Poem ~ India Enters War - Thursday, 10 September 1914

In role of King, Emperor of India, King George V,

Messaged the Princes and People of that country,

Stating how, over recent weeks, the people

Of his Empire, home and abroad having one mind

And purpose, to overthrow an assault

Upon all civilisation and mankind’s peace.

His voice has been cast onto the side of peace,

While his ministers strove to appease differences,

Which did not directly concern his Empire.

The King of England explains to his Indian subjects,

Of his allegiance to Belgium and the French nation,

Both countries being threatened with extinction.

Not to act upon this would lead to sacrificing

His honour, and in turn to destroy his liberties

Of Empire and mankind - King George rejoices

That all his Empire agree with his decision.

The King, stating how the pledged word of peoples,

And rulers is paramount, to the common heritage

Of His united Empire of India and England.

Parliament accounts the magnificent loyalty,

Of India’s people and Princes for loyal response,

Made without reserve - and more than expected

More than loyalty, is love – a cheer for Sir Pertab Singh

Comes from the common members, a man who at 70,

Could not be denied the right to serve King Emperor,

To offer his nephew of 16, Maharajah of Cooch Behar.

The great chiefs open their houses of treasures,

Offering private jewels and horses to the British Raj.

Their willingness to send contingents to the front,

Was greatly welcomed by the Parliament members -

In contrast to India’s recent unrest and expected revolution,

Came Nepal's generosity of seven Gurkha Battalions,

To join the Expeditionary Forces, while the Dalai Lama,

Sending 1,000 Tibetans, brought smiles to the commons.

The Lama’s people will pray from the top of the world,

For British success and all war victims –

So spins the praying wheels from High Pamirs –

A rousing common’s cheers to send the Viceroy’s

Message across the world, encourages

Mr Thorne to shout, ‘send a copy to the Kaiser!’

by Jamie Mann

Anon., 1914. Kings Message to Overseas Dominions.  India's Loyalty to the Empire. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 10 Sept. p.7. Col.4. Col.7. 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/

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Poem ~ English or German? - Wednesday, 9 September 1914

A young cigarette manufacturer,

Maxilmilian (Walter Curtis) Duntz

Aged 31, a fellow, having failed

To register himself as alien,

Stood before Mr Hopkins,

At Bow Street Police-court.

He had explained himself,

At the visit of a police officer,

As being a Walter Curtis –

Considering himself as Norwegian

Of birth - but later admittance came

That his birthplace had been Berlin,

But that he did not recognise

Germany as his country.

Stating his father as being Norwegian,

Inquiries showed in fact that his father,

Was actually German and registered.

It was also confirmed the detainee

Was sworn to giving service,

In the role as a special constable.

The magistrate declared,

That this fact made the case serious.

The counsel for defence,

Said that, while the prisoner

Had effectively been born in Berlin,

At the age of 15, his father

Brought him over to Britain,

With German authority to exempt

‘Mr Curtis’ of German military service.

Since that time he had worked

As a medical electrician,

And a cigarette manufacturer,

Under the name of ‘Walter Curtis.’

Upon learning of the enforcement

Of the Alien restriction order,

‘Mr Curtis’ spoke of this with a friend,

From the London City Council.

Whose advice was to register.

So the friend took him to a station.

Upon talking with the duty officer,

Told him there was no need to register.

His consul added the prisoner

Was married to an English lady,

And how his sympathies are British.

In wanting to serve the country

He enrolled as a special constable.

The magistrate was quoted

As saying that for such a post

A man needs to be British-born.

‘Mr Curtis’ again declared,

His release from any allegiance

To the existing German empire.

By the supplied documentation,

Provided for him at 15 years,

Still in possession of his father,

Who was at present in Brussels.

Having no nationality ‘Mr Curtis’

Considered himself quite British.

Britain may be an ‘open house’

But it had not yet come to that,

Being the magistrate's reply.

Furthermore came the question

Over his given name of Duntz.

Having been chaffed about,

Duntz sounding like dunce,

Led the detainee to use Curtis.

Witnesses also gave assurances

Of the prisoner's high character.

The Magistrate, Mr Hopkins,

Said declarations of good character

And intentions, was to no avail.

As this man was quite German,

Masquerading as an Englishman.

Assigned a six months imprisonment,

'Mr Curtis’ was recommended

For deportation, with probable result

Of being detained until war was finished.

by Jamie Mann

Anon., 1914. Spy Peril - German Special Constable - masquerading as Englishman. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 9 Sept. p.5. Col.5. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11077809/Daily-Telegraph-September-9-1914.html [Accessed: 9th September 2014].

Mann, J., 2014. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 9 September 2014). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11077809/Daily-Telegraph-September-9-1914.html

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

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