Tuesday, 1 August 2017

Poem ~ A Battle Opens - Wednesday, 1 August 1917

Source: File: German prisoners and British wounded crossing a duck board bridge over the Yser Canal. Near Boesinghe, 31 July 1917. See an original image at: <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Battle_of_Passchendaele,_July-november_1917_Q5726.jpg> [Accessed 01 August 2017]

One day had started - 'the day of battle
The world had waited for began.'
Such were words of war correspondent
Philip Gibbs - formed in acts of battle
Tactics; did that world include Germany?

Over land between Boesinghe to River
Lys, shoulder-to-shoulder French
And allied troopers began the fight - after
Intensity of bombardment and offence
Opened to soften the German side.

Along a 15-mile front French made their
Approaches over allied left shoulder.
Despite poor weather, the sector of Ypres
Neighbour villages fell from German
Hands - Steenstraete soon succumbed.

The Poilu had made great advances
In protection of the allied left flank -
Taking objectives within first few hours,
Two miles into enemy occupation
Another objective formed, Bixschoote.

In south easterly directions the mass
Of Poilu's advanced into Kortekeer,
Cabaret village - with other communes
Soon to follow - short hours later
German counter attacks were halted. 

From their centralised push the British
Made gain of two miles - objectives
Of Steebeek river crossings were taken.
With formation of two assurgent
Systems, assaults opened on targets.

St Julien, Frezenberg, Pikem along
With Verlorenhoek - strongholds
Of woods and farms reformed under
Hands of British - on the south
Flank first objectives were also gained.

Sanctuary Wood and Hooge village -
while Westhoek village witnessed
A vicious struggle - a mile reportedly
Taken. All about counter attacks
Were faced and held on: stalemate.

Success upon success - all within
Initial hours of fight to suggest
Great gains. Reports promised battle
Wins the world had awaited -
This might just be the breakthrough.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1917. Great Battle Of Flanders. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 01 August 1917. P.5. Col.4. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12214747/Daily-Telegraph-August-1-1917.html [Accessed: 01 August 2017].

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 01 August 2017). 



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