Poem ~ Fall Of A Government - Thursday, 7 December 1916 - Friday 8 December 1916

 Source: File: Herbert Henry Asquith. See an original image at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._H._Asquith> [Accessed 07 December 2016]

Source: File: David Lloyd George. See an original image at: <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:David_Lloyd_George_1915.jpg> [Accessed 07 December 2016]

After the initial months of conflicts, tensions had raised

In the running of British government - the munitions

Shortages prompted a change for important decisions -

A Coalition rule formed as a way forward for war.

May 1915 marked the date when Liberal prime minister

Asquith formed this situation, from out of the belief

That war could be managed in business as usual;

Though lack of unionist support left government weak.

The coalition then consisted of one labour member

Along with nine conservatives - though the liberals

Still held the most important positions - to dissatisfy

The conservative party and their leader Bonar Law.

Continual failures did not bring war to any conclusion;

The Dardanelles campaign had ended without success,

The Somme Offensive had not brought the hoped

For outcome - by December Roumania lay defeated.

Such variety of threads had all been woven into place,

To cause a likely unavoidable chain reaction - another

Factor was the Lansdowne Memorandum published

13 November seeking a Central Powers settlement.

20 November 1916 saw a meeting set by Max Aitken,

Canadian entrepreneur and friend to leader Bonar Law,

To be attended by Lloyd George and Edward Carson

Irish politician and unionist - to agree need for change.

In making conclusion the current government was

Not functioning, they formulated an agreed plan for

A War Council led by Lloyd George - they all agreed

Asquith would remain prime minster and overseer.

Yet divisions remained amid politicians over Asquith

Staying on as prime minster. The newspaper Magnate

Lord Northcliffe emerged, playing a pivotal role in the

Outcome, taking many meetings with Lloyd George.

The proposal was then presented to Asquith over

Establishing this War Council, of more than five

Members, although Asquith would keep 'supreme

Control’; Asquith stated that he would be chairman.

With the plan tentatively taken Lloyd George could

Not accept Asquith's wish - he wrote to Bonar Law

2 December to say he had to make 'resolute action' -

The press bubbled as conservative leaders met.

By twists and turns of unconfirmed plots raised

Debates over Asquith's future position - a resolution

From conservatives came; Asquith would need

To tender resignation of the current government.

If he did not conservative members would then

Resign - Bonar Law relayed this to prime minister

But without raising the resolution, after they met

Asquith sought to compromise with Lloyd George.

In a return to basics with 1st December proposal,

Was amendment that the prime minister would

Instead have right of daily oversight and allowed

To veto - Asquith, George and Law met again.

3 December 5 p.m. they decided over a bulletin

To be released to state the Government was

To undergo modifications - 4 December saw

Release, to attract great hostile press reactions.

Critics said how Asquith would be prime minister

In name only - suspicions lay on Lloyd George

As the source to a press editor - Asquith reacted;

He could not go on if claims were uncorrected.

4 December saw various quick fire meetings and

Led to Asquith and supporters standing firm, in

Order to fight into evening's meltdown - Asquith

Reacted in rejecting the idea of a war council.

With further debates too and fro on 5 December,

Ministers showed their true colours; that without

Bona Law and Lloyd George in post they could not

Work in the Government - instability had been set.

Into evening's darkness 5 December Asquith made

His way to Buckingham Palace, for an audience

With the king - next mornings newspaper reports

Told In a grave act Asquith had given his resignation.

Later that same evening Bonar Law had followed

The same path, in order to accept the King's offer

In royal commission - battle lines between Asquith

And George led to problems egged on by press.

While making acceptance of king's Commission

Bonar Law called at No 10 Downing Street to ask

If Asquith would still serve with him - but with his

Refusal Bonar Law rejected the royal commission.

Finally 6 December Lloyd George was requested

To form a government - He acted within 24 hours

To establish not a war council, but a war cabinet -

By 7 December date George was prime minister.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Mr Asquith's Resignation. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 6 December 1916. P.8. Col.5. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12213939/Daily-Telegraph-December-6-1916.html> [Accessed: 7 December 2016].

Source: File: H. H. Asquith. Wikipedia. Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._H._Asquith> [Accessed 7 December 2016]

Source: File: David Lloyd George. Wikipedia. Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Lloyd_George> [Accessed 7 December 2016]

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 7 December 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12213939/Daily-Telegraph-December-6-1916.html

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

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Poem ~ Tunnel Ambitions - Monday, 6 November 1916 - Wednesday, 8 November 1916

Source: File: plan to build a double Channel tunnel. See an original image at: <http://www.railwaywondersoftheworld.com/channel-tunnel.html> [Accessed 06 November 2016]

Prior press releases had well discussed

The likelihood of a tunnel being built;

From the English coast of chalky downs,

To pass beneath the sea and rise again

On French soil - emerging between Calais

Or Boulogne - all to help the war efforts.

The leader of these plans for a channel

Tunnel given to Sir Frances Fox - totally

Confident of ambitious plans feasibility -

Just to consider the existence of tubes

Beneath London, or the 1903 railroad

Simpson tunnel in Pennsylvania, USA.

Alongside technicalities of construction

Came argumentation over safeguarding

The tunnel's completion - Although

The channel tunnel's existence was little

More than paper blueprints, came evolving

Discussion on the idea of its destruction.

The debate of a report carried forward

By Telegraph's engineer correspondent.

Historically, there had been a long desire

For the creation of linking together Britain

And France - prior opposition had been

Raised by Field Marshal Wolseley.

While Wolseley had died a year prior to 
1914 world war, Garnet Wolseley put out

His theory that any such passage link,

Would be quite 'calamitous' for England -

He suggested an ever-present peril from

A continental army, seizing the tunnel.

At that time Edward Watkin had dreamed

The ideal of a rail line Manchester to Paris,

That began in 1880 - but big opposition

From figures like Wolseley and the Queen

Caused the ideas cancellation, for purposes

Of national security; arguments resumed.

Times changed, as came in a reminder

That in Wolseley's peak how poison gas

Was not known, or uses of high calibre

Explosives - electricity was then in its

Infancy; while no one could then have

Imagined armoured tanks carrying guns.

The new prospect had taken on a solid

Formation by Channel Tunnel committee,

Created within the House of Commons -

British Prime Minster Asquith had called

For a review in the light of experiences

Due to the war, from the war committee.

Supporter of the tunnel, Arthur Fell MP;

A figure that had previously produced

A paper for the tunnel in 1913 - in 1916

Led a delegation of MPs before Asquith,

Advising that many military oppositions

Had 'practically disappeared' off scene.

Governmental military advisers were

Well satisfied such a tunnel could not

Be used in any armed invasion against

Britain. A discussion then centered

On how the tunnel might be rendered

Unusable, for purposes against invaders.

The simplest of ideas would be to flood

The entrance over a short length - close

To the English coast there would be

A 'V' shaped dip, into which water could

Be filled by electric sluice gates - operated

Not just by Dover forts but from London.

Even a rat would not be able to pass,

And this would stop complete damage.

Their first plan had been to blow tunnel

Roof, to let water flood the whole length -

Originally a viaduct entry would be built,

Leading from the cliffs into the tunnel.

In emergency British war ships could

Blow this construction, in order to halt

Any enemy using the tunnel - yet since

The submarine came into service this

Idea was dropped - as any submarine

Could easily destroy such a viaduct.

A further consideration from such

Submarines was an attack actually

On the seabed, by laying of mines.

A hole might be blown, allowing the

Channel waters to flood the tunnel;

Likely thwarted by 100 feet of chalk.

Due to water pressure at that depth

Any explosion would be less effective

Than if on land - an additional plan

Of engineers focused on the French

Coastline where the tunnel opened;

Though positioned 4 miles inland.

The jurisdiction of protection would

Still be guarded by gunnery of British

Fleet - with consideration by engineers

To French side, regarding inland attacks;

to recall how first months had been threats

On Calais, targeted by German invaders.

New plans suggested making the land

Around the tunnel access into some

Type of fortress as a last stand -

To aid English side to put into action

All preventative measures - in addition

A French power station would assist.

Being able to supply electricity part

Way into the tunnel - they could

Halt any rogue trains trying to enter

The route by a switch; while a British

Power station would be out of range

Of enemy, being 20 miles inland.

Engineer Sir Frances Fox believed

That within 6 years the tunnel would

Be completed; a straightforward build,

To total £8,000,000 for English share.
With a ventilation system simpler than
London tubes, travel was 30 minutes.

The underlying suggestion seemed

To indicate that war with Germany

Would likely last, well beyond when

The tunnel would be operational; into

At least six more years of war. To add

France had no fears from the tunnel.

In the commons the discussions

Of the proposition in connecting

England to the continent came via

A reminder by Mr Fell to Asquith -

That peace with France had lasted

100 years, to be so for much longer.

To note rate of scientific progression,

By fifty or 100 more years to 2016,

No one could make any prophecy

As to what in future needs might be,

In protection from threats above, or

Below the sea or even from the air.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Channel Tunnel - Invasion Risks - Engineering Safeguards. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 06 November 1916. P.4. Col.3. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12213599/Daily-Telegraph-November-6-1916.html> [Accessed: 06 November 2016].

Source: File: Edward Watkin. Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Watkin> [Accessed 06 November 2016]

Source: File: Garnet Wolseley, 1st Viscount Wolseley. Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garnet_Wolseley,_1st_Viscount_Wolseley> [Accessed 06 November 2016]

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 06 November 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12213599/Daily-Telegraph-November-6-1916.html

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

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Poem ~ Boots Are Made For Marching - Sunday, 9 July 1916

Source: File: Three Russian Soldiers. See an original image at: <https://www.flickr.com/photos/sunnybrook100/3377341300/in/album-72157615683192081/> [Accessed 9 July 2016]

Source: File: Russian Army in World War I - Mad Monarchist, [online] <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4wg04_ZqEg&feature=youtu.be> [Accessed: 09 July 2016]

In necessity of an army's day-to-day

Living, frequent marching, running,

Fighting across varieties of rough

Terrain - not to forget days of training,

An allied army required sturdy boots.

Manufacturers of this footwear created

Their own trade references - heavy

Leather was needed to create army

Boots - tanned hide parts prefered

Over butts, shoulders and the cheeks.

Released details of the Army Council's

Intentions to take possession of 'all

Bends of 10lb upwards' - making

Claim to all named parts mentioned;

Would likely push up all leather prices.

Yet the fact was not particularly new -

The Boot and Shoe Manufacturers' 
Secretary stated, on 7th July,

Government's order already done
This - to believe effects as not serious.

Furthermore, an enormous Russian

Order for infantry and ankle boots

Of 3000,000 that would likely

Double - with 3000,000 Cossack

Boots - could push up high demands.

Price rise rumours by such orders

May have added some effect,

Along with reasons, such as

Scarce male labour, to include

Insufficient war bonus from 1915.

More grant applications were under  
Way, while a bubbling crisis came

From obtaining enough leather

To complete big contracts - to find
Sources in time created pressures.

A month had been given to find

All sources for leather uppers

Of tallest boots - for future

Needs, in a current shortage

Of quality, was to import the hide.

The government’s restrictions from

Taking their claim for leathers

Suitable for army boots,

Had resulted in there being
Limited resources of good quality.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. 1916. Army Boots - Russia's Enormous Orders. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 8 July 1916. P.6. Col.2. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12211872/Daily-Telegraph-July-8-1916.html>[Accessed: 9 July 2016].

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 9 July 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12211872/Daily-Telegraph-July-8-1916.html

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

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Poem ~ A Bill for Saving Daylight - Friday, 5 May - Saturday, 6 May 1916

Source: File: Allegorical illustration depicting the introduction of daylight saving time from 1916. Daylight Saving Time: What is it and why do we have it? by Jess Staufenberg   Thursday 3 March 2016. [online] See an original image at: <http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/daylight-saving-time-what-is-it-and-why-do-we-have-it-a6907621.html> [Accessed: 6 May 2016]

For further study see:

http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/bills/daylight-saving-bill

After much debates for and against,

Was a decision made by Parliament.

This proposal was to last for wars

Duration - the daylight saving Bill.

The idea to alter times of clocks

Had been around for some time -

The waking hours alterations, had

Taken place in the ancient world.

Then a Benjamin Franklin satire

Rekindled the thought, to suggest

That a practice of waking earlier,

Would allow people to use daylight.

One such figure that had risen

To ride his horse in Petts Wood

Noted how many blinds were

Still down despite a summer's day.

William Willett was a builder,

Whose occupation probably

Made him think, how wise

It was to use all possible daylight.

By his own funds in 1907, Willett

Petitioned Parliament with his

Pamphlet - how for half the year

The sun shines while people sleep.

Determined to show all benefits
to Businesses and Town Councils,

He found support in Robert Pearce

MP, who tried to get it passed into law.

While this failed, other minor support

Came from Churchill, with another

Consideration in 1909 - still nought

Came of this until war's outbreak.

Willets thoughts were to improve

Well-being of people, that bring

Clocks forward over four Sundays

In April, to reverse them in September.

To be 20 minutes over each day -

Germany was already using such

A scheme, when 3 May 1916

Announced Daylight saving Bill.

Declared as unexpected the act

Was prompted by several MPs

Being in favour of a trial - only

For the length of the current war.

Advantages would actually give

The saving of coal in producing

Artificial light - the instance

Of advancing would occur in May.

The Daylight Saving Bill, while

Not aimed at peoples health,

Would act as wartime production

Boost, under Defence of realm Act.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Daylight Saving. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 5 May 1916. P.6. Col.6. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12209706/Daily-Telegraph-May-5-1916.html>  [Accessed: 5 May 2016].

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 5 May 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12209706/Daily-Telegraph-May-5-1916.html

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

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Poem ~ Nurse Training Scheme - Tuesday, 11 April 1916

Impression sketch of Sir Arthur Stanley and Sarah Swift - by Jamie. From original images that can be seen at: <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sir_Arthur_Stanley.jpg> and <https://www.rcn.org.uk/centenary> [Accessed: 11 April 2016]

With ongoing war without

Any sign of ending, a great

Need continued for nurses

To care for wounded soldiers.

As early as 1886 had been

Call for state registration

Of nurses but the proposal

Had been suspended in 1914.

An obvious growing need

For structured nurse training,

Was taken on by Red Cross'

Sarah Swift and MP A. Stanley.

Support of Arthur Stanley

Came from his volunteer

Work of health and disability;

As Chairman of the Red Cross.

Nurse training so far, had varied

Between programs in volunteer

Hospitals over 3 years - or hasty

Training in mental hospitals.

Two institutions they looked to

Were medical royal colleges;
Together, these models drew

A proposal for future meetings.

Despite various objections, an

Initial meetings success meant

No others were needed - diplomat

Stanley overcame all challenges.

Came significant date, 27 March

1916, to consolidate the college

Of Nursing Ltd - a meeting sat

At St Thomas Hospital London.

Objective, to discuss constitution

Of newly formed nursing college;

To bring hospital governing bodies

And matrons from across the country.

With Chairman Arthur Stanley

MP, announcing scheme, came

From needs of standardisation

For qualifications in the profession.

Matron Sarah Swift, of Joint war

Committee, with Stanley as their

Chairman - looked to already well

Established bodies of medical training.

Alongside the Royal College of

Physicians and Surgeons, time

Had come for College of Nurses -

Which, in time, may gain a royal title.

At its heart were three principles;

State recognition, uniformed
Curriculum of training alongside an

Established standard entrance exams.

Mr Stanley advised there would

Be no finance issues - a public

Keen to help soldiers and sailors,

Would not fail this nursing profession.

Regarding state registration

Of nurses Bill, Mr Stanley felt

Not to wait till wars end, when

Public interest would move away.

Nursing needs were current

In public's minds; after conflicts

End nurses, with their knowledge,

Would return with a power to harness.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. A College Of Nursing. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 8 April 1916. P.12. Col.5. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12208608/Daily-Telegraph-April-8-1916.html>  [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/12208608/Daily-Telegraph-April-8-1916.html

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

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