World War One - then and today: 1914

Showing posts with label 1914_0823. Show all posts

Sunday, 5 October 2014

Poem ~ Japan Battle for Tsingtao - Monday, 5 October 1914

From Tokio, on Saturday, comes a report.

The Japanese army in preparing for assault

On Tsingtao, are under constant attacks

On ships and forts - a German plane twice

Tried to attack Japanese vessels but failed.

A Japanese plane chased, fighting back,

With bombs against a captive a balloon

Being moved to Tsingtao - damage unknown.

In Pekin, on 3 October, the Shantung railway,

Is taken under control of Japanese, between

Tsinanfu to Weihsien, for which the Chinese

Do not agree – Japan replied they could not

Allow Germans, In opposing their strategy

In their operation against Tsingtao, to control

A railway at their rear - They quoted a treaty

Of the Chino-German Treaty of 1898 is proof

That the rail line is essentially German.

As Part of China, Tsingtao is today called Qingdao,

Having then being a German colony since 1898 -

The reason for this situation resulted from murders

Of two Germans missionaries, that happened

In the 19th Century – Germany was only calmed

Accepting China's offer of a colony on a 99-year lease;

Due to end in 1997 - until 1914 Germany had mined,

For seventeen years, the Japanese and China seas.

In 1898 the killings at Shantung called for German

Action. Admiral Von Diedrich swiftly occupied

The Chinese Barracks in the bay of Kiau-chau.

On that same day, in spite of protests by a Chinese

General - The German flag raised on that ground –

To appease the Germans China agreed to lease

Lands to Germany, who built a naval port and base,

Considering this to be their foot in the Far East,

Where up to 4,000 German troops were stationed.

Even a few days before Japan declared war,

On Germany, General Mitsuomi Kamio,

Was ordered by his government, on 16 August

To prepare to besiege the German controlled port.

Then Japan issued an ultimatum to Germany,

For all their troops and forces be removed,

From the Japanese and Chinese waters,

Leaving control of the port with Japan.

After the affirmation of war on 23 August,

On 2 September, General Mitsuomi Kamio’s

18th Division of 23,000 men and 142 guns

Bombarded the port – a wary Britain sent

1,500 troops to assist Japan and observe

The actions taking place out in the East;

Germany was to hold out for two months.

The enemy garrison, being outnumbered,

At 6 to 1, eventually surrendered on

7 November, finally handing over the port

On 10 November: To locate elsewhere,

British troops withdrew, while admiration

Was made for General Kamio's siege tactics.

Of night raid and frontal attacks - the type

Soon to be employed on the western front.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1914. Japan and Kiao-Chau - Big Assault Preparing - Aeroplanes and Ships. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 5 Oct. p.8. Col.7. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11137076/Daily-Telegraph-October-5-1914.html [Accessed: 5 October 2014].

Duffy, M., 2009. Battles - The Siege of Tsingtao, 1914. [online] (Updated Saturday, 22 August 2009) Available at: <http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/tsingtao.htm> Accessed 5th October 2014].

Mann, J., 2014. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 5 October 2014).

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11137076/Daily-Telegraph-October-5-1914.html

http://worldwaroneblogger.blogspot.co.uk/

#WW1 #WW1Japan #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #ww1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 2014. Siege of Tsingtao [online] (updated 5 October 2014) Available at: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Tsingtao> Accessed 5th October 2014]

Wednesday, 10 September 2014

Poem ~ Actions at Mons - Thursday, 10 September 1914

The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Arrived at Mons, on afternoon of Saturday 23 August.

Among them, a Lance Corporal, describes events

Prior to the day of battle, beginning with the digging

Of entrenchments – they were still carrying out this

When the first big shell of the Germans struck.

Some twenty yards away, to wreck a house.

Nearby they took shelter behind a wall, in which

Loop-holes were made – under heavy shrapnel fire

They remained there for fifteen hours, overlooking

A valley – from where the Germans came.

Enemy rifle fire was described as 'rotten' – big guns

Covering enemy's advance, caused the most damage.

The Germans outnumbered them – shooting one

Down, another one lifts to take their place.

By 4 am Monday morning, came the retreat.

Among the rear guard the Lance Corporal

Was wounded – close by a shell dropped,

And fragments hit his left leg - then he fell

Unconscious to the ground – in recovery

He finds his rifle and ammunition gone.

Likely taken by Germans, thinking him dead.

Managing to make it to St Quentin,

With other wounded, he was transported

Along to the coast and then onto Netley.

Stanley Crook, a native of Dawlish

And of the 1^st Devons, writes a letter

From a hospital ship, to be printed

In the Western Morning News,

Declared how the Devonshire's

Gained a very warm time,

In the firing line, with bullets

And shells, flying like the wind,

To face massed German attacks.

On shooting one down, another came up.

Many were wounded, but few men killed

D Company suffered, having 10 uninjured

Within the whole Devonshire company.

The Germans then robbed the wounded

Of khaki uniforms, wearing them, thinking

That they would not be recognised -

A German officer also took Crook's clothes.

It was a 100 miles before he got another suit,

Stanley Crook ends with keen eagerness,

To get back to the front - His rifle

And bayonet still being hungry for more.

by Jamie Mann

Anon., 1914. Battle Stories - 1st Devons in a Hot Corner. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 10 Sept. p.4. Col. 1. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11077817/Daily-Telegraph-September-10-1914.html [Accessed: 10th September 2014].

Anon., 1914. Battle Stories - Behind a Wall at Mons. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 10 Sept. p.4. Col. 1. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11077817/Daily-Telegraph-September-10-1914.html [Accessed: 10th September 2014].

Mann, J., 2014. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 10 September 2014).

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11077817/Daily-Telegraph-September-10-1914.html

http://worldwaroneblogger.blogspot.co.uk/

#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #ww1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #Mons

Sunday, 7 September 2014

Poem ~ Escape from Mons – Monday, 7 September 1914

An unnamed Private and a Sergeant Smith,

Both being of the Somerset Light infantry,

On arrival, soon experienced the fighting

Outside Mons - the men bustled from train

Being sent charging into the fray, before

Even before knowing where they were.

Some hours later after a big fight,

The Germans were moving about,

To take ground between many men

And their regiments. Effectively cut off,

The private and Sergeant hid,

Alongside many other soldiers

Waiting silently until darkness fell.

Then throwing rifles aside

They crawled Slowly on knees

And elbows, through German pickets.

The Private and Sergeant Smith

Finally got through and looking

For others, found themselves

At the homes of simple peasants.

Taking some brief respite,

They were given civilian clothes.

Disguised in the hope to return

And rejoin their fighting force,

Quickly proved quite Impossible,

As their regiment

Had retired too far back.

So together they made a plan.

Making their way along the coast,

In various incidents on route.

Being stopped many times,

Not just by French soldiers,

But cyclists riding about,

On lookout for any German spies.

On success in reaching Boulogne

They saw the consul and acquired

A pass to sail back to England,

Where they re-joined their depot -

Still in clothes given them,

By helpful French people.

They could only assume,

Other men that had stayed,

Had been taken prisoner.

While some other soldiers,

Escaping that situation,

Cut off from their regiment,

Did the same as them.

But unable to speak French

Soldiers may have been taken

As German spies and possibly shot.

by Jamie Mann

Anon., 1914. Battle Stories - Cut Off At Mons - Rifles Thrown Away. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 7 Sept. p.3. Col.1. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11073408/Daily-Telegraph-September-7-1914.html [Accessed: 7th September 2014].

Mann, J., 2014. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 7 September 2014).

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11073408/Daily-Telegraph-September-7-1914.html

http://worldwaroneblogger.blogspot.co.uk/

#WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1 #WW1poem #GreatWar #ww1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #Mons