war work - the greater the numbers

Entering the industry would then maintain
Smooth running of munitions production -
Mr Morgan added how business Industries
Were showing signs of anxiety - in those

Workers recruited for purpose of making
Munitions  - yet the needs for supplies
For frontlines was a priority, for any cases
Where a man wishes to enter war work -

But if their employer wishes to retain them,
Both would appear before assessor -
Who would then make final decision;  
The employer knowing the man's position,

In their organisation - with the urgent need
For the type of man would be the clear
Factor it had been noted numbers of men
Had increased in joining munitions’ shops.

Yet other men still did not recognise,
The national importance of situations -
 While recognition that all business
Would suffer disruption, if not already.

By such retailers as Richard Burbridge
Patriotic examples were taking place -
An imitative that might spread across
Country - everyman not in war work,

Should be called upon and registered
With department - despite appeal being 
Only for skilled men, 20,000  came
Forward in previous two days showing

Patriotism - but overconfidence was
To be warned against; while satisfactory
Such recruitment had to be maintained
And improved upon - This Mr Morgan

Believed that this was quite achievable -
With help of the employer and workmen,
Who should realise the chance to serve
His country and help save friend's lives.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. Enrolment of Munition Workers - 10,000 Men a Day - Still More Needed. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 1 July. P.9. Col.3. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11708845/Daily-Telegraph-July-1-1915.html [Accessed: 1 July 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication,1 July 2015). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11708845/Daily-Telegraph-July-1-1915.html


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