Thursday, 14 January 2016

Poem ~ Under-aged Private Janaway - Friday, 14 January 1916


Impression sketch of Gunner Harry Janaway, aged 14 - by Jamie.
NOTE:  an article on teenage boys in trenches can be found at: http://forums.canadiancontent.net/history/129576-teenage-soldiers-world-war-one.html

24 January 1914 Harry Janaway
Travelled to Chichester to join military -
The youngster had informed
Authorities, as his age being 18 years.

He became Gunner Harry Janaway
Of the 130th Battery Royal Field Artillery
And after undertaking training
Was sent to front in France - May 1914.

Young Gunner Harry Janaway
Was involved in the fighting about Ypres,
Armentieres, La Bassee then
Loos; in close scrapes twice to gain wounds.

In January 1916 Harry Janaway
Had his true years discovered by authorities -
By age inquires of some soldiers -
The boy had lied about his age by four years.

4 January 1916, Gunner Janaway
Was his 15th birthday, to depart for home.
Being dismissed by the military
Harry Janaway was annoyed by discovery.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Hero of 15. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 14 January 1916. P.8. Col.7. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12093307/Daily-Telegraph-January-14-1916.html [Accessed: 14 January 2016].

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 14 January 2016). 



#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Tommy

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