Source: File: Billy
Sing.jpg. [online] see an original image at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Sing>
Accessed: 17 January 2016].
From Gallipoli, by
way of Cairo,
Came a tale of an
Australian marksman,
While not told by
himself but from
Another
Australian, Private Frank Reed.
The man himself Trooper
Sing
Had bagged over
200 Turks, in snipers
Sights - the
number very likely
Higher, during
events of enemy attacks.
Private Billy
Sing had developed
A method that
matched the Turkish
Sniper in his
game - having set
Out targets left
to him by his mates.
Most distant at
1000 yards
Was a gully track,
while 500 yards
A communication
sap - then
At 300 yards lay an enemy trench.
Situated in a
positioned nest
To look over
these targets, Trooper
Sing's snipers
method
To lay in wait
with his telescopes.
These focused on
the most
Likely spots - to
assist an officer had
Another telescope - realising
The danger the
Turks would hide.
This could leave
Trooper Sing
A whole day
without seeing any Turk -
If Billy Sing
felt his conscience
Pricked, he
recollected the early days.
In the first landings
the Turk
Snipers had taken
down Australian
Officers - thus
his heart became
Hardened in his
mission to shoot back.
Other days all
seemed too easy
When most likely
those fresh enemy
Looked boldly for
trouble;
As they stood
Trooper Sing tipped them.
Billy Sing would
exclaim;
The task 'Too easy to be
called a sport.'
While he turned a
blind
Eye to those out
to rescue wounded.
The trooper did
not get
Totally away
without Turkish revenge,
When an enemy
bullet
Expertly entered through
the loophole.
Both he and an
observing
Sergeant were
wounded - after
Being dressed, Private
Sing resumed his
sniper's post.
On another day a
general
Observed for Sing
who, in a poor
Mood over gusty
weather,
Causing him to miss
an easy target.
The Turk had been
seen
At only 300 yards
- he grunted
How he would have
To 'start and
learn to shoot again.'
When at the 500
yard point,
A hat - he took
aim as a head lifted -
He shot as a
gust of wind
Made him realise a
likely miss by a foot.
Discouraged he again fired -
One more head lifted,
for a Turk to be
Hit in the face -
Trooper Sing
Turned and addressed
the general.
Billy Sing felt
sad for the Turk,
Having wanted to
hit the other man
Not him - the
Australian sniper
Then decided not to count
him as a hit.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1916. 'Two
Hundred Turks' - Australian Sniper's 'bag'. The Daily Telegraph,
[online] 17 January 1916.
P.4. Col.3. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12093326/Daily-Telegraph-January-17-1916.html
[Accessed: 17 January 2016].
Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 17 January 2016).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone
#worldwaroneremembered #WW1Gallipoli
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