Poem ~ The Limb Factory - Monday, 10 April 1916

Impression sketch of wounded recovering at Roehampton House - by Jamie. From an original image that can be seen at: <http://digital.nls.uk/great-war/soldier/wounded/queen-marys.html> [Accessed: 10 April 2016]

One of many British towns,

Set in the Severn Valley Shropshire,

Bridgnorth - divided into

High Town and Low Town - as with

Other commune’s volunteers,

Would number 255 men

In the first months of war.

One young man among

The many was, in 1911, working

In a fish and poultry shop -

To live with his mother on Listley

Street - among the first this

Eli Jones enlisted 11 August

To join Coldstream Guards.

Part of the Expeditionary

Army, the 1st Battalion Coldstream

Guards were to see action

About Le Bassee - there Private

Eli Jones was to join the

Battalion - who, having been

In action, now reformed.

In the fifth month of war

An inspection by the King, meeting

The Coldstream Battalion

On a wet 3 December - with Private

Eli Jones possibly among

The new draft - afterwards

At Strazeele training ground.

Private Eli showed promise

Enough, to become Lance Corporal

By 19 December - the day after,

Orders came to march to Givenchy -

The task was to recapture

Trenches taken by Germans

A day before - in two days of fights.

While the forces was relieved

On 22, 185 other ranks were reported

Missing or wounded - likely

Lance Corporal Jones was among

Missing - his severe wounds

Preventing his moving until

Rescued from the battlefield.

The state of his injuries made

It necessary to amputate both legs

Above the knee joint - after

Recovery he arrived back in England,

New Years day 1915; the date

Eli Jones officially became

Lance Corporal Jones.

War awareness of the home

Front, had recognised soldier's needs.

In new style warfare, with

Injuries resulting from loss of limbs.

At the sight of amputees, Mary

Eleanor Gwynne Holford visited

Queen Alexandra's Hospital.

After her meeting with a private

Chapman, whose wounds had left him

Without both arms, she saw

Wards of disabled men  - Mrs Holford

Considered how they should

Not be discharged home too

Soon, without rehabilitation.

What these severely wounded

Soldiers needed were correct fittings

Of artificial limbs - with her

Connections of high profile figures,

Mrs Holford set out to raise

A public appeal by use of press,

To raise substantial funds.

On passing through the wards,

The sight of disabled men prompted

Her to think, their discharge

Home should include correct fitting

Of a suitable, artificial limb.

With help Mary set to raise

Monies, appealing to public.

The result formed into shape

Of a rehabilitation hospital - a chosen

Site was a soldier’s billet

Of Roehampton House, a stately home

Requisitioned by war office -

From an idea February 1915

The doors opened 28 June 1915.

Success of Roehampton House

Continued to grow - with up numbers

Of patients at 100, arriving

Each week - Lance Corporal Eli Jones

Being a Coldstream Guard

Was one of Double amputees

Who came to notice of press.

Having been a client, of what

Became known as the human repair

Factory, the story noted that

On joining up he was 6ft 2 1/2 inches -

When, for convenience sake

His artificial limbs shortened

His stature down to 5 ft 10 in.

Such story might not be spoilt

By truth, as indicated by his attestation

Papers, stating he was 5ft 9 3/8,

Disputing truth of newspapers, although

The report went on to tell how

Eli Jones, discharged from army

16 August 1915, had a new task.

The ex soldier was employed

By makers of artificial limbs, J.F Rowley.

That each day only with help

Of a walking stick Eli Jones walks over

The workshops of Roehampton

House, to assist making artificial

Legs for his maimed comrades.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Limbs For Maimed Heroes - Guardsman's Reduced Stature. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 7 April 1916. P.3. Col.2. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12208472/Daily-Telegraph-April-7-1916.html>  [Accessed: 10 April 2016].

Source: File: The Human Repair Factory at Roehampton - Rehabilitation of Amputees. Online. Available at: <http://blog.maryevans.com/2013/09/the-human-repair-factory-at-roehampton-rehabilitation-of-amputees.html> Accessed 10 April 2016

Source: File: Lost Hospitals Of London - Queen Mary's Hospital. Online. Available at: <http://ezitis.myzen.co.uk/queenmaryroehampton.html> Accessed 10 April 2016

Source: File: History of the Bridgnorth War Memorial - Private Eli Jones. Online. Available at: <http://www.greglewin.co.uk/Memorial/history.php> Accessed 10 April 2016

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 10 April 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12208472/Daily-Telegraph-April-7-1916.html

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

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Poem ~ Reading Between the Headines - Tuesday, 25 August 1914

Cricket reports on page two describe how the home team,

Is having the great advantage - elsewhere reports of war

Conflict - of course, the truth is a casualty. A main heading

Declares how home casualties are light for troops in action.

New positions held suggest has little hint of pulling back.

Under the decreasing size of headings is described

The British army in action at Mons, with the importance

Made to ‘held their own’ - only in passing statements,

Comes admittance of how the allied army has fallen back

Yet we as the reader, should not make any assumptions,

That any defeat has occurred. Paper distraction comes

In giving an overview of the fight - how a series of battles

Are in place, from Swiss border west across to Mons.

And to mention there are only 3 British casualties so far,

The prominent one being Lord Leven being wounded

Dangerously in making a cavalry charge – Freely adding

How Austrians are in a confused retreat, taking heavy losses.

In further shrinking headings, casualties now move

From 'light' to 'not heavy'. The official Press Bureau’s

Statement declares how the British troops In Belgium,

Took ‘meritorious’ part in the recent Mons battle.

Beginning on Saturday, with an engagement on Sunday

Where steadfast British Forces held their ground.

Officially operations under commanders of the First

And Second Army Corps, being executed in great skill.

Caution comes with exact British casualty estimates -

‘But are not heavy’ yet quick to add that German corps

And cavalry were depleted and even hint at the French

Suffering the same - still though German losses

Are considerable - our artillery has affirmed its superiority.

The cavalry has not suffered at all, is a proclamation

Strangely under the heading of ‘a lively fight’

Curiously though, the final heading finally admits

‘Considerable Losses' in subdued hypocrisy.

by Jamie Mann

Anon., 1914. British Casualties - Earl Of Leven Wounded. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 25 Aug. p.7. Col.6. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11034792/Daily-Telegraph-August-25-1914.html [Accessed: 25th August 2014].

Anon., 1914. Daily Telegraph August 25 1914. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 25 Aug. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11034792/Daily-Telegraph-August-25-1914.html [Accessed: 25th August 2014].

Mann, J., 2014. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 25 August 2014). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11034792/Daily-Telegraph-August-25-1914.html

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

#WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1 #WW1poem #GreatWar #ww1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1casualties

Battle of Mons

YouTube GB, 2014. BallistaMedia. [online] Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGtfUwW3ZFI&list=UUZwU2G-KVl-P-O-B35chZOQ> [Accessed 24 September 2014].

Poem ~ John Parr – First British Victim - Friday, 21 August 1914

On an August day the papers advertise the season,

How the holidays are in full swing by the silvery sea.

So as the public stroll at Folkestone, hardly aware of army

Departures from the dullish port of Southampton docks.

On ships of war ‘happy’ troops drift to Boulogne-sur-Mer.

Among such positive soldiers, leaving in the holiday season,

Was Private John Parr - ironically for his age called ‘Ole Parr’ -

Among his mates the mood was good, despite a quiet departure.

No band played, no flowers thrown with ladies to see them off

This was it, after so much talk of war they were heading to the fray.

Barely 18 years of age Parr joined the 4^th Battalion of the Middlesex

Regiment - Perhaps then realising he was a cog in a machine.

5ft 10 inches, brown hair and eyes, Parr had a streak of independence.

This must have seemed a long way from his golf caddie days.

What then filled the minds of these men as they neared the edge

Of war. Leaning on the rails, looking over an expanse of silver sea

Were these keen adventurers, tempered by some small trepidation?

Next being packed into troop trains, winding from France to Belgium

This was a professional army; this was the job waiting for them.

Amid this eager company our Private Parr acted as a reconnaissance

Cyclist, as part of the forward Unit heading to a town called Mons.

Beside a canal some 12 kms from that town, they billeted in Bettignes.

Dawn - 21 August, was not to be an ordinary day for Parr.

Now given a task with a fellow cyclist, he was to be sent to Obourg,

Near the Belgium border, east of Mons-their mission, to find any enemy.

It seems today almost a sign of a silly season, to go for a cycle ride,

With a rifle on a shoulder on a summers day, not for pleasure or race,

In the knowledge of their likelihood to encounter dangerous invaders.

So follows an account, based on suggested fact of what likely happened.

Parr, and for the sake of this account, his colleague we shall call 'Albert',

Were biking along. For some time seeing nothing but contemplative quiet

Country of green, trees, birds and sky, they believed almost like England.

Perhaps they came round one narrow corner when they faced the foe -

At a dreaded short distance ahead, the greys of a German cavalry patrol.

On rattling bikes Parr and 'Albert' wobbled almost comically to sudden halt

Our Private John Parr caught a sudden loss of breath. Having joined

The Middlesex Regiment in 1912 he had never seen any foe so close –

Face to face, each side probably stopped, considered poised and stared,

Probably only for seconds, upon seeing the uniform of their opposition,

One emerging from a tunnel of trees, the other on bicycles down a lane.

The German grey realising these were not blue and red Belgium types,

But khaki British – in a splitting second 'Albert' yelped out a warning.

Parr for a long moment stared, observing a rifle lift in a German’s hands.

'Albert' was already turning his bike around - poised on the pedal.

Parr followed, fumbling with his feet, in a panic moment loss of balance.

Jumped the bike about, just as the crack of a first bullet shot, swift by.

'Albert' stopped, waiting for his mate, hesitating a pace behind him.

‘Go on! Go on!’ yells Parr. ‘Get a shift on Bert!  Get going sharpish,

And tell'em that he enemy’s here!’ Parr’s mind must have raced

With what he was going to do? Ride or fight? – a bullet zinged as it hit

His mate’s bike. Parr yelled again to get going and off 'Albert' sped.

Another bullet sparked his own bike as he sped a few yards

About a sharp corner, he leapt awkwardly from his bike,

Landing by a neat cut hedge - possibly where he lost his cap.

Dropping his rifle, he reached for it and felt the zing of a shot.

He was not hit but self conscious to fight, he had yet to fire back

Shrinking back into pathetic cover, Parr became aware of someone

Behind – He saw a small girl in a blue dress with brown ringlets

She stared – In meeting of eyes he snapped ‘go!’ waving a hand.

But still she stood quizzically, as if the shooting meant little to her

Other than a local hunt – John Parr yelled again and from the house,

A woman screamed, running outside. Soldier, woman shared a look,

And a bullet ripped through the hedge into our young Parr’s shoulder.

Blind to any pain for the first time squeezing the trigger, he fired back.

The distraught mother pulled her daughter back towards the house.

Parr considered how the enemy were edging forward very slowly.

They did not know how many of the unexpected British there were.

He gave them rapid fire, changing the angle of his aim so quickly,

In the attempt to suggest that a whole load of others were with him.

The enemy were weaving down the narrow road, closing in, closer.

He took another shot, to the left and right - hearing a German yell

Suggesting that one of the enemy had been hit and now fell.

In the neat garden Parr lay stretched - his fire held them at bay.

In the small brick house behind him, the woman and child hid.

Parr found the neat grass was cool against his firing hand.

They were closing in. He edged back, knowing of little time

To do something, now that 'Albert' was safely gone -

There was the shelter of a brick house – but the girl and woman

Were safer without him - there was a field beyond the garden,

With trees at the edge to hide - he would have to run fast and hard.

He fired his rifle to gain him a little time, then he quickly stood

Holding up his rifle to aim at the man, who aimed at him.

An odd looking man with pointed helmet and a heavy moustache.

At the close focus of his stern face and his eyes down the barrel,

Private Parr did not hesitate; his finger pulled the trigger to see

Both barrels flashed. Then came the thud of dulled pain.

Knocked from his feet, his hands flexed and dropped his gun.

The German face looked down at him blankly then took his gun.

The woman appeared, hand over mouth in horror. The German

Glanced at her then left, calling to his comrade of what was done.

The firing stopped as the Belgium woman ran to this young soldier.

She knelt to him, gently reaching and touched his pale forehead.

Her soft words came as he tried to talk, despite his bloodied mouth.

But neither understood. The little girl ran to them despite her mother.

Private Parr spying two angels against a clear blue sky, tried to smile.

At their feminine faces and concerned voices, gently fading away,

As if they were the ghosts of something he would never have.

This account is pure conjecture, of young John Parr

Believed to be the first British soldier to die in World War 1.

The retreat from Mons meant there was no evidence

Of his death till later, with the suggestion he died

On the 23 August in the Battle of Mons, or perhaps

Under friendly fire. There now, he lies beneath this earth,

His place lays in the peace and quiet of St Symphorien.

Mistaken as 20 he takes his place a hundred years

To the day when a few words of commemoration from

Royalty, presidents, prime ministers and descendants

Recount a memorial of a young, brown haired lad

Called to war –

100 years ago.

Still a war to end all wars is yet to be found,

As the killing fields still grow around the world

Now terrorism rises in holy wars, finding victims

Other than soldiers who go to war, to help or report.

Almost on the same day as John Parr, James Foley,

Less than 2 days to a 100 years, is brutally killed -

Murdered in a cowardly way, in a so-called Holy war.

by Jamie Mann

Anon., 2014. John Parr (British Army soldier). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [online] 9 Aug. Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Parr_(British_Army_soldier) [Accessed: 21st August 2014].

Mann, J., 2014. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 21 August 2014). 

O'Brien, D., 2014. WWI Centenary: First casualty Private John Parr shrouded in mystery. Barnet & Whetstone Press. [online] 4 Aug. Available at: http://www.barnet-today.co.uk/news.cfm?id=26099&headline=WWI%20Centenary:%20First%20casualty%20Private%20John%20Parr%20shrouded%20in%20mystery  [Accessed: 21st August 2014].

Tourist Office of Mons. 2014. Mons 14 - 18 - Battlefield Guide. Mons: Office du Tourisme de la Ville de Mons.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Parr_(British_Army_soldier)

http://www.barnet-today.co.uk/news.cfm?id=26099&headline=WWI Centenary: First casualty Private John Parr shrouded in mystery

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

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Poem ~ The King's Message - Wednesday, 19 August 1914

Further to recent day’s news, that had warned of imminent activity,

Comes another official statement from the Press Bureau -

Releasing the fact that the British Expeditionary Force is now abroad.

Their departure ten days before, was marked by a statement from the King.

Each soldier is now aware of the message from Buckingham Palace

The King states their parting is to fight for honour and safety of his Empire,

Having pledged to help Belgium and France face a common enemy.

The Kings has confidence in all his soldiers, stating "Duty is your

Watchword and I know your duty will be nobly done."

Daily the king will follow their every move, while he will pray

God will guard and bring them home victorious.

Alongside this release is Field Marshall Kitchener’s advice,

In a tract to be kept in the active service pay-book of every solider.

Each man in the expeditionary army is now a soldier of the King,

Sent to help French comrades to defeat their common enemy.

Courage, energy and patience they will need, to perform their task.

Kitchener gives a reminder that their individual conduct will honour

The British Army - their duty to be steadfast and disciplined under fire,

They will maintain friendly relations with those they help in the struggle.

They are informed engagements involved in, will be in a friendly country,

Needing to conduct themselves in the true character of a British soldier.

Further each man is ordered to be kind courteous and considerate.

‘Do nothing to injure and destroy property,’ looting is a disgraceful act.

The tract reminds them they will be trusted and welcomed.

Sound health is needed to do their duty and to guard against excess.

Comes a warning of encountering new experience, as in ‘wine and women,’

To ‘resist both temptations’ treat women with courtesy and avoid intimacy.

Possibly this pamphlet remained unfolded in their pay book of many men.

'Do duty bravely, Fear God and honour the King' conclude the instructions,

That perhaps became loose guidelines as the war moved on and

Venereal disease caused many a hospital visit, for the war weary man.

by Jamie Mann

George V, King., 1914. The King and the Expeditionary Force - "Implicit Confidence" - His Majesty's Message. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 19 Aug. p.7. Col.4. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11034601/Daily-Telegraph-August-19-1914.html [Accessed: 19th August 2014].

Kitchener, Lord, 1914. Lord Kitchener - Advice to Soldiers - "Fear God." - Honour The King". The Daily Telegraph, [online] 19 Aug. p.7. Col.4. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11034601/Daily-Telegraph-August-19-1914.html [Accessed: 19th August 2014].

Mann, J., 2014. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 19 August 2014). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11034601/Daily-Telegraph-August-19-1914.html

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

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

Photos of Mons - June 4, 2014

John Parr, first British killed in WW1 buried at St. Symphorien Military Cemetery. 

See reflective poem at: http://worldwaroneblogger.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/poem-john-parr-first-british-victim.html

Obourg Railway Station, Mons.

Railroad Bridge, Mons. 

                           

 Railroad Bridge, Mons.

 Under Railroad Bridge, Mons.

 Railroad Bridge, Mons.

 Under Railroad Bridge, Mons.

 Memorial to Lt.M.J. Dease VC and Pte.S.F.Godley VC  

Under Railroad Bridge, Mons.

 Spot where Pte.S.F.Godley VC used machine gun to fend off the Germans on the Railroad Bridge, Mons.