Sunday 13 August 2017

Poem ~ Mobbs War, Monday 13 August 1917 - Wednesday 15 August 1917

Source: File: Edgar Roberts Mobbs. See an original image at: <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Edgar_Mobbs.jpg> [Accessed 13 August 2017]

From the Boys Own World to a world war,
Figures of standing in arts and sport,
Edged from civilian life into khaki.
Already a legend on the sports field was
Edgar Mobbs, rugby player and cricketer.

Born Northampton, Edgar Roberts Mobbs
Lived Buckinghamshire, Dartmouth
House Olney, his formative home.
At 8 years 1882 Edgar played in rugby
Team of under 10's, to follow into house team.

A knee injury aged 16 meant a break from
Rugby for 5 years; instead to play cricket
And hockey - the tallest of 4 brothers
And 2 sisters, Edgar was faired haired and
Blue eyed at 6 foot -1903 he returned to rugby.

A career of success followed, to raise his
Status to sporting star - as captain
Of Northampton Rugby Club for
6 years Mobbs scored 177 tries - 1909
He played for England against Australians.

With his stature, physique, strength
And pace, Edgar was made a force
On the field - with Barbarians,
Northampton and East Midlands
Teams, also to include Toulouse, France.

Edgar Mobbs Aged 32 in 1913, decided
To retire from sport, to follow in father's
Steps within motor industry - when
Mobbs considered emigration to
Canada in 1914, European war broke out.

The sports man volunteered - set to gain
A commission but was refused,
Reason being over the age limit -
Yet undeterred Edgar used his own
Influence for others to form a special corps.

Joining as a private alongside 'Mobbs
Army,’ this Sportsman's Battalion
Became part of the 7th Northants
D company - to include other rugby
Players with Captains' of Bedford and Devon.

With his big personality promotion would
Follow. Arrival in France led Mobbs
Into Battle of Loos - rapid rise led
Him to become Major Mobbs - April
1916 he took command of 7th Northants.

After promotion to Lt Colonel, Mobbs
Alongside his company, fought
In Battle of the Somme - during
Attack on Guillemont village,
Lt Colonel Mobbs took a shrapnel hit.

Following mentions in Despatches
Twice, Lt Colonel Mobbs was
Awarded the DSO. December
1916, the following year, took
The Northants to another sector.

April 1917 and the Battle of Arras saw
D company gain many casualties.
7 June, whilst fighting in Ypres
Salient, Lt Colonel Mobbs took
A further wound in action at Messines.

Under 20 days later Lt Colonel Mobbs
Was back with his battalion - over
18 months Private Mobbs reached
Lit-Colonel - coveted as great
Hero of sport with boyish personality.

Soldiering had given Mobbs renewal -
He declared, 'heaps better than
Rugger' - adding it has more
'Variety' - discipline and grind
Of training appealed as a challenge.

Edgar Mobbs took to soldiering
With ease, as those around
Him witnessed how he felt all
Loss of those in his company -
To say that he would be back again.

Despite wounds, his ability to recover
Did not keep Mobbs from front
For too long. On 29 July duty
Posted Mobbs near Zillebeke,
At the Canada Street tunnels HQ.

Involved in launch of the third battle
Of Ypres, Lt. Colonel Mobbs
Was at hand to the front where
He witnessed many of the walking
Wounded return, stating loss of officers.

To follow duty to lead his men Mobbs
Moved to Shrewsbury Forest -
31 July the attack began with
Lt Colonel Mobbs forwarding
The company, ignoring his own status.

As Battalion commander Mobbs
Should not have been there -
In the thick of it at Lower Star
Post, he discovered a section
Of the battalion cornered by enemy.

Requisitioning hand grenades Mobbs
Gained a volunteer runner - the plan
Revived the old game tricks back,
In a two pronged rugby flanking
Movement, was how to take out guns.

Despite another reminder Mobbs
Headed off - the runner was
Quick - he could feel that old
Surge, back on the field the ball
Under arm; a try was just forty yards.

Thirty-five yards behind him a dull
Yell; 'for gods sake get down sir!'
Almost 30 yards Mobbs saw
The Flash of sweeping bullets -
Ready to let the Hun take a catch.

A teammate suddenly saw Mobbs
Drop, believing he had thrown
A grenade he fell alongside
Lt Colonel to see his wound -
A bullet had gone through his neck.

They paused on the lip of a shell hole.
Mobbs gasped to halt attempt
To dress the hit - he scrawled 
The gun position, pushed the map
Into the runner's hand with firm orders.

Shakily the man read Mobbs message.
'Am seriously wounded' - despite
Protests to leave him, Mobbs gave 
Orders; return see to his wound
Only after the need of reinforcements.

Lying in mud Mobbs could not fight
A fitful sleep - with ten minutes
His men found Lt Colonel Mobbs
Had died alone - action demanded
That they could not convey his body.

The Sports man's battalion pressed
On with duty - their leaders body
Would never be recovered, lost
In the battle - they just fought even
Stronger, to avenge a good man's death.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1917. Private To Lieut-Colonel - Famous Footballer Killed. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 06 August 1917. P.6. Col.2. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12214752/Daily-Telegraph-August-6-1917.html> [Accessed: 13 August 2017].

Source: File: England Rugby: Remembering Edgar Roberts Mobbs. Available at: <http://www.englandrugby.com/news/features/remembering-edgar-roberts-mobbs/> [Accessed 13 August 2017]

Source: Olney and District Historical Society:  Edgar R Mobbs DSO (1882-1917) - Legendary Soldier Sportsman. Available at: <http://www.mkheritage.org.uk/odhs/articles/edgar-roberts-mobbs-dso-1882-1917/> [Accessed 13 August 2017]

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 13 August 2017). 



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

Wednesday 9 August 2017

Poem ~ Tragedy Of The Belgian Prince, Thursday 9 August 1917 - Sunday 12 August 1917

Source: File: Two Survivors of the Belgian Prince. See an original image at: <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-40831765> [Accessed 06 August 2017]

A steamer, Belgian Prince, out at sea
Some 200 miles from Irish coastline,
With a crew of varied origins - they
Included an American black man,
William Snell and a man of Tyneside
Thomas Bowman - Chief Engineer.

Built by Laing James and Sons Ltd
In 1904, the cargo ship was built
To reach 10.5 knots - The Belgian
Prince then owned by Prince Line.
Tuesday 31 July 1917, Thomas
Bowman was on deck; time 8 p.m.

175 miles distant from Tory Island
On Donegal coast, a German sub
U 55 was on a mission to sink any
Allied shipping - commanded by
Oberleutnant zur See Wilhelm
Werner; Belgian Prince was seen.

The U boat's engines were thrown
Into action and a course was begun.
The U boat launched a first torpedo.
Then struck Belgian Prince lurched
Sideways - chief engineer Thomas
Bowman fell on deck, hit by debris.

Boat's crew of 42 men took action
As the vessel gave a list, taking
To the lifeboats. Once in the water
The submarine came alongside
Fired on the disabled Belgian Prince
To foil attempts to call assistance.

The crew in the lifeboats were
Ordered by the U55 to remain
Alongside - with no other choice
They did so - a veteran of close
Escapes Thomas Bowman, told
How they were ordered aboard.

Among the 42 standing on the
Submarines deck Captain Hassan
Was separated and taken below -
Their prize from steamer Belgian
Prince that now hung limp in sea -
U boat crew focused on the crew.

While some took axes to the life
Boats other Germans removed
The lifebelts from all but 8 men;
Told to strip off their outer clothing -
Oars, balers and gratings were
Taken from the smashed lifeboats.

Without any consideration of 41
Men’s lives, the U55 crew climbed
Into their vessel and closed the
Hatches - Thomas Bowman told
How the U boat began to move
To wash them all into the waves.

One of eight Thomas Bowman
Still wore a life belt - a number
Of his fellow crew floundered
In the water to be pulled under
By the U55's swell - others swum
Back to the wrecked steamer.

By then the submarine was two
Miles distant, their Captain's fate
Unknown - hanging in water was
2nd Cook William Snell, of Florida
Jacksonville, and able Seaman
George Silessi; time passed.

The youngest apprentice aged 16,
Edward Sharp was calling out
For assistance - Bowman dived
Back into water and swam
To the boy to reassure the lad -
Bowman held him above water.

Hours passed into darkness,
As the figures left were carried
By the sea. Thomas attempted
To keep Edward awake but
The lad losing consciousness
Succumbed to exposure - he had
To let the boy drift from his hold.

Midnight was judged to pass
Still in darkened hours - the final
Survivors waited for daylight -
Finally some time after dawn,
Emerged on the sea the floating
Hulk of steamer Belgian Prince.

Smoke still drifted up from wreck
As Thomas Bowman summed
Energy to crawl through water,
When an explosion from debri
Halted chance to reach any kind
Of safety; around him were bodies.

Crewmates hung limp in the water -
In their isolation two others were
Still alive - able Seaman George
Silessi had already returned to their
Stricken steamer, to remain for hours
When a submarine lifted from sea.

While not certain this was the same
That had attacked them, Silessi saw
Numbers of Germans climb aboard
To claim any loot - Silessi slipped
Away into the water and made for
For the remains of a small boat.

William Snell, the American cook
Had also spent the same hours
Afloat, having concealed lifebelt
Under his clothing - time and water
Had caused him to drift in distance;
In daylight he saw Belgian Prince.

Holding onto his life Snell began
To head back towards the wreck -
At some distance he judged a mile,
Snell paused - close to the Prince
He saw the black U boat shape
To believe Germans had returned.

Stalling his return by his hesitation
He saw the final act to finish her -
The deck gun flashed twice with
A crack upon the hulk, the Belgian
Prince by her stern, finally sank -
He could do nothing but watch.

The slowly rising sun suggested
7 a.m. - was William Snell the only
Man left? The U-boat vanished to an
Underwater route, when little more
Than an hour later, a British boat
Found 3 survivors with 39 dead.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1917. Murder On The High Seas - Hums Fiendish Callousness. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 04 August 1917. P.8. Col.3. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12214750/Daily-Telegraph-August-4-1917.html> [Accessed: 09 August 2017].

Source:  McCauley. C. File: BBC News: World War One: The sinking of the SS Belgian Prince 100 years on. Available at: <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-40831765> [Accessed 09 August 2017]

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 09 August 2017). 



#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1waratsea

Sunday 6 August 2017

Poem ~ Fighting Above The Mud, Monday 6 August 1917 - Wednesday 8 August 1917


Source: File: German Aerodrome. See an original image at: <http://www.earlyaeroplanes.com/archive/image5/GermanAerodromes.jpg> [Accessed 06 August 2017]

Winter in August enshrouded
In dankness; an army dug in as well
As they could into a swampland.
Vile Flemish weather created
Glutinous mud; shell holes as ponds.

As insects in a ploughed field
Walking wounded made their way as
Best they could, trying to avoid
Shelling arriving at clearing
Stations, as weary figures of mud. 

The foulest of weather was not
Confined to ground, where in the air
The forces of aircraft did not
Hesitate to take part over
Enemy territory to create havoc.

31 July saw keen embarkation
Of eager airmen to add their part,
Swooping low over marching
Heads of enemy to scatter
Them, or taking bombs to camps.

These airmen often flying low
At tree height - as one air pilot did
Till coming to an aerodrome.
He targeted the hangers - those
On ground initially saw him as own.

Then a bomb hit the first hanger
Causing panic, whilst he swooped
To the open doors firing inside -
Lifting, soaring to the second
Shed to provide a gift of a bomb.

A third hanger took another
Bomb; a delay in the handle's action
Sent fourth bomb onto ground
Near to a railway siding, close
To a train - the Germans took aim.

They fired at the English
Plane but the pilot undeterred led
Straight into them in return
Of fire, to scatter them about -
At 20ft to target the sheds again.

Firing last of his bullets the pilot
Lifted away to a cloud. With renewed
Ammunition this aerodrome
Saw the return of the flyer so
Low to skim the ground again,
Firing into hangers on mechanics.

Having left that aerodrome
In disarray, the English pilot came
Across two German officers
On horseback, to dive low
Over their heads; the horses bolted.

Further along from a height
the pilot swooped to a marching
German column, letting loose
Fire In their midst, they scattered
To seek safety in ditch and hedge.

Having used all ammunition
The pilot retreated to fix a third
Drum - he emerged from
Cloud to discover German
Craft in pursuit in ariel battle.

In evasive action and
Reaction the three fought briefly,
Until in pursuit a German
Crashed to ground to see
A German crowd gather round.

Without hesitation he turned
Again and targeted the crowd.
The British pilot left them
To encounter a civil train
Finishing bullets returned to base.

by Jamie Mann.

Gibb.P,1917. Heroic Airman In The Battle Of Flanders -Amazing Exploits. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 03 August 1917. P.5. Col.5-6. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12214748/Daily-Telegraph-August-3-1917.html [Accessed: 06 August 2017].

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 06 August 2017). 



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

Thursday 3 August 2017

Poem ~ Battle's Deluge, Friday 3 August 1917 - Sunday 5 August 1917


Source: File: Impression Sketch of Mud: Gilbert Rogers. See an original image at: <https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/mud-6619/search/actor:rogers-gilbert-18811956/page/1/view_as/grid> 
[Accessed 03 August 2017]

Rain, not just any old rain but heavy rain -
Wednesday 1 August 1917 - deceitfully
Mirrored an English Summer's day across
Flanders plains. Whilst hurried umbrellas
Populated English streets, the Tommy
And Poilu faced storm clouds; a job was
Underway for the third battle for Ypres.

A telegram penned by Sir Douglas Haig,
Written midday of the first August day,
Told of endless rainfall for 24 hours.
Through the darkness of sodden night,
An English line lay south of the Canal
Between Ypres-Comines - northwards
The enemy counter attacks opened up.

The heavy German counter attacks
Were actively repulsed, but by what
Cost? Ground held by allied artillery
In darkness, held onto the railway
Line between Ypres-Roulers - against
All odds night raids proved a success.

Raids include Bois Grenier - another
Telegram followed ten hours later  -
Haig told of further fierce counter
Attacks formed in strength northeast
Of Ypres, between the ground
St Julien and Westhoek - the allies
Held on against the enemy forces.

They clung to higher grounds taken
Tuesday - despite stubborn exchanges
Those advanced troops were forced
From St Julien - while Westhoek
Village experienced determined
Enemy; western outskirts were held.
Another operation had success.

A battle front line was redrawn,
Over Zillebeke- Zandvoorde road.
Fighting, as Haig wrote, continued
From afternoon at Reulers-Ypres
Railways lines, while Yser canal
Ground was gained on east side -
But do not envision a clean picture.

Rain, rain, rain over 24 hours - such
A consistent downpour like a grey
Steel blur - a salient in 360 degrees
Found the air awash. July had been
Fine, but delays for French readiness
Coincided with unrepentant rain -
Soaking, filthy and endlessly pouring.

In contrast rain elsewhere funnelled
By solid homes, where civil people
Emerged from doors to hurry along.
Young children might leap to slam
Feet hard into puddles, their mothers
Reprimand such childish behaviour;
A boot slides in Passchendaele mud.

Weighed down soldiers; a barrage of
Speeding shells slicing through rain
Slam into soft ground - a dank earth
Skewered by rain pellets and machine
Shells - both collide to explode forth
Spews of liquid mud clouds - amid
All this frail, determined men fought.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1917. Allied Advance In Flanders - Fierce Counter-Attacks - Over 5,000 Prisoners. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 01 August 1917. P.5. Col.4. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12214749/Daily-Telegraph-August-2-1917.html [Accessed: 01 August 2017].

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



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

Wednesday 2 August 2017

Poem ~ Innocent Spies - Thursday, 2 August 1917

 Impression sketch: Innocent Spies. By Jamie

Liege - a Belgium city lying on river Meuse,
Where M'siuer Groneret a merchant shop
Keeper lived with wife and two daughters -
A well known family of Liege, whose head
Of house had influential status, was arrested.

Charges laid on Groneret were on grounds
Of spying - over 3 days the family underwent
A trial - while there had been no proof of given
Acts of espionage, this Belgium Groneret
Family under German held Liege, saw fate set.

The two young Groneret daughters, aged 14
And 20, after three days were transported,
Forced to stand beside a firing squad - the
Officer in charge ordered the soldiers to aim
And fire, executing the girl’s parents outright.

The officer approached the two stunned
Girls and forced them to stand where their
Father and mother lay dead - by their pools
Of blood, the German officer calmly looked 
Both girls in the eye and questioned them.

He said, 'tell me the names of your parents
Spying accomplices. If you tell me your
Lives will be spared, this I promise you.'
The youngest girl a moment later shook
Her head - her older sister gave her reply.

The young woman glared at the officer,
Her voice firm; 'If we speak we could
Cause fifty more people to be killed.
We would rather die alone.' The officer
Grabbed the young girl, pulling her aside.

With an indifferent voice the officer gave
The order to shoot the older girl - they
Aimed and fired and she fell dead over
Her mother and father - the distraught  
14 year old was forced to look on them.

All her family lay dead as the German
Officer promised her a pardon, but only
She gave the names of all her families
Accomplices - but the girl would not
Speak, believing she was to be shot.

Yet her fate was worsened as they
Began to torture her in unsaid ways,
Then given to the squad who were
Ordered to use her - finally broken
The Groneret girl found relief in death.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1917. Quadruple Murder - Fresh German Atrocity. 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: 02 August 2017].

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 02 August 2017). 



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

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). 



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

Monday 31 July 2017

Poem ~ Paris Attacks - Tuesday, 31 July 1917

Source: File: From Geographical Imaginations: Is Paris Burning? A look-out man operates a portable siren above the city. See an original image at: <https://geographicalimaginations.com/2012/10/20/is-paris-burning/> 
[Accessed 31 July 2017]

Within war comes propaganda;
Opposing sides give denial
Of what the other side says.

Arial activity over the capital
Of France, found multiple
German bombing air raids.

As a precaution army of Paris
Firemen warned the people
Of enemy crafts approaching.

Weird, unusual sounds stirred
Paris, as firemen on roofs blew
On bugles or sounded sirens.

Above air raid alarms French
Air craft took flight over city,
In a darkening, melting sky.

Ground and sky became
As one - deep darkness cut
By beams of searchlights.

German official reports told
Of railways targeted in Paris,
To hit their mark with damage.

By Saturday, French replies
Made denial - that enemy
Planes had left no destruction.

Neither material loss nor loss
Of life - wireless messages
Were received by Admiralty.

Yet Parisian military bases
And railways were hit, with
German pilots safely returned.

Sunday July 29th, a Journal
Told of a suburban air raid
To describe damages done.

One store of combustibles
had been hit - also a factory
Yard, to leave small effects.

Two more fell appropriately
Into gutters, while shell havoc
Hit beds of innocent cauliflowers.

Any resulting explosions
Lacked involved descriptions,
As another bomb hit a centre.

Noted as important, maybe
Military, one turret exploded;
Being close to civilian houses.

The blast blew out material
To injure a single sleeping lady -
More bombs harmlessly fell.

Some hit one large enclosure,
With three in a boulevard -
Another damaged flowerbeds.

Sunday 29 July saw repeat.
30 minutes after midnight
Came the sounds of bugles.

Firemen called reveille and
Again set sirens loud across
Sleepy Paris, all as a caution.

Readied French squadrons
Took action to flight; reportedly
Sending enemy backwards.

News via Petit Journal, from
Versailles said bombs exploded,
All lost in the open countryside.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1917. Bombs On Paris - No Victims Or Damage. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 30 July 1917. P.4. Col.6. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12214740/Daily-Telegraph-July-30-1917.html [Accessed: 31 July 2017].

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 31 July 2017). 



#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Paris