Impression of
Anchor Line Quay - by Jamie. An
original image can be seen at: http://www.gjenvick.com/HistoricalBrochures/AnchorLine/1912-Brochure-InformationForPassengers.html#axzz3sCcXYiF1
Under Captain
Marshall, the RMS Saxonia
Was due to depart
Liverpool on the Saturday
6 November, about
which a commotion unfolded.
Building up to
the time of departure at noon,
Crowds had
gathered about the Cunard offices,
To involve a
party of young Irishmen, to total 650.
By official
methods they had booked passage
For New York and
the United States - as all these
Men then emerged
into a growing, incensed crowd.
Presence of
police created a path for Irish men
To move to the
landing stage - being forced to run
The gauntlet as
abuse and booing followed them on.
One woman of the
crowd faced one emigrant,
To pull at his
collar and tie with fists waved in faces;
Another presence
to pass came recruiting sergeants.
From out of the
650 Irish, recruiting appeals
Persuaded six of
them to join the army - as the rest
Of the Irishmen
prepared to board, was another event.
From the Saxonia
some of the crew moved
Ashore to declare
they would decline to sail, if these
Emigrants
Irishmen were allowed to make their journey.
Among them one
Irish fireman called out 'why
Should we stoke
up, as long as these are allowed
To run away!' the
protests of crowds made an effect.
With noon close
too, Cunard Co. gave decision
To halt passage
to the Irishmen with notice to agents
To refuse British
subjects of eligible military service ages.
Yet on that
Saturday the California of the Anchor Line
Set for New York
- out of 500 200 were young Irishmen -
No scenes were
made as public were halted from the quay.
An address were
made to these men by the Captain
While the
recruiting sergeants asked, why leave a country
In need of them? If
they stayed their fares would be refunded.
Then a small
number stepped back to meet the Sergeants.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1915.
Emigration to Avoid Enlistment - Scene at Liverpool -
Cunard Company's Action.
The Daily Telegraph, [online] 8 November. P.10. Col.7. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11975545/Daily-Telegraph-November-8-1915.html
[Accessed: 8 November 2015].
Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 8 November 2015).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary
#worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Liverpool
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