Monday, 10 August 2015

Poem ~ Casques Français - Tuesday, 10 August 1915

Impression sketch of French Sentry wearing new Adrian Helemet - by Jamie. See original at: http://www.historyofwar.org/Pictures/pictures_french_sentry_adrian_helmet.html

Reports from the Intransigeant,
The Parisian Evening newspaper,
Told of the French Government's
Productions of new helmets.

A trial of steel casques in use
On the front line, returned to Paris
For an inspection of their success
Having undergone act of fusilliers

The steel helmets were dented
By the hit of bullets, to prove
Protection  - if the Kepi had
Been worn, they would be dead.

Comparison had been made
To casques worn by 'old time
Sappers - with their deflector
Crests protection had improved.

With August 1915, 300,000
Had been distributed among
French Infantry - along with
25,000 being daily produced.

The helmet, painted a dull
Grey, was hardly visible
From a distance, additionally
A distinctive mark included.

At close quarters the varied
Regiments were distinguished
By molded badges devised
With regiments roles in mind.

For artillery wearers, crossed
Guns - for the chasseurs wore
A hunting horn emblem - and
The infantry, a hand grenade.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915 New French Helmet - 30,000 Distributed. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 10 August. P.7. Col.2. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11783185/Daily-Telegraph-August-10-1915.html [Accessed: 10 August 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 10 August 2015). 



#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1FrenchArmy

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