Sunday, 13 December 2015

Poem ~ French Flag Recaptured - Monday, 13 December 1915

Image of the French flag

Amid those from all walks of life,
Came men of education - one master
Of Eton, Walter George Fletcher,
Joined the Royal Welch Fusiliers.

In the rank of Second Lieutenant,
His career had seen him as Captain
Of his school - to win Jelf Verse Prize
And as a rower in the Eton eight.

From appointment of Assistant
Master in 1913, to be Lieutenant
By 1915 - at the front a mission
Of danger took him into the night.

The Eton master aged 27, crawled
Out into the dark - moving forward
Between the lights of bright flares,
Where he climbed an enemy tree.

Within the branches the Germans
Had hung a trophy of a captured
Flag of France - with this trophy
In his hands, he returned to cheers.

Already mentioned in dispatches,
From 18 February, his brave actions
Led to another recommendation
Of distinction at the flag's recapture.

Only a short time later Lieutenant
Fletcher, was in the trenches when
A shot direct to the head killed him;
The flag was sent to his Eton School.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. French Flag at Eton. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 13 December. P.5. Col.2. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12037754/Daily-Telegraph-December-13-1915.html [Accessed: 13 December 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 13 December 2015). 



#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1France

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