Saturday, 17 October 2015

Poem ~ At Lone Pine - Sunday, 17 October 1915


Source: File: Turkish trenches at Lone Pine, captured on August 6, 1915, by the 1st Brigade AIF..jpeg Pine branches can be seen covering the trenches.[online] see an original image at: <http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-23/the-turkish-trenches-at-lone-pine-captured-in-august-1915/5406006> [17 October 2015].

From the fighting in Gallipoli, the Anzac's
Infantry Forces were to see more Awards
Of VCs acts, in area of Lone Pine Trenches.

From out of ten, three stories told events
For conspicuous bravery - these officers,
Captain Alfred Shout and two lieutenants.

The date 9 August, the time early morning;
In battles heat, Captain Alfred John Shout
Took the charge down Turk held trenches.

Leading the small party against an enemy,
He himself threw four bombs to rouse all
Occupiers out - leaving behind eight dead.

From that secured space in the afternoon,
Captain Shout took charge, to capture
A further length to bomb further enemy.

Amid close range heavy fire the Captain
Was hit and badly wounded, to loose his
Left eye and right hand; only to succumb.

With Captain Shout in the 1st battalion,
The 7th Battalion, in another Lone Pine
Incident, saw Lieutenant Johns Symons.

During the night of 8 August 1915, this
Lieutenant commanded the right section
Of Anzac held Lone Pine trenches.

Under his cool command, all counter
Attacks were repelled, then at 5 a.m.
A Turkish attack fell on an isolated sap.

With a section lost, along with six officers
Wounded or killed, Symons took a charge
To take back the sap and shoot two Turks.

Three sides of hostile fire forced their
A withdrawal, to gain overhead cover -
Additionally building a sand barricade.

Still under weighty gunnery the enemy
Set cover alight, but Lieutenant Symons
Put out the fire and rebuilt wall defences.

Under his steadfast leadership, the Turks
Withdrew their attack - within the same
Battalion was Lieutenant Frederick Tubb.

In the same early hour of that same
Morning, a Turkish counter attack
Made a hit back on their lost trenches.

Their tactic was to advance in a sap
To blow a sandbag barricade; but then
Tubb's lead of men pushed them back.

Twice again enemy bomb parties
Hit the barricade - despite wounds
In head and arms Tubb held position.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. Victoria Cross For Australian Heroes - Fierce Trench Fighting - Hurling Back Enemy Bombs. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 16 October. P.8. Col.7. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11922671/Daily-Telegraph-October-16-1915.html [Accessed: 17 October 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 17 October 2015). 



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