Thursday, 20 August 2015

Poem ~ Queen Mary Takes Aim - Friday, 20 August 1915


Impression sketch of Queen Mary on firing range - by Jamie

King George and Queen Mary,
Set off in the morning of Thursday
19 August from the Pavilion residence.

The Royal couple were driven
To the southerly area of the district,
Where many troops were then inspected.

After a return to their Pavilion
For lunch, they were driven out to see
Machine gun practice, at Rushmoor range.

With the Royals displaying interest,
An invitation was kindly asked of Queen
Mary, to fire a magazine of fifty cartridges.

Taking up the gun the Queen
Pulled trigger - then to draw back,
After the first few rounds, with a laugh.

The Queen intently renewed
Her grip on the gun, took aim then
Rapidly fired off the rest of the magazine.

After this the royal party went over,
To investigate the target aimed for -
Back at the firing line gun was loaded.

A more confident princess focused
Her sharp eye, to empty a full magazine
On target, before another brisk inspection.

Some time later in the afternoon,
The Royal party left for a more sedate
Field inspection at Fleet, then home for dinner.

 by Jamie Mann.

Ann.,1915. The King at Aldershot - Queen Mary's Gun Practice. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 20 August. P.6. Col.7. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11801538/Daily-Telegraph-August-20-1915.html [Accessed: 19 August 2015].
Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 20 August 2015). 
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11801538/Daily-Telegraph-August-20-1915.html

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