Poem ~ Peace In A Note - Thursday, 28 December 1916 - Friday, 29 December 1916

Source: File: Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg. See an original image at: <https://macedonia1912-1918.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/ww1-leaders-german-statesmen-and-army.html> [Accessed 28 December 2016]

Possibly prompted and basking in glow

Of success over Roumanian defeat,

Germany purveyed idea of negotiated

Peace - perhaps to believe that with

Advent of Christmas and goodwill to all

Men that this might be taken seriously.

Came an echo of previous attestations,

Where war's conclusion might become

Reality - another chapter for peace

Emerged from words by the German

Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg

12 December 1916, given in a speech.

The act of Roumania's entry to conflict

Began the body of the speech before

The Reichstag podium - in seriousness

Of the situation was noted Field Marshall

Von Hindenburg's strength - who had

Captured Bucharest and Wallachia.

This had been achieved alongside other

Fronts; the Somme, Italy and Russian -

Without any let up Hiddenburg pushed

All operations onwards. A twist existed

In Roumanian foodstuffs stocks,

While German enemies felt a famine.

The speech entwined praise and awe

On emperor's heart, by 1st anniversary

August 1915 - words told how Germany's

Empire was not a besieged fortress, but

An organised nation - having limitless

Resources, alongside a force of allies. 

Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg

Laid out claims to a nation of defence

And freedom - having quite forgotten

Their initial invading aggression -

Ever ready to hold out the German

Hand made claim of a peaceful country.

'God, humanity and nation' - three

Elements evoked the story, how all

Attempts for German declarations

Of peace were always avoided -

A reluctant Kaiser had mobilised,

Prompted by Russian mobilisation.

To claim throughout months of war,

The emperor wanted only peace -

His morals and religion nature finally

Prompted him to make official

Request for war's end, for harmony

With hostile countries in mutual peace.

Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg

Advised he had sent a transmission

Of a note for peace to major neutral

States; Switzerland, America and

Spain - ensuring all hostile powers

Received this, as well as neutrals.

To include the Pope who had always

Been an agent for a peaceful end

To conflict - the peace note circulated

To Constantinople, Vienna and Sofia.

The Chancellor edged towards reading

Circulated note in challenging enemy.

Greatest of all claims was the real

Existence of German world power,

And their clear conscience to act

In choosing peace over slaughter -

If declined than those that fought

Against them are wars perpetuators.

By suggestion that their enemies

Seek only to conquer how they,

With such words, spin doctor this

Situation - 'God will be the judge'

As Germany carrys on their way;

A burden of horror will be enemies.

To state the obvious catastrophe

Of conflict over much of the world,

Germany was not out to annihilate

Their adversaries, in a war forced

On them - yet a strong economy

Would enable them to continue.

A bitter end would be no problem,

Though civilization might dissolve

Into ruin - victories in Balkan arena

Only showed German power - how

That situation justifies their nations

Claim to unrelenting successes.

'Germany then carries on a war

Of defence' - she fights to assure

Integrity of frontiers and liberty

Of her nation' - for free intellect

And to develop peaceful energy

Alongside neighboring nations.

A pontification address to pope's

Intentions was to set out Germany

As subject of victimisation - only

Germany was ready for peace -

Setting forth an understanding for

The Holy See to channel outcome.

Making out his congratulations for

Imperial chancellors speech came

Reports via neutrals, quoting words

Of Marshal von Hindenburg - whose

Emotion was a soldier’s response;

'To live and die for the fatherland.'

Words from a Berlin telegram added

More prophetic rhetoric; Hiddenburg

Declared the highest holy duty by

Prosecuting victory another, Dr von

Bethmann-Hollweg, stated the words

As being both the army and peoples.

To reinforce that if German enemies

Did not terminate the war, guarantee

Of Germany is to fight and secure

Fatherland a strong, lasting peace -

Meanwhile neutral reactions came

In with importance of United States.

Missouri politician and chairman

Of Senate Committee for Foreign

Relations, William Stone, addressed

The 'League to Enforce Peace' - as

An advocate of American neutrality,

With right to open up negotiations.

William Stone refused all warnings

From any foreign statesmen opinions,

That United states peace movements

Would be seen as futile and offensive.

He pointed out that USA had lost lives

And property due to European events.

Despite this that the USA movements

Should not be considered as meddlers,

But as a friend who had been affected

By wars ruthless acts - what might then

Happen from the latest initiatives from
Germany; might peace come in 1917?

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Hindenburg And Peace - Significant Telegrams. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 15 December 1916. P.10. Col.3. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12213996/Daily-Telegraph-December-15-1916.htmll> [Accessed: 28 December 2016].

Anon.,1916. The Peace Proposal - An American View. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 15 December 1916. P.10. Col.6. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12213996/Daily-Telegraph-December-15-1916.htmll> [Accessed: 28 December 2016].

Source: File: Extract from the Speech of Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg in the German Reichstag, December 12, 1916. Available at: <https://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/Extract_from_the_Speech_of_Chancellor_von_Bethmann-Hollweg_in_the_German_Reichstag,_December_12,_1916> [Accessed 25 December 2016]

Source: File: Official Communications and Speeches Relating to Peace Proposals 1916-1917. Available at: <https://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/Official_Communications_and_Speeches_Relating_to_Peace_Proposals_1916-1917> [Accessed 25 December 2016]

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 28 December 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12213996/Daily-Telegraph-December-15-1916.html

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

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Poem ~ Season Of Peace And War - Monday, 25 December 1916 - Tuesday 26 December 1916

Source: File: Ruheben Camp festive card. Sketch depicting the card as they might have appeared in 1917 ‑ had the war ended that year. See an original image at: <https://www.worldwar1postcards.com/christmas-postcards.php> [Accessed 15 December 2016]

Reaching a bridge of 24 months from

First war Christmas, came 1916 festivities -

Situations of moods had long changed,

Across bitter stalemate of frontlines.

For the dead there were no celebrations.

Many that had once kicked a football

Across No Mans Land, long laid below

Or scattered across its poisoned mud.

Verdun, Somme and many new names

Of battles marked the bitter losses - any

Type of fraternisation forbidden by orders;

No football games of Hun versus Tommy.

Yet such truces of peace were not totally

Diminished - many Germans called out

Across the void to the Tommy and the Poilu

For 'Trêve de Noël' and 'Weihnachtsfrieden.'

The French spirit for 'live and let live' saw

Sectors sing to each other in native songs,

Along with exchanged gifts thrown across

Closest spaces of their outermost trenches.

Still the season, though subdued, continued.

Back in blighty had been orgainsed programs,

To get Christmas puddings to the front troops;

Though jokes abounded, if they would arrive.

With frozen stalemate in mud and the worst

Weather for more that 30 years, shortages

Were taking a grip - seasonal telegrams did

Not halt to tell men’s families of their deaths.

Not to forget the detained, held in camps from

Either side - with those most talented devising

Festive postcards - the artistic in the Ruhleben

Civilian camp held since 1914, drew designs.

In a card for xmas two detainees stare beyond

The wire towards the rising sun in hope of 1917;

A version shows them dancing before a happy

Sun and posts without wire, had the war ended.

A cherub builds three blocks for each war year;

1916 atop 1915 and 1914 - while yet another

Card, a smirking cherub kicks away the blocks -

Tentatively wishing happy forebodings for 1917.

With many an unlucky Tommy still on duty

In the trenches - as witnessed by news reporters

Such as Philip Gibbs - where after frosts, sleet

And snow found Christmas Eve a mild day.

Winter sunshine reflected across swamps

And flooded holes described in poetic images;

As supply columns churned their ways through

Mud, delivering feast day supplies to troops.

Gibbs saw soldiers as Noah like figures building

Colonies of huts, with attempts to abate floods -

Figures everywhere, splattered stiff with pale mud,

Emerged from lines imbued with Christmas spirits.

By subdued daylight Tommy's, Jocks and Anzacs

Sought out trinkets in nearest of French village

Markets - while on eve of feast day the reporter

Found a crowded restaurant, ready to celebrate.

Characters at every table; Tommy’s and Poliu

In salute of Entente Cordiale; 'Bonne chance!'

'Nous Les Aurons' and counter Christmas wishes

To old Fritz - here and there sat puzzled faces.

Young faces of 1916 recruits, amid the mature

Old Contemptibles, drawn into other temporary

Moods - away from the easy warmth and light

He took a few steps into darkness, to see blinks

Of horizon shells - somewhere soldiers died.

by Jamie Mann.

Gibb. P.,1916. Tommy's Xmas Eve - Scenes And Contrasts - A Memorable Picture. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 26 December 1916. P.7. Col.1-2. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12214032/Daily-Telegraph-December-26-1916.html> [Accessed: 26 December 2016].

Source: File: Picture Postcards From The Great War  - WW1 Christmas Postcards  by Tony Allen- 1914-1918. Available at: < https://www.worldwar1postcards.com/christmas-postcards.php> [Accessed 26 December 2016]

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 26 December 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12214032/Daily-Telegraph-December-26-1916.html

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

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Poem ~ Defiant Truces - Wednesday, 29 December 1915

Impression sketch of Private Robert Keating.jpg [online] Soldier who experienced ceasfire on Christmas day 1915. See an original image at: <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-35120354> Accessed: 29 December 2015].

Twelve months had passed to find

Situations had little changed -

Stagnant land daily wavered, as

Deeper trench lines lay battered,

Over the same held, dirty ground.

Christmas once again, where

Twelve months before a truce

Had occurred - as some legend,

Where Allies and Germans laid

Down weapons for handshakes.

Over four prior seasons marking

The calendar, attempts had been

Made to hold truces - with Easter

An attempted German truce flag,

Was warned away by the British.

The Christmas of 1915 was to be

Free of a repeat of 1914 - in place

To harass the enemy with all units

Ordered to make raids on the lines,

With artillery halting fraternizations.

Twelve months gone and systems

Of new warfare had seen gas used -

While air warfare had developed -

Yet still many men sought relief to

Meet and mark the peak of advent.

Despite warnings of disobedience,

Truce acts were a fact - as a diary

Record of Private Robert Keating,

Told how after breakfast, greetings

Were called out to the other side.

In the cold still air they shouted

'Come over!' as Germans called

Out the same - Private Keating

And others stood to see enemy

Walking above their parapets.

On impulse some jocks ran out -

Despite officers shouting orders

'Come back!' Keating and others

Ignored the words and went on

To meet with German reserves.

In a standing crowd, two sides

Talked on subject of old England;

One German, born in Northampton,

Fed up longed to time to return -

Feeling war would surely end soon.

In tradition of gifts, they swapped

Items, when artillery began to fire -

The reaction being to run in hurried

Acts - some caught in barbed wire,

In belief snipers would start to fire.

Despite shells sent over to German

Side there was no sudden danger -

A German officer said they would not

Fire for two days, if the same happened

On allied side; and no shots were fired.

Only on Sunday did fire commence

When the Irish Guard relieved them.

Elsewhere an isolated cease-fire was

Marked, as a rush of both sides meet

To hurriedly swap ready souvenirs.

Their officers gave orders to cease

Fraternity and a promised match

Of football did not happen - a brigade

Commander made threats against

Lack of discipline, as fire resumed.

In one other section a Scots Guards

Commander, Sir Ian Colquhoun held

Under court martial, for defiance

Of raising truce - found guilty a final

Punishment was annulled by Haig.

This likely reason being Colquhoun's

Relation to Prime Minister Asquith -

While in seeking suppression of facts,

The truth had been that Christmas

Truce's happened that day, if only briefly.

by Jamie Mann.

Source: File: Christmas truce. Online Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_truce> Accessed 29 December 2015

Source: File: 1915 WW1 diary gives account of second Christmas truce. By Nick Bourne. 26 December 2015. Available Online at: <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-35120354> Accessed 29 December 2015

Source: File: The forgotten Christmas truce the British tried to suppress. Available Online at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-one/12058701/The-forgotten-Christmas-truce-the-British-tried-to-suppress.html> Accessed 29 December 2015

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 29 December 2015). 

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

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Poem ~ Stout Boots for Officers - Monday, 20 December 1915

Source: File: Advert - Harrods Military Boots. peg, [online] Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12052424/Daily-Telegraph-December-20-1915.html> Accessed: 20 December 2015].

In kitting out the personal kit

For the officer, were two styles

Of the latest looking solid boots.

By recommendation of top

London Store sellers, Harrods

Of London SW, provided proof.

Countless frontline officers

Had purchased service boots -

Apparently looked to this house.

With reputation and value, along

With high quality, advertised two

Boot types, G.B.704 and G.B.705.

At 63/- the 704 'Canada' Trench

And Transport boot; water and mud

Resistant in black oil dressed hide.

While the extra stout oiled dressed

Hide, 705 Norwegian Ski boot came

In black or brown, being made to order.

Advertised as excellent beyond any

Doubt, for £5.7.6.- any boot could be

Made to order and ready in three days.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. Advert - Military Boots. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 20 December. P.3. Col.6-7. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12052424/Daily-Telegraph-December-20-1915.html [Accessed: 20 December 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 20 December 2015). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12052424/Daily-Telegraph-December-20-1915.html

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

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Poem ~ 'Save Our Skins' - Saturday, 18 December 1915 - Sunday, 19 December 1915

Source: File: Advert - Selfridge’s Gauntlets. peg, [online] Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12052408/Daily-Telegraph-December-18-1915.html> Accessed: 19 December 2015].

From what was a simple innovation

Of the 19th century, of wire lengths

That held regular twists of barbs -

To become frontline war defences.

The use of barbed wire, turned

Onto human livestock, to defend

And prevent enemy advancement;

By injuries inflicted by twists of metal.

Not just to the opposing invader,

But for those men of wiring parties,

Sent to lay out the passive weapon -

Came needs of ways to handle sharps.

In firms that set out to make money

Through war, advanced the Tommy's

Kit - the SOS need came by Selfridges

To 'Save Our Skin' in shape of gauntlets.

The appeal of practicalities for those

Sappers sent out to fix entanglements,

Informed the xmas gift shopper that such

Gauntlets were needed on darkest nights.

Dangers were fingers or hands likely
to be badly torn - safety was advertised

In an image of a gauntleted fist, solidly 

Clasping dangerous spikes of such wire.

For 5/- a pair; protection for a price.

In a depiction of a private funded war;

Reality should been for army gauntlets 
Issues, to all the wire and sapper parties.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. Advert - He Needs Protection Against Barbed Wire. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 18 December. P.4. Col.1-3. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12052408/Daily-Telegraph-December-18-1915.html [Accessed: 18 December 2015].

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

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12052408/Daily-Telegraph-December-18-1915.html

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

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Poem ~ Special Coats for Trenches - Friday, 10 December 1915

Source: File: 1915: Trench Coats.jpeg, [online] to see original images see source details below. Accessed: 10 December 2015].

Revising adaptive Military raincoats

From the prewar heavy coats of serge,

Came styles from tailors of Harrods -

All for the officer's winter wardrobe.

First the 'Adaptable Jacket' to wear

Under the Greatcoat; British warm

Or under waterproofs - the 'Adaptable'

Being lined with fur or Camel fleece.

Such a serviceable garment made

Of an outer layer - proofed Khaki Drill

Or Italian cloth - with press buttons

To go across chest to fit any waist.

The lining for the adaptable jacket,

Depended on price range and came

In Wallaby, Natural Brown Lamb,

Musquash or cheaper camel fleece.

Further more, Harrods might offer

The Yeltra Storm Warm Trench Coat;

Ease of movement from a full skirt

And Raglan Sleeves - without rubber.

The two linings of Yeltra, provided

Waterproofing with Siloyl - to cut out

Rain, wind or sleet - under a lining

Of proofed khaki drill or check wool.

A combination of the 'Yeltra Storm

Coat' all interlined with Siloyl -

To suit any pocket - far superior to

Trench coats of perishable oilskins.

Alternatively, the clever officer might

Prefer the 'Gooch' Trench Coat -

Designed with the officer in mind,

Made from many trench experiences.

Boasting best in coat construction,

Well cut and tailored - ready for any

Current campaigns - all with outer

Pockets, with tight closing cuffs.

The 'Gooch' Trench Coat consisted

Of three layers - an inner lining

Of a light British Warm fleece, all

Detachable - ready to be worn alone.

The middle lining made of the oilskin

Waterproof type, while the outer

Coat was proofed treble twisted yarn -

All to give full waterproof protection.

Not to be outdone, came the Burberry

Trench-Warm - assured with quality -

A coat to carry their individual label,

Distinguished for any solider on duty.

The Burberry, effectively two coats

In one, to exclude all biting winds

Or rains - without overheating wearer;

Completed with Burberry service kit.

A further choice given by Aquascutum,

With a claim dating back to 1850s -

Again detachable, this time in leather,

Fleece, wool or fur - sold with a quote.

The Aquascutum's reliability provided

By a Lt.-Col. with a battalion in France;

In giving a 6 month trial of the fleece-

Lined type, to praise waterproofness.

Words declared the Aquascutum free

Of faults, from other makes previously

Worn - including durability to last over

Time - with its ten buttons and belt.

A classic designed by military needs,

From cold winters and flooded ditches -

Given a timeless name of Trench Coat;

In continued reliability for future times.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. Advert - Harrods Military Tailors. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 10 December. P.11. Col.6-7. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12031763/Daily-Telegraph-December-10-1915.html [Accessed: 10 December 2015].

Anon.,1915 Advert - Aquascutum Trench Coat. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 3 December. P.12. Col.4. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12025575/Daily-Telegraph-December-3-1915.html [Accessed: 10 December 2015].

Anon.,1915 Advert -The 'Gooch' Trench Coat. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 6 December. P.12. Col.4. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12025645/Daily-Telegraph-December-6-1915.html [Accessed: 10 December 2015].

Anon.,1915. Advert - Burberry Trench-Warm. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 9 December. P.3. Col.3. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12031744/Daily-Telegraph-December-9-1915.html [Accessed: 10 December 2015].

Source: File: Trench coat From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Online. Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trench_coat> Accessed 10 December 2015

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 10 December 2015). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12031763/Daily-Telegraph-December-10-1915.html

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

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