Poem ~ Soldiers' Identities - Monday, 25 September 1916 - Tuesday, 26 September 1916

Source: File: Identity Tags: Fergus Read. See an original image at: <http://www.iwm.org.uk/history/first-world-war-identity-tags> [Accessed 25 September 2016]

Issued as an unseen part of uniform,

To be common amongst all armies

On each side - ideas of identity discs

Had been around since 1862 when

ID was worn by all Union soldiers -

Though the American notion was

Officially rejected, many soldiers

Chose still to wear them two years

Later came ideas of Hundesmarke.

Supposedly Koenig Wilhelm raged;

'My soldiers are not dogs!' forbidden

The Prussian soldiers continued

The reference - in and out of favour

The badge gave superstition - for

Some as herald of death - then1870

The Franco Prussian war officially

Provided the recognition tag to all

Prussian troops, obligatory by 1878.

Other countries copied France like

Belgium in the late 1880s - while

Britain already having description

Cards in tunic pockets from 1890s.

Then, January 1907 Army Order 9

Of British army produced identity

Disc - specifically stating stamped

Aluminum discs to be worn about

Necks on a cord, 42 inches long.

Amendments came at war's break -

1914 with cost of aluminium too great

Led to new discs being devised, from

Brick coloured vulcanided asbestos -

The disc still stamped as from 1907 -

Yet some choose to acquire privately  

Bought bracelet forms - while some

Had second disc; in want of a stamp

An alternative record was written in ink.

With such exceptions, identifying

The dead was made hard - methods

Of administration were to remove

The disc from the body - an enquiry

Run by Commission of Graves

Registration made recommendation;

By May 1916 making a second disc.

Highlighted by the Army Order 287,

By September 1916 was compulsory.

In the act of administration of dead

Newspapers publicized the fact that

Each British soldier were to wear

Two discs - Disc Identity no 1, green,

Also made of vulcanised asbestos,

Cut into a lozenge shape - while red

Disc would be Disc identity no 2 -

This latter disc in event of a soldier

Or officer dying would be removed.

The tan ID would hang from below

The green on 6 inch cord, on a longer

Cord, holding the green disc, would

Remain on the body into the burial -

As regulated by Army Order 287

Of 1916, every active personnel were

To wear them around the neck; any

Neglect to do so would be a breech

Of discipline, active from November.

The original pattern of aluminum

Was stamped with a man's name,

Regiment, rank, religion all along

With a service number - a change

Was made to drop religion and

Rank, but reconsideration restored

Religion - with any man's alteration

To rank led to a new one stamped -

Such was idea to solve problems.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Soldiers' Identity Discs. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 25 September 1916. P.6. Col.5. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12213292/Daily-Telegraph-September-25-1916.html> [Accessed: 25 September 2016].

Source: File: Weapons, Equipment And Uniforms - Identifying the Dead: a Short Study of the Identification Tags of 1914-1918. Available at: <http://www.westernfrontassociation.com/the-great-war/great-war-on-land/weapons-equipment-uniform/1033-identifying-dead-short-study-identification-tags-1914-1918.html> [Accessed 25 September 2016]

Source: File: WWI Identity Tags. Available at: <http://fmlhw.webplus.net/ww1identitytags.html> [Accessed 25 September 2016]

Source: File: Hodgkinson, P., 2007. Clearing The Dead. Available at: <http://www.vlib.us/wwi/resources/clearingthedead.html> [Accessed 25 September 2016]

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 25 September 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12213292/Daily-Telegraph-September-25-1916.html

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

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Poem ~ VC At Vimy - Tuesday, 8 August 1916

Source: File: Lieutenant Richard Basil Brandram Jones VC. See an original image at: The Daily Telegraph, [online] 7 August 1916. P.3. Col.4. <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12212488/Daily-Telegraph-August-7-1916.ht,l> [Accessed 8 August 2016]

May 1916; at the front line of Vimy -

Men of the 8th Battalion Lancashire

Regiment, were taking part in fight

For objective; Broadmarsh Crater.

Time 7.30 p.m. one platoon under

Their Officer, Lieutenant Jones,

Were forced to shelter in defence

Of the gained crater - now cut off.

Having just turned 19, the month

Before, Lieutenant Richard Basil

Brandram Jones, set to encourage

Calm among the trapped platoon.

Young Jones, aged 17, had signed
Up for active Service, commissioned

In Oct 2 1914 - by 1915 Jones

Was in France as a sniping officer.

In the fight for Vimy the Lancashires

Led by Lieutenant Richard Jones

Had made their way in the thick of

Battle, to reach Broadmarsh objective.

In the chaos they found themselves

Separated as their own side retaliated;

While retaliation of the enemy's gas

And shells fell thickly all around them. 

Then at 7.30 p.m. precisely, the enemy

Set off a mine, forty yards to their right.

A renewed barrage intensified over

The position, increasing their isolation.

All must have seemed against them,

As the men began to feel deserted.

The 19-year-old Lt. Jones, his voice 

Lifting, reassured them it was not over.

The looming enemy infantry began

To charge - in the surge of example

Lt. Jones aimed his revolver by count

Of number, shot down enemy numbers.

1 2 3 4 5…15… the mens keen voices

Cheered their officer - now encouraged

They held their ground - when his gun

Clicked empty, Lt. Jones took a bomb.

Holding it as some cricket ball, he

Took a moment - then lifted himself

Up to make a better throw, but fell as

Some stray shot hit him in the head.

With the platoon left to fend alone, they

Did so - to fire and throw bombs until

All were gone - as the enemy charged

They threw ammo cases and stones.

As their numbers slowly depleted,

The nine that were left abandoned

Their crater - leaving the dead and

Lt. Jones, his body never to be found.

By Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Nine New V.C.'S - Thrilling War Stories - Lieutenant Richard Basil Brandram Jones L.N. Lan. R. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 7 August 1916. P.9. Col.2. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12212488/Daily-Telegraph-August-7-1916.html>[Accessed: 8 August 2016].

Source: File: Lieutenant Richard Basil Brandram Jones VC. Available at: <http://www.lancashireinfantrymuseum.org.uk/lieutenant-richard-basil-brandram-jones-vc/> [Accessed 8 August 2016]

Cave, N., 1999. Vimy Ridge. Pen & Sword Military.  Ch. 5

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 8 August 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12212488/Daily-Telegraph-August-7-1916.html

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

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Poem ~ Russia: No Peace, No Revolution - Tuesday, 30 May 1916 - Wednesday, 31 May 1916

 

Source: File: Michail Rodzianko, president of the Duma, Imperial Russia, in 1914.. [online] See an original image at: <https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/Μιχαήλ_Ροντζιάνκο#/media/File:Mija%C3%ADlRodzianko1914f1.highres.jpeg> [Accessed: 30 May 2016]

The July crisis 24 months before, saw

Breakdown of diplomatic relations that

Led to Augusts’ declaration of war -

Not to forget how an assassination act

By a young Bosnian Serb had set sparks.

Ultimately the black finger of the Black

Hand had pulled a trigger, for first bullet

Of the First World War - ultimatums

Led to rise of mid European's marching

Armies in crossing lines of borders.

France, Austria, Russia and Prussia,

From 1870 had led European powers -

Equality over decades of diplomatic

Conflicts had created strain - Russia

Edged to war as her economy buckled.

With Russian investment greater

Than other countries, defense costs

Drained the people - despite Franco-

Russian Alliance, Germany remained

Most powerful state within Europe.

By biased communications of agenda

To legitimatise Russian war efforts

Was to show Germany's barbaric traits -

As allies opposed to triple alliance,

Russia feared a foothold of its border.

With the stack of cards tumbling,

The declaration of war across Europe,

Saw success of Russian invasion

Of East Prussia in opening conflicts -

Thus to establish the Eastern front.

22 months later came stout denial

Of any Peace party within Russia -

With America's involvement of hope

For peace, saw a press print Russia's

Reaction to such peace propaganda.

The Russian Duma assembly had

Heard words of their President -

Michail Rodzianko told interviewer

How the Russian Imperial Duma set

Out to convene about the outright lie.

An invitation was made to meet

And talk with Duma members -

German hegemony was well

Known to all Russian peasants,

Who were steadfast in idea of war.

Rodzianko told how they were

Prepared to fight even until 1936 -

The Kaiser had to accept terms -

German based peace might be

Acceptable to allies, but not Russia.

In regard to Russians continued

Readiness, Rodzianko told how

The army had doubled in size -

Better equipped and better fed;

Peace rumors had no substance.

An adamant Michail Rodzianko

Said how the peasant population

Were behind the leaders of their

Country - to bring down Germany -

Also to play down other rumors.

By conclusion, Rodzianko advised

That America should be informed

How, despite any predictions

On their part, there was no danger

Of Revolution occurring in Russia.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. German Peace Talk - Vigorous Russian Reply. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 30 May 1916. P.10. Col.6. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12210266/Daily-Telegraph-May-30-1916.html>  [Accessed: 30 May 2016].

Source: File: Peace Initiatives. Online. Available at: <http://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/peace_initiatives> Accessed 30 May 2016

Source: File: Eastern Front (World War I). Online. Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Front_(World_War_I)> Accessed 30 May 2016

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal

communication, 30 May 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12210266/Daily-Telegraph-May-30-1916.html

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

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Poem ~ Douaumont: A Pivotal Fort - Saturday, 27 May 1916 - Monday, 29 May 1916

Source: File: Fort Douaumont in 1916. [online] See an original image at: <http://www.lesfrancaisaverdun-1916.fr/fortifications1024.htm> [Accessed: 19 May 2016]

i

In the approach to a 100 days

Of battle, the fighting still raged

About Verdun - from start

Of 21 February German intent

Was to break down the French.

A key to the city of Verdun’s

Defenses stood Fort Douaumont -

Built on the highest ground

And reinforced from start until

1913, this was a formidable fort.

Armaments had though been

Depleted by General Joffre's

Orders, in consideration

Of Germany's Belgium invasion -

That had swept aside such forts.

At the point of offensive action

In 1916, Douaumont was only

Manned by a few artillery

And 56 troops, without officers;

A depleted key Verdun defence.

ii

With pounding of large caliber

Guns, the crew retreated down

To lowest levels with weak

Defenses - 10 German engineers

Approached the deserted coffres.

Sergeant Kunze climbed inside

And opened a door - nine men

Refused entry, fearing a trap -

Sergeant Kunzel wandered alone

Through empty, echoing tunnels.

With only a rifle Kunze came

To the one artillery team, taking

Them prisoners as others

Of the Brandenburg troops came,

Assisting to secure the French fort.

Fort Douaumont located behind

German front, became a shelter

And base - the fort then

A place for German soldiers  -

Called 'Old Uncle Douaumont.'

iii

On 8 May 1916 a few German

Soldiers started to make coffee,

They used flamethrower

Fuel on a cooking fire - ignorant

Of flammable liquid being fatal.

Sudden bursting heat resulted

In detonation of nearby shells,

Grenades and stored fuel.

Within the flash firestorm, many

Soldiers died in brief seconds.

12th grenadier regimental men

Were instantly killed, while other

Men trying to escape -

Blackened from fire to be shot

Down, seen as French Africans.

The pitiful stance of each side

Still hammered away, with the

Hundredth day - hope

To regain Verdun had failed -

Germans pinned down French.

iV

With caution came one report

Breaking down of French

Was being achieved - along

With enemy wearing down

His own, in undecided outcome.

Advancement on Meuse's

Left bank, set on emplacements

Of French at Hauts de Meuse;

A line spanned Hill 304, Avocourt,

Dead Man's Hill and Cumieres.

As to how neutral a military

Critic might takes sides, came

A report by Colonel Feyler -

The Swiss officer toured line

To advise French loss was less.

Colonel Feyler as observer

Informed how French force

As defenders, with Germans

As assailants, to lead to latter

Losing 100,000 every month.

V

For French success were

Germans failures, as they

Had been driven backward -

As defenders kept ground,

Along with enemies errors.

From sources of secrecy,

Feyler noted efficiency

Of initial German units

Had been withdrawn, only

To be reformed into action.

After this second, equally

Effective gallant unit

Withdrew, to be reformed

For the third time,

Back in the Verdun front.

When on this occasion

These troops acted in

Refusal to leave trenches -

Sources told how many

Were court martiallied.

Vi

Changes in French leaders

Had seen Marshall Petain

Take command of French

Army group - General Nivelle

Took over 2nd French army.

The date of appointment

1 May 1916, when the fight

At Verdun led preparations

Up to 22 May 1916 - Nivelle

Gave General Mangin orders.

The plan was counter attack

On Fort Douaumont - with

Secrecy still maintained,

Included swift destruction

Of German sausage balloons.

Reported as a brilliant

Feat that began Monday

22 May 4.30 (a.m.?)

French trench divisions

Faced their German equals.

Vii

The lines of enemy faced

Out from Douaumont fort  -

In 15 minutes an initial French

Attack cut through to the

Second German line.

Although Germans repelled

Them twice, reinforcements

Brought in assistance - Fort

Douaumont was entered;

The fight was not yet done.

Enemy forces within the fort

Came close to encirclement -

Yet held onto north east

Corner, defending flank

Attacks of Thiaumont farm.

This came from southwest,

While from southeast, fire

Came by Caillette wood -

Over two days and nights

Were made German replies.

Viii

Infantry interspersed with

Artillery, with new Bavarian 

Divisions to push back

French at Thiaumont farm -

French fell back by Tuesday.

Within night, a few hundred

Yards gained were then lost;

So the French retreated

From the fort, although they

Had not had seen a fight.

Had the two circling units

Of Thiaumont farm and

Caillette wood held, then

Fort Douaumont would

Have likely been regained.

About southern positions

Of Douaumont, the French

Held positions - An outcome

Of Verdun was yet to see any
Success made, either way.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Story of Douaumont. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 27 May 1916. P.9. Col.1. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12210238/Daily-Telegraph-May-27-1916.html>  [Accessed: 27 May 2016].

Source: File: Fort Douaumont. Online. Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Douaumont> Accessed 27 May 2016

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal

communication, 27 May 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12210238/Daily-Telegraph-May-27-1916.html

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

#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Verdun

Poem ~ Goading An Enemy - Friday, 26 May 1916

Source: File:  Photograph of 1/22nd Battalion London Regiment (The Queen’s), 1916. [online] See an original image at: <https://trinityremembers.wordpress.com/their-stories-3/> [Accessed: 26 May 2016]

Up to the day in August 1914,

Unrelated men had undertaken

Daily tasks in the city.

Bankers and stockbrokers

Annually, making thousands

Of pounds a year.

Others were men of Fleet Street,

Daily reporting news of empire

To outbreak of war.

One day that changed fortune

Saw such men take to route

To join a king's call.

Months of training turned these

Civilian men into eager soldiers

For a London regiment.

One innocuous day on the front,

A non-specific London regiment

Came under attack.

On this regiment's section was

A German decision to send some

50,000 shells

Over fifty minutes the bombarding

Bombs made a wreck of trenches

Wire, swept like 'chaff'.

The held line was starting to thin,

As London soldiers were wounded

And killed by blasts.

A last bomb burst and the Germans

Readied to invade a space, where

Surely no one lived.

Still in cautious stealth, they began

To walk though the cordite haze,

When they came to halt.

Ahead on the parapets, stood men

Of London with their bayonets fixed -

Goading their approach.

Not so many yards separated

Opposites - 'Come on Fritz!' went

The English shout.

Declining the invite, the Germans

Turned under a hail of thousands

Of retaliating bullets.

Back to their trenches they ran -

Survivors leaving casualties

In their wake.

Learning of his London regiment,

Their Brigadier General then sent

Warmest congratulations.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. London Regiment's Bravery. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 19 May 1916. P.10. Col.1. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12210234/Daily-Telegraph-May-23-1916.html>  [Accessed: 26 May 2016].

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal

communication, 26 May 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12210234/Daily-Telegraph-May-23-1916.html

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

#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1WesternFront