Sunday, 9 August 2015

Poem ~ Deadly Sister of Mercy - Monday, 9 August 1915


Impression sketch of Bogus Red Cross - by Jamie. 

Between the Baltic and Black Sea,
Stretching North to the South,
To take in most of Eastern Europe,
And into a depth of central Europe,
Was based the Second Patriotic War.

Commonly known as Eastern Front,
Where the Imperial Russian
Army faced their foes. It was likely
Along this front, that an underhand
Act occurred, by an Austrian party.

The holding of a Russian trench
One day made witness
Of an Austrian Red Cross party -
Among the number that stepped
Out onto the open desolated 
Earth, stood a Sister of Mercy.

This was the name given to such
Women in role of Russian
Nurses - the shape that emerged
With this Red Cross team wore
A white headdress and a cross.

They slowly moved forward, towards
The occupied Russian trench,
In order to reach the wounded men
About - when from under her white
Smock, the Sister of Mercy aimed.

Producing guns the party opened
Fire on the Russian defence -
The sister quick to aim and maime,
Until the reaction of the Russians
Cut her down to foil the trick.

With the fraudulent Red Cross act
Stopped, Russians came out
To inspect the remains - searching
The bodies found the Mercy Sister
Was in fact an Austrian Officer.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915 Abuse of the Red Cross - An Austrian Instance. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 9 August. P.7. Col.2. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11780921/Daily-Telegraph-August-9-1915.html [Accessed: 9 August 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 9 August 2015). 



#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1RussianArmy

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