Wednesday, 5 October 2016

Poem ~ Mannequin Sentries - Thursday, 05 October 1916


Impression sketch for Mannequin Sentries.

In the northwest corner of Europe,
Holland maintained neutrality -
Having no direct connections
To origins of feudal disputes,
That had launched war in 1914.

Yet borders of Holland edged           
Against the victims of Belgium
To the south and protagonist
Of Germany to the east - though
Outsiders, Dutch were affected.

While relations were not close
To the invaded Belgium state,
Holland remained on alert for
Fear of a German invasion from
South - to have conscripts ready.

Evidence was reported to state
How Germany lacked border
Guards, Philippine and Bouchaute
Observers noted how a single
Cavalry soldier maintained watch.

In order to control any smugglers
Or deserters from their army,
A method of dummy sentinels
Were used at night, at fifty metre
Intervals in area close to Neuzen.

Meanwhile real guards patrolled
Each thousand metres, whereas
This use to be hundred metres -
when dawn emerged the dummies
Disappeared for the daylight hours.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Dummy Sentinels - Latest German Trick. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 4 October 1916. P.9. Col.5. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12213367/Daily-Telegraph-October-4-1916.html> [Accessed: 5 October 2016].

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 5 October 2016). 



#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Holland

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