Poem ~ Cadet Bombardier Harry Warren - Thursday, 12 April 1917 - Saturday, 14 April 1917

Source: File: Harry Collier Warren. Available at: <https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/explore/people/72073> [Accessed 12 April 2017]

The experience was exhilarating

As they left the ground - sudden rushing

Of air against his face, Harry Collier Warren

Saw the blurring of ground move away

From beneath their craft - the lift inside

His belly, a lightness held by wings.

Harry was learning to fly, a member

Of the Australian Flying Corps - the Avro

Carried them neatly, high into the air. Lincoln

Fields and South Carlton had in seconds

Shrunk to toy size the Cadet's instructor

2nd Lt Gland Lowery called orders.

Cadet Warren acknowledged Lowery

As they lifted steadily in the early April

Sky - the young Australian briefly felt control

Of the Avro 504B B389 - only one of thirty

Contracted, from the Wolverhampton

Sunbeam Motor Car Co. Limited.

Cadet Warren grinned in pleasure

To consider how far he had then come

From home; South Australia.  Harry's family

Lived at Port Pirie, a small seaport on east

Coast. Only aged 19 from Freemantle,

He had sailed on HMAT A7 Medic.

His Majesty’s Australian Transport

Medic had returned back into service

After 14 years. Previously the boat was used

In the Boer war to transport troops -

His previous life as Articled Clerk

Seemed a long, long time ago.

The troopship had taken them across

To Egypt. Harry Collier Warren was then

With the 3rd Australian Field Artillery Brigade -

His service number 1899 - being a driver he

Would never have imagined his chance,

To be able to join the Royal Flying corps.

They climbed steadily higher, Lowery

Had the control again of the dual craft -

Harry felt his was the big adventure, far away

From days of training to be a solicitor back

In Australia - The biplane carried them

Easily to reasonable height of 150 feet.

A seven-cylinder Gnome Lambda rotaryEngine chugged away. Lieutenant LowerySteered them into a good position ready forCadet Warren's second flying lesson. Possibly In the lads eagerness the craft lurched intoA sudden spin; Lowery tugged controls.

No response. The spin took away any

Ability for him to regain control - suddenly
The plane flipped into a nose dive  - in silence

Of the accident's inquest the one survivor,

2nd Lt Gland Lowery, advised that he

Was unable to recover from spin.

Bombardier Harry Collier Warren had

Died from accidental injuries aged 23.

A court of enquiry decided how the spin had

Resulted, possibly from the cadet's use -

Lieutenant Lowery was lucky to survive.

Harry's sister and family later learned

By post, to say a brother had died.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1917. Flying Fatalities. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 9 April 1917. P.5. Col.4. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12214440/Daily-Telegraph-April-9-1917.html> [Accessed: 12 April 2017].

Source: File: RSL Virtual War Memorial, Warren Harry Collier. Available at: <https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/explore/people/72073> [Accessed 12 April 2017]

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 12 April 2017). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12214440/Daily-Telegraph-April-9-1917.html

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

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Poem ~ Sydney Lad On The Somme - Saturday, 3 March 1917- Sunday, 4 March 1917

Source: File: Private (Signaller) Arthur Joseph Hill. See an original image at: <http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205301221> [Accessed 03 March 2017]

Source: File: Arthur Joseph Hill. See an original image at: <http://beyond1914.sydney.edu.au/profile/3168/arthur-joseph-hill> [Accessed 03 March 2017]

Source: File: Letter from Arthur Hill, father of A.J. Hill. See an original image at: <http://beyond1914.sydney.edu.au/profile/3168/arthur-joseph-hill> [Accessed 03 March 2017]

i

A Sydney lad of Waverly New South Wales,

Left home of 60 Wiley Street,

With his father's name - Arthur Joseph Hills

Had departed to take part in war.

Born 18 September 1897 Arthur's early

Education in Waverly; Christian

Brothers College to University of Sydney,

To study English till 1916.

In schooling career his bright disposition

Was recognised; upright with

Manly participation in sports and class -

Captain of 1st 15 football team.

Arthur Hill's ability had been well proved

And matriculated, in 1915

He made a place at University to gain

A bursary for a good future.

Then aged 18, Arthur enlisted February

On the 23 day, to attend signal

School at Kiama - examinations taken

Made him first class signaller.

Within six months, at rank of Corporal,

24th August Arthur Hills

Departed Australia, with expeditionary

Australian Imperial Forces.

Late 1916, Signaller Arthur Hill in France

With Reinforcements Battalion,

Took part in actions about the Somme;

Bapaume as Germans retreated

Corporal perhaps was a temporary rank;

Private Arthur 'Snowy' Hill,

Affectionately named being tall, stout lad,

With light hair and complexion.

ii

Into 1917 a military operation carried

Out codenamed 'Alberich' -

In 1916 had formed German salient’s

Of saint-Quentin and Arras.

This was a planned strategy to regroup

To the Hidenburg line to cut

Front, for ease of defence - though allies

Believed this was a retreat.

Preparations had seen German troops

Destroy commune’s roads and

Railways while poisoning water supplies,

Leaving booby traps behind.

The dawn of 1917 still offered no sign

Of allied Victory, when

The shift away of German presence from

Salient’s made hope.

The area lay in close sight of Australian

Trenches, where Signaller

Arthur Hill 3827,  took part in the operation

To move into gaps left.

17 March 1917, would see the Australians 
Make a road to Main Square

Of Bapaume - where an Anzac army band

Made appearance to play.

Yet a time delayed mine had been placed

Below the town hall, to

Blew within days to bury troops; meanwhile

Snipers were an issue.

iii

Amid later accounts of the Australian Red

Cross, came informants

Of those close to Signaller Private Arthur

Hill, to clarify events.

Pte. J. Glynn 3815, Pte. W. Curran 4015,

C. Wallbank, Pte. Mckenzie 384,

Cpl T Mckenzie 1116, Pte. L. O. Lees 3835;

Snowy Hill's mate, Pte. F. Dunne.

The Australians were close to Bollecourt,

In Sunray Trench the lad

Nicknamed Snowy, Pte. Arthur Hill 3827

Helped gain 1/2 mile of trench.

Pte. Glynn told how Snowy had been part

Of fatigue duty at Sunray

Trench, close to the 'crater' - then under

German counter attacks.

Varied versions by likely battle confusion,

As Pte. W Curran 4015

Said shelling in the early hours struck

Snowy down instantly.

Yet all others said that sniper problem

Had got him - Pte. Glynn

Believed a sniper took Hill down through

The heart - killed outright.

Cpl. Mckenzie 1116, was at the time there

As a witness that Pte. Hill

Had moved just above the parapet, to be 

Target of a keen sniper.

Pte. Mckenzie 384, a close mate, said

Hill was also known as 'honey' -

That they shared leave in London. Only

Later to find out what happened.

Others were there close to the signaller,

Paul Vincent of A Coy,

Told that Pte. Arthur Hill had looked over

Parapet of Mosoon trench.

Some sniper took a rapid aim to shoot

The signaller through

The neck - C. Wallbank was with him

And confirmed his identity.

Another uncertainty lay over Hill's grave;

Close by to Sunray trench,

But his mate failed to find it and later told

It lay at Cameron Sap.

Pte. Lees reported how Hill's death had

Been registered with

Padre Ward - a cross marked the grave,

How his effects sent home.

Days later his father, Arthur, wrote to thank

University Union President, for

Kind letter of sympathy for a son's death -

Signed, yours respectfully.

Thursday 22 February 1917, another day

2nd day 29th Week

In the 3rd year of war, an Australian man

Was shot digging a sap.

A day short of one year in joining, had

Seen Pte. Arthur Hill killed -

22 February 1917 genuinely popular lad,

Named Honey and Snowy.

by Jamie Mann.

Source: File: Explore Military Uniform. Available at: <https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/294422894375837134/> [Accessed 03 March 2017]

Source: File: Beyond 1914 - The University of Sydney and the Great War. Available at: <http://beyond1914.sydney.edu.au/profile/3168/arthur-joseph-hill> [Accessed 03 March 2017]

Source: File: Bapaume To Bullecourt (1917). Available at: <http://aso.gov.au/titles/historical/bapaume-to-bullecourt/notes/> [Accessed 03 March 2017]

Source: File: [PDF] 3827 Private Arthur Joseph Hill - Australian War Memorial. Available at: <https://www.awm.gov.au/images/collection/pdf/RCDIG1047611--1-.pdf> [Accessed 03 March 2017]

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Poem ~ Flags For Irish Sons - Sunday, 19 March 1916

Impression sketch of Ireland Flag Day Fundraising Pin Badge - by Jamie. An original image can be seen at: <http://www.britishmilitarybadges.co.uk/product/k1b-95-ww1-irish-soldiers-ireland-flag-day-fundraising-pin-badge/> [Accessed: 19 March 2016]

           

Coinciding on a day of celebration,

17 March 1916 saw Irish Flag Day,

Stand alongside the feast of Saint

Patrick - A woman led organisation

Saw the distribution of the green

Flag as a national commemoration,

For soldiers from a sister nation.

A green flag with harp was distributed,

To be sold by the metropolis ladies,

To number 3000 - Trafalgar Square

Filled with singing strains of 'Wearin'

Of the Green' - alongside these flags

The traditional shamrock was worn,

In English appreciation of Irish troops.

Across the water to that true emerald

Isle, laid the heart of the festival day  -

The start being a man of Roman times.

As a youth kidnapped to Gaelic lands

To be slave for Irish raiders - eventually

To find god who led him to the coast,

Where a boat would guide him home.

With his faith found, Patrick became

A priest and with his love for Ireland

Returned, to convert many people

To Christianity - by teaching methods    

He likely utilised a three-leaved plant,

To explain the holy trinity - a common

Shamrock became Patrick's symbol.

Centuries later saw 1541 make unity

Of Personal Union, when kingdom

Came the English King of Ireland -

But lack of reform to break minority

Rule of Anglo-Irish, led to United

Irishman rebellion 1798 - a crushed

Uprising made a 1800 Act of Union.

Yet a protestant parliament of Ireland

Was a false representation of people,

Whose majority had held catholic

Discontent - quickly founded as

Oppositions manifested in various

Forms, to seek independent Ireland -

100 years on saw further changes.

From emerging various groups that

Came by 1905, Sinn Fein for an Irish

Nation, in confronting the illegality

Of 1800 act of Union - a Parliament

For the Irish allowed only land owners

To vote and Protestants to sit within -

Challenges emerged by varied leagues.

Standing by each other, men of Ireland

Joined the cause, to fight against

Germans invaders or European peace -

Irish regiments filled with volunteers,

All gave the impression of union

Solidity - across waters from different

Dominions perhaps to mirror Australia.

Friday 17 March 1915 and Politician

Andrew Fisher, High Commissioner

For Australia, made a speech at London

Irish Club - a government leader over

Three occasions for his country,

Fisher expressed sympathy for the Irish

Who were among best of Dominions.

Among his underlying words Fisher

believed how Ireland, with deep roots

Of national sentiment, would find full

Free expression, on a day not long

Away - that they shall show enemies

how freedom and liberty to manage

Own affairs, should be greater than life.

To repeated cheers Fisher made

Feelings known that across world,

Ireland not just spoke but acted -

How, whatever might be done

Or not done, Ireland would remain

And stand true to the crisis end -

Yet what enemy was suggested?

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Mr Fisher on Irish Loyalty. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 18 March 1916. P.11. Col.3. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12196041/Daily-Telegraph-March-18-1916.html [Accessed: 19 March 2016].

Anon.,1916. Irish Flag Day. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 18 March 1916. P.12. Col.7. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12196041/Daily-Telegraph-March-18-1916.html [Accessed: 19 March 2016].

Source: File: Saint Patrick's Day. Online. Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick's_Day> Accessed 19 March 2016

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 19 March 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12196041/Daily-Telegraph-March-18-1916.html

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

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Poem ~ Australian Trooper 'Bluegum' - Tuesday, 22 February 1916

Impression sketch of Oliver Hogue aka Trooper Bluegum,

- by Jamie. An original image that can be seen at: <http://mosman1914-1918.net/project/blog/oliver-hogue-aka-trooper-bluegum-1880-1919> [Accessed: 22 February 2016]

To download an ebook version of 'Trooper Bluegum at the Dardanelles' by Oliver Hogue book  see: <http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/46097>

Born Sydney Australia, Oliver Hogue

Proved he had sporting ability,

To perfect his skill as horseman -

When school ended, young Oliver

Believed himself a born Bushman.

With youth and time Oliver setout

To cycle East coast Australia -

To cover the countless miles to Cairns.

Suiting the outdoors, his career

Involved him as commercial traveler.

Back in Sydney 1907, Oliver Hogue

Turned his talent to journalism,

With the Sydney Morning Herald.

To believe in 1914 he could become

The country’s official war correspondent.

While denied this route he took

Another path as a trooper with

6th Light Horse Regiment - to leave

For the front 21 December 1914,

On SS Suevic of the white Star Line.

By then commissioned as Second

Lieutenant, with a destination

Of Egypt - for the next months

He served Gallipoli as a soldier,

Until enteric fever sent him to England.

Once back in Sinai area Oliver Hogue,

Now Lieutenant, became orderly

Officer to Colonel Ryrie - basically

Still a journalist, Hogue's recorded

Experience in letters to family and Herald.

Despite all Hogue stayed cheerful,

To stick to reporting the truth -

An officer to be known across

Australia for his accounts, under

The pseudonym Trooper Bluegum.

Writing out verbal pictures of Gallipoli

He contributed various articles

To T.P.'s Journal of Great Deeds

With readable, straightforward

Ways to say how he avoided a scratch.

'While blokes like Paddy Ryan

Gained a hole in hat and DCM -

While Billy Sing had a shoulder

Wound - how at total 30,000

Dead came the single word to quit.'

With a chatty style to state his

Hurt at leaving their sleeping pals

At Anzac - the story would

Stick, even in peace between

Campaigns, Bluegum didn't forget.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Trooper 'Bluegum'. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 22 February 1916. P.12. Col.3. Available at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12165475/Daily-Telegraph-February-22-1916.html [Accessed: 22 February 2016].

Source: Mitchell, E. File: Hogue, Oliver (1880–1919). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Online. Available at: <http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/hogue-oliver-6700> [Accessed 22 February 2016]

Source: Major Oliver 'Trooper Bluegum' Hogue. Australian War Memorial. Online. Available at: <https://www.awm.gov.au/people/P10675880/> [Accessed 22 February 2016]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12165475/Daily-Telegraph-February-22-1916.html

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Poem ~ League of German Fear - Sunday, 2 January 1916

Source: File: A 1915 Anti-German League, Australian badge.jpg. [online] An original image is Available at: <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AGLbadge.jpg> [Accessed: 2 January 2016]

With first column of joyful news

To tell of births - alongside Happy

New Year greetings, from Cheri

Mr. A De Hem and Miss Eddes -

Echoed by Mrs. Roger's greetings

And thanks for wishes, during

Her illness, above a sober square.

Below a personal advert set out

How numbers solely in London,

For 10,729 Germans uninterned -

The figures replied to a question

Made by house of commons -

To be 10,729; the advert quizes

How long is state to continue?

Such views were nothing new,

And could date back to middle

Ages, in dislike of all things as in

Danish Chronicon Lethrense -

The middle of nineteenth century,

With rise of Germany's power

And solidity in unification was fear.

From wars strike of 1914, riots

Against all German presence

Had occurred - to continue

Brewing, not just in Britain yet

All over the world - in Empire

State of Australia by 1915,

A league was well established.

Tuesday 23 November 1915,

Darlinghurst saw a meeting

In open air of the Anti-German

League - in a call for dismissals

All to be made for any German

Presence in Australian office.

In advertising, 1 January 1916,

Was the British AGL to claim

How neutral countries, believed

Britain mad - in peril of alien

Enemies still at large - a call

Being adverts purpose to all

True British, to join the AGL.

The League's purpose was

To place pressure on those

Allowing Germans to be

Uninterned - the need being

Called for a million members,

To help the battle cry to make

Everything German taboo.

The unity of this league

Would spread across the

Empire, to justify existing

Germanophobia and play

Of pre war fears - a public

Should send for application.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Personal Column: 10,729 Germans. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 1 January 1916. P.1. Col.2. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12072922/Daily-Telegraph-January-1-1916.html [Accessed: 1 January 2016].

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 1 January 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12072922/Daily-Telegraph-January-1-1916.html

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

#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Homefront

Poem ~ Australia Day Parades - Sunday, 1 August 1915

Impression sketch of Float depicting life at the Front, Australia Day parade, Gosford, 30 July, Photograph by R. Hazlewood of Epping NSW - by Jamie. See original at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/REL33602/

Two crossed flags - a Union Jack

And the National Australia flag;

A Union Jack set out in the canton -

The southern constellation, along

With Commonwealth star, set in

Blue; printed on a white silk ribbon.

To show union of two nations joined

In common mission for their heroes -

Labeled 30 July 1915, Australia Day.

Creations of ribbons and badges

Produced for raising patriotic funds -

To be held across both countries.

Other days set aside had helped

War ravaged countries, included

Belgian Day - this 30 July intent,

Was to help Red Cross Australian

Division - symbolised by Australian

Map, stating 'Dardanelles' in red.

In growth of this country’s identity,

Celebrations built on national pride,

In a single days witness of parades.

Such route marches, both at home

And elsewhere - the public would

See wounded men of Dardanelles.

On the day, the Sydney Morning

Herald told of military authorities

Organised by a Colonel Wallack.

With medical support, Gallipoli

Wounded of ten men were able

To attend the street procession.

The governor's carriages would

Convey these wounded heroes,

To lead others in ambulances -

Wagons and decorated motor

Vehicles - to follow would then

Pass a variety of detachments.

After them to be naval reserves; 

Some 600 in numbers with cadets

Of the training ship, HMAS Tingira.

Next, men from war ships in port,

Along with 'A' Squadron of 7th

Light Horses, all in full regimentals.

Behind these would be the Khaki

Of Australian Field Artillery;

Their guns to be drawn by horses.

To follow these to be detachments

From Liverpool camp; of infantry

Reinforcements and rifle reservists.

A military parade would continue,

With those training in Liverpool,

Of Army Medical reinforcements.

Red Cross Wagons and motor

Ambulances, supported by corps,

Senior cadets and mounted police.

The Australian day parade routes

Set to leave at 11.30 a.m. near

St Mary's Cathedral, Domain Gates -

Progress King's Street to Queen's

Square, to Macquaire and Bridge

Street, to reach the railway station.

Amid such English place names,

Between each section, two bands

Would march in continual music.

Gosford Times included a report,

Whose parade include the humor

Of the Anzac by horse and cart.

A float organised by Mr Johnson,

Held eight Anzac men, to cause

Onlookers to give shouts of joy.

By a cross of rifles, a prone man

On rocks bore his face, subject

To a toilet of a regimental shave.

About three other Anzacs stared

Intently stare on a game of cards,

Each hoping to hold a good hand.

One resting smoking man reads,

To share the Mail with a mate;

All blasé to the cart stuck in a rut.

Hung on the slump of a bivouac

Topped by a slouch hat, holds

A banner to claim 'this is the life.'

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. Wounded Soldiers. The Sydney Morning Herald, [online] 30 July. P.7. Col.3-4. Available at: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/15575515 [Accessed: 1 August 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 1 August 2015). 

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/15575515

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

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