Poem ~ Aviator Adventurer - Saturday, 24 June - Sunday 25 June 1916

Source: File: Sub-Lieutenant Charles Nungesser alongside his morbid insignia. [online] See an  original image at: <http://www.opex360.com/2015/07/27/hussard-de-la-grande-guerre-charles-nungesser-le-parrain-de-la-54e-promotion-de-lecole-militaire-interarmes/> [Accessed: 24 June 2016]

A Parisian Charles Nungesser,

An experienced born adventurer

And sportsman, went as a teenager

In search of his missing uncle.

On a mission of discovery Charles

Travelled to South America, here

He worked in Buenos Aires - first

As an auto mechanic then a racer.

From professional racer Charles

Then learned to fly - on finding

His uncle, the young Nungesser

Worked on his sugar plantation.

When war broke out at home

22 year old Charles Nungesser,

Returned to join 2nd Regiment

Hussars, in first months of war.

September 3rd 1914, this soldier

As part of a patrol, was mentioned
In despatches - with their officer

Wounded the men took shelter.

With his fellow soldiers Nungesser

Halted a car, occupied by German

Staff, who they rapidly despatched,

To discover valuable enemy papers.

Nungesser took charge of driving,

At speed returning them to safety -

Stolen by Germans the French car 

Was a Mors; to give him a nickname.

The 'Mors Hussar' had impressed

His superiors, to be given Medaille

Militaire along with the car - some

Days later he passed a few poilu's.

They questioned his role - a youth

Driving around in a car while they

Fought in the trenches - to prompt

Nungesser requesting a transfer.

With his skill at flying, the soldier

Joined Service Aeronautique -

Yet adventurer Charles Nungesser

Was not a man for disciplined rules.

He liked everything fast, not just

Engines but women too - home

In Paris led to his reputed meeting

With an exotic dancer, Mata Hari.

As Aviator the French pilot was

Mentioned 3 times in despatches;

Taking part in 53 bombardments,

To gain Croix de Guerre by 1915.

31 July 1915 Nungesser with his

Mechanic Pochon, on standby, took

Up a Voisin 3 - to fight five Albatros'

Shooting one down near Nancy.

On return Nungesser went under

House arrest, having gone against

Orders - then received a decoration

Before being sent away to Nieuport.

The Nungesser legend had begun -

The pilot’s grim insignia; freebooters

Skull and crossbones below a coffin,

Either side a candle, in a black heart.

The image of Nungesser's morbid

Humour appeared on all his crafts -

A display of his aerobatics above

Nancy, resulted in suspended arrest.

By start of 1916 Nungesser's daring

Resulted in a terrible accident - when

Testing a craft, a control stick broke

His mouth's roof to dislocate his jaw.

Along with two broken legs and

Ribs, found him unconscious for

Five days - invalided from hospital,

A frustrated Nungesser flew again.

In two months he was back in cockpit -

He shot down an enemy balloon

And two crafts  - Nungesser found

Himself promoted to Sub-Lieutenant.

With a report of his 'charmed life,'

Nungesser, during June 1916,

Encountered 6 enemy; 3 Fokkers

And 3 Luft-Verkehrs-Gesellschaft.

In a situation, he employed a trick

To fly between L.V.G. and Fokkers -

Amid six enemies’ they did not fire,

To avoid shooting each other down.

Sub-Lieutenant Nungesser made

His return in safety - he had taken

28 shots in the plane's body, seven

In the engine, one hitting his shoe.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Aviator's Charmed Life. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 24 June 1916. P.10. Col.6. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12211360/Daily-Telegraph-June-24-1916.html [Accessed: 24 June 2016].

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 24 June 2016). 

Source: File: Charles Nungesser Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Online. Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Nungesser> [Accessed 24 June 2016]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12211360/Daily-Telegraph-June-24-1916.html

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

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Poem ~ Armoured Car Attacks - Monday, 20 March 1916

Impression sketch of armoured car - by Jamie. An original image can be seen at : <http://www.centenaryww1orange.com.au/home/page/3/> [Accessed: 20 March 2016]

From tense days in opposition to French

Presence, the Sect Senussi of Sahara -

Objectifiers of peace against fanaticism -

Became susceptible to the influences

Of both Ottoman and German Empires.

Although war was fought on other shores

Conflicts were to spread across waters,

To pull others into causes with Turkish,

Libya and across Egyptian frontiers -

Evolving provocations for British.

Senussi leader, Ahmed Sharif as-Senussi

Was persuaded by 1915, to take a jihad

Against Egyptian occupation of British -

Weaponry from Ottoman's were given

To stir incidents over summer months.

Confrontations with Senussi and Italy

Already had a history - then by diplomatic

Incident 15 August 1915, Senussi guns

Had fired on British submarine, to state

They believed the vessel was Italian.

Senussi forces set to artillery training

About Sollum, with British attempts

To appease them - yet aggressions

Did not stop - with further incidents

The British set to defeat the Senussi.

From November, attacks started

About Sollum, where barracks were

Hit - to prompt civil unrest, 280 miles

From Alexandria - Sollum was not well

Placed as a base to be evacuated.

The Senussi campaign had seen sect

Forces pass over Libyan Egyptian border

Across the coast, to see Agagia conflict -

Major General William Peyton commander

Of Egyptian Frontier Forces, set into action.

An intention was to recapture Sollum -

British forces marched onto Sidi Barrani

With horse and camels carrying supplies,

While wheeled convoys followed - above

Air reconnaissance made an important find.

A Senussi camp at Birwar was discovered

Reported to be seen apparently deserted -

Among the Cheshire Yeomanry, Hugh

Grosvenor, 2nd Duke of Westminster,

Developed the use of armoured cars.

Though unsuited to muddy western front,

The Rolls Royce armoured car could

Operate across the Egypt planes - with

Following information of ariel observation

The armoured cars started off in pursuit.

The terrain was rough for eight miles

Then onto the Derna road their pace

Picked up, with cars running at 40 mph -

Along the route, armed Bedouins were

Sighted, but they carried onto targets.

25 miles west of Sollum the target

Camp lay a mile south off Derna road -

While the leading armoured cars turned

From the road in a line over the rough -

Two cars moved on at speed for two miles.

With the cars approach to the camp,

They came under fire of machine guns.

While amour deflected bullets, the cars

Maintained speed to return accuracy

Of aim, to cut down enemy gun teams.

Without slowing pace of the attack,

Armoured cars drove into the camp

To scatter the enemy - they pushed

Onwards until finally Sollum village

Was retaken, Tuesday 14 March 1916.

An arduous campaign proved ability

In the effective usage of armoured

Motorcars, across a relatively stable

Terrain of desert ground - such engine

Driven machinery was still to develop.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Operations in Egypt - British Succeses - Agagia & Sollum Battles - Armoured Car Dash. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 20 March 1916. P.9. Col.7. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12196045/Daily-Telegraph-March-20-1916.html [Accessed: 20 March 2016].

Source: File: Action of Agagia. Online. Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_of_Agagia> Accessed 20 March 2016

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 20 March 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12196045/Daily-Telegraph-March-20-1916.html

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

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Poem ~ Touring Cars Needed - Wednesday, 18 August 1915

Impression sketch of staff car - by Jamie. See original at: http://www.crossley-motors.org.uk/history/1920/20_25/20_25.html

Both St John and Red Cross Orders

Committees, had in combination

By August 1915, a total of 625 motor

Ambulances across frontline of France.

Still more such motors were needed,

At a cost of £450 are not quite

Whole solution – for each convoy

Of ambulances were requirements.

With three to six touring cars, in order

To transport personnel, three

Motorbikes to carry despatches,

With three lorries to convey supplies.

Additional needs of a motor workshop,

Along with a soup kitchen van -

An appeal was prompted by lack

Of efficient touring cars for frontline.

Those given from early stages of war,

Being no longer fit for purpose -

If new ones were gained the oldest

Could be restored for use at homefront.

A fund for transport of wounded existed

To supply all needs, as in building

Hospital trains to tyre maintenance-any

Offers were asked to write to 83 Pall Mall.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915 Carrying wounded – Appeal for Touring Cars. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 18 August. P.9. Col.4. Available at:  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11796916/Daily-Telegraph-August-18-1915.html [Accessed: 18 August 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 18 August 2015). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11796916/Daily-Telegraph-August-18-1915.html

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

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Poem ~ Imminent Invasion - Sunday, 11 April 1915

Source: Invasion - Avon Tyres Advert. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 10 Apr. P.4. Col.5-7. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11520509/Daily-Telegraph-April-10-1915.html [Accessed: 11 April 2015].

With a countryside view in Wye Valley

Two men, two women look back,

Pointing down to Tintern Abbey -

Pausing in an open motorcar to show

The freedom of the open road.

Above hangs the word 'invasion.'

So what’s the bother about Germans

Invading the British county? - well

Why not invade it yourself, proclaims

Some cheery tyre tube called Bill.

With the continent well and truly

Closed to tourism, the guide makes

For 'stay-at-home holidays' -

Which is stated as not only patriotic

But is totally compulsory.

Bill the tube advises how Harogate,

Baden Baden or Bath can all be

Places of cures  - how Scottish glens,

Yorkshire moors and Surrey lanes

Can offer so much more.

Equal to any continental place

Is spring of any open English Road -

With the Lakes, Devon Forests

And mountains in an Emerald Isle -

Full of neglected charm.

Such is the fortune of the fortunate

Motorist - the chosen few whose

Money can be spent liberally -

So runs the advert for those

Who can afford good tyres.

Endurance, resilience and strong

Safety in the English sounding Avon

Tyres available in British towns, with

Solid types, ideal for trade vehicles;

The Avon India Rubber Company.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. Invasion -Avon Tyres Advert. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 10 Apr. P.4. Col.5-7. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11520509/Daily-Telegraph-April-10-1915.html [Accessed: 11 April 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 11 April 2015). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11034515/Daily-Telegraph-Janauary-1-1915.html

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

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Poem ~ Professional Woman Driver - Tuesday, 23 March 1915

Sketch of a Lady Driver - sketch by Jamie, from an original image that can be seen at: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/456763587179439747/ Note: In 1915 Wilma Russey became the first woman to work as a taxi driver in New York and was an expert garage mechanic.

A Miss Virtue of London,

Whose morally trait name,

Became very valued

Within the city of Leeds -

Where she once resided.

Described then by the papers

As the first professional female

Motor driver in the country,

For a firm of grocers in Leeds,

On Boar Lane - who’s male

Driver had gone to the front.

The firm's manager had seen

Usual various male chauffeurs,

With an interest in the position -

These men's surprise, on seen

By the recruiter, to be then told

That 'Kitchener wants you.'

Young Miss Virtue presented

Herself for the post, eager

To liberate men for the front

For the period of the war -

To be interviewed later for

The Electric Vehicle Parade.

Miss Virtue said of the chance

Of doing a man's job, was that

Motor driving was not severest

Job she had had - having roughed

It before, spending 12 months

In Canada, working on a farm.

In comparison, a chauffeur's job

Was simple - Miss V Suggested

Such a job to any strong healthy

Girl - if not too shy, she would

Get over the novelty from boys,

Who cheekily cry out in streets;

'There's a woman driving!'

The firm's first experiment

Was deemed a success -

Stating there has been less

Time wasted on errands.

While people of Leeds have

Not been 'rude,' householders

Were said to prefer deliveries

By a woman than a man.

Times of talking to ladies

With flirting between motor

Man and maid - a motorman

Is off when they're a woman!

The men at garages are seen

As being troubling - if they had

Been less so, she would do

More cleaning - then again she

Might do all her own repairs.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. Woman Motor Driver. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 23 Mar. P.7. Col.4. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11486293/Daily-Telegraph-March-23-1915.html [Accessed: 23 March 2015].

Anon.,1915. Woman Motor-Van Driver. Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, 8 June 1915, [online] 23 Mar. P.5. Available at: http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=HNS19150608.2.34.21&cl=&srpos=0&e=-------10--1----0--&st=1 [Accessed: 23 March 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 23 March 2015). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11034515/Daily-Telegraph-Janauary-1-1915.html

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

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Poem ~ Special Press Bureau - Saturday, 8 August 1914

Now fully borne on this day comes the propaganda war.

Not subtle or half hidden, but planted indicators,

Dictating the degrees of brutalism and brutality -

Both Germany's chauvinism and dire dealings of Austria

Are made known - as in the sinking of the Amphion:

Condemned as a crime against civilization.

Such future stories, in the progress of war and conflict,

Will be placed under control of a Special Press Bureau.

Where only official releases of military and naval affairs,

Will be allowed to the reading public.

Even this day an article of a Dutch account,

Is made more colourful by a Rotterdam correspondent;

Glorifying gallant General Lieman's defence of Liege,

And how Belgium forces are fiercely holding out.

While the German invasion is failing in its plan,

France appears stronger with 3 more days of preparation.

At home the price war has now hit the officer class,

In a rising surge of complaints to Earl Kitchener,

For the extortionate prices of essential officer kit:

Unpatriotic sellers doubling prices of service revolvers.

So now keen writers turn to make new Empires songs.

'An Englishman's home' sung by Mr. Joseph Cheetham

Whose proceeds are in aid of the National Fund.

While patriotism for Englishman, Welshman, Irishman,

Sings Mr. Scott for 'One United Front'.

Across the seas Australia's offer of 20,000 men,

Are accepted for service by this Imperial Government.

Now in time of stress and emergency comes Ford,

Who unveils the universal car in the claim of

Transport built solid for all "light and powerful"

Suit all organizations, civil, local and military.

Receiving Royal patronage come organizations

For the Prince of Wales Funds for National Relief,

Disclose their gains for £250,000 in the first day alone.

While Queen Alexandra makes a Red Cross appeal,

And peers donate their country house and homes

For hospitals and convalescence -

A vision of things to come?

by Jamie Mann.

Anon., 2014. Daily Telegraph August 8 1914. The Telegraph, [online] 8 Aug. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11019813/Daily-Telegraph-August-8-1914.html  [Accessed: 8th August 2014].

Mann, J., 2014. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 8 August 2014). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11019813/Daily-Telegraph-August-8-1914.html

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

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