Monday, 31 July 2017

Poem ~ Third Year, 51 Weeks Of War - Monday, 30 July 1917


Source: File: Over German aerodrome
See an original image at: <http://www.earlyaeroplanes.com/archive3.htm> [Accessed 30 July 2017]

Along the battle front, into the Belgium sector
On the 4th day, 51st week in the 3rd year of war,
Artillery raged - reports verified by Douglas
Haig, described enemy artillery close
To Armentieres and coastal area North of Ypres.

Yet allied activity was equal in the air above,
On the 4th day, 51st week in the 3rd year of war.
Attacks carried out by the Royal Flying Corps
Led bombing attacks across German
Aerodromes, to number 4 to make destruction.

Downed aircraft of the enemy numbered 16;
On the 4th day, 51st week in the 3rd year of war.
The attack force flew 40 miles into territory
Of the enemy - the report for Friday,
Told that three allied craft remained missing.

While raids were made through high clouds,
On the 5th day, 51st week in the 3rd year of war,
Also saw night trench raids by British Tommy’s
At Fontaine-lez-Croisilles, Havrincourt
Fleurbix, Epehy and Rouex, in Ypres proximity.

Machine gun, trench mortar and 77 prisoners,
On the 5th day, 51st week in the 3rd year of war
Proved a prize - yet air battles also continued -
A great wave of high activity would have
Seen 14 downed enemy craft and 16 destroyed.

Not without cost, as 13 allied plane were lost,
On the 5th day, 51st week in the 3rd year of war.
Further bombing raids over 2 aerodromes
Whilst enemy railway stations suffered;
Flyers took out 2 German observation balloons.

Claims from a Berlin perspective entered news,
On the 5th day, 51st week in the 3rd year of war.
Their own pilots taking down 35 allied craft -
How one squadron shot downed 6 pilots,
While ground saw intensity of highest artillery.

French efforts proved successful defence, on
4th and 5th days, 51st week in the 3rd year of war,
Having repulsed German attacks over Chemin
De Dames - as were those in Champagne
And Meuse between Hill 304 and Avocourt Wood.

At La Bovelle to Hurtebise French took ground over
On 4th and 5th days, 51st week in the 3rd year of war.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1917. The War - French Success - Activity In Flanders. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 30 July 1917. P.5. Col.1. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12214740/Daily-Telegraph-July-30-1917.html [Accessed: 30 July 2017].

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 30 July 2017). 



#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Belgium

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