Tuesday, 12 January 2016

Poem ~ French Trench Methods - Wednesday, 12 January 1916

Impression sketch of French Soldiers Wearing Sheepskins - by Jamie. [online] see an original image at: <http://www.gettyimages.ae/detail/news-photo/photograph-of-french-soldiers-during-the-winter-dated-1915-news-photo/566449161> Accessed: 12 January 2016].

With words of a Mr Warner Allen,
Liaising with the French Army
For the British Press, came news
Of innovations for life in a trench.

Apart from the obvious, the major
Foe of trench troop was less
The cold, but more the water,
Through which they waded daily.

Protection against the bitterness
Were be countered by supplies
Of clothes, given since September;
First for the men in direst conditions.

Those in the filthiest, dankest
Places were a priority to protect -
Usage of sheepskins given out
Provided rough, serviceable issue.

Without any uniform smartness,
A hole was made for the head
Through middle - the whole was tied
With string's length about the waist.

Men of the French frontlines were
Also issued with Trench boots to be
Passed onto relief troops - continual
Usage meant need of endless supplies.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Trench Improvements - What The French Have Done. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 12 January 1916. P.4. Col.6. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12085387/Daily-Telegraph-January-12-1916.html [Accessed: 12 January 2016].

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 12 January 2016). 



#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1trenches

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