Saturday, 4 July 2015

Poem ~ Submarine Disguises - Sunday, 4 July 1915


Impression sketch of a four masted schooner - by Jamie.

A British Schooner, built in Nova Scotia,
Named after the Captain that sailed her -
Captain Leonard C. Tower -
Commanded the young swift schooner,
On her initial voyage across the sea.

The Canadian registered craft set out
From Parrsboro, Nova Scotia to Newport;
The schooner carrying timber -
On 1 July, Thursday morning, reaching
25 miles S.S.W. of the Fastnet.

Captain Tower, from his schooner,
Reported to see a submarine, some
Ten miles distant - the small
Four-mast schooner received a signal
From them to abandon ship.

As the submarine sailed closer,
L.C. Tower was heading for Lundy
Island - the Captain obeyed,
And the crew took to their motorboat
To witness sad destruction.

While probably apparent to German
Submarine crew of the obvious little
Importance of the schooner,
They spent time with explosive to set
The schooner alight.

In their move to shore Captain Tower
Of the burning schooner, reported
How the submarine crew
Rigged up masts, canvas funnels along
With dummy stern and bow.

Creating the effects of smoke from
The mock funnels, the enemy was then
Seen to move northwest -
With the crew safely reaching Crookhaven
As their vessel burnt to waterline.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. Dummy Funnels. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 3 July. P.9. Col.6. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11708910/Daily-Telegraph-July-3-1915.html [Accessed: 4 July 2015].

Hurd, A., 1924. The Merchant Navy Vol 1. Bazell, Watson. 13 HEAVY LOSSES ON JULY 1 Available at: <https://archive.org/stream/merchantnavy02hurduoft/merchantnavy02hurduoft_djvu.txt>

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 4 July 2015). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11708910/Daily-Telegraph-July-3-1915.html


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

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