Source: File: A
Hungarian perspective of the Isonzo Front - In remembrance of their country's losses. [online] [Accessed: 5 July 2016]
Impression sketch
of Italian light infantry of the 1st Alpini Regiment on Monte Nero, during the
Isonzo campaigns. [online] See original image at: <http://www.shotinthedark.info/wp/?p=55479> [Accessed: 05 July 2016]
On higher ground
an alternative
Struggle was made,
in continuation
Of an Italian
front, with the empire
Of the Austro-Hungarian's
struggle
Against
resistance of Italian allies...
In continuation between
campaigns
The division of
battles, had seen
Five battles of
the Isonzo - March
1916 from French
pressure, Italy’s
Forces edged
about the Soča river...
Austria-Hungary
had intent to cripple
Italy, seen as
betrayers of the triple
Alliance - the
Isonzo front became
A significant stretch
in the country’s
North, named
after the province city...
Some seven
hundred miles away
From the Somme,
lay this barren
Ground - in final
two days of intense
Artillery that
rained down on Somme,
The afternoon of Thursday
30 June...
Saw moves on
Monte San Michele
Slopes - over night
of 29th, Italians
Crawled from trenches
at lowest
Point of the hill
- to climb towards
Austrian trenches
cut out of rock...
In the stark
daylight, awareness
Of the manoeuvre, led Austrians
To open fire -
their machine guns
Rattled over the
rocks at Italian
Heads - rough
ground gave cover...
From where they rose
in a rush
Of hand to hand
encounters -
In tones close to
French uniforms,
Two sides clashed
in a struggle
For rugged barren
land - until...
In early hours of
1 July having
Been through
bombardment,
Movement of air gave
Austrians
The advantage - they
released
Gas that began to
spill down...
The hills rocky
edges - pushed
By the wind,
yellow sulphur
Fumes made its
way to forces
Of Italians, who
made no move
But to quickly
put on masks...
Through the
yellow fog they
Still made their attack
- while
Breeze dispersed the
enemy's
Poisoned fog, to
catch edges
Of Austrian lines,
the cloud...
Lingered -
fighting in masks
Made it hard to
breath and
Restricted
vision - it seemed
Both sides were sinking
- then
A rush of wind
caught the gas...
Deadly vapours
took a final lift
Away from the
field of battle -
Thankful Italians
shrugged
Off their masks
to rush forth -
Taking 400
choking Austrians.
by Jamie Mann.
Beaumont, A., 1916. Italy's Campaign - Battle Of The Isonzo. The Daily
Telegraph, [online] 4 July 1916.
P.2. Col.3. Available at:
<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12211685/Daily-Telegraph-July-4-1916.html>[Accessed: 5 July 2016].
Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 5 July 2016).
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