Poem ~ War Machines - Friday, 1 September 1916 - Thursday, 14 September 1916

Source: File: Holt Tractor hauling a 9.2 inch Howitzer to a forward area. See an original image at: <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Holt_tractor_hauling_a_9.2_inch_Howitzer_to_a_forward_area.jpg> [Accessed 1 September 2016]

Source: File: Little Willie. See an original image at: <http://www.historywiz.com/tank.htm> [Accessed 1 September 2016]

http://www.historywiz.com/tank.htm

Source: File: Little Willie - The world's first tank. The Tank Museum. See YouTube: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fLCdNudUxk/> [Accessed 10 July 2016]

i

Virtually a year to the day had been

In the making a new concept of war -

Though such an idea had been around

For centuries - born 'Bohemia one.'

Hussite leader, called One-eyed Žižka,

Conceived in the 1400s an idea

Of wagons of armour and cannons.

Five centuries later came idea of self

Propelled cannon by Levavasseur -

Captain of an artillery battalion this

French man had proposition for a petrol

Machine driven on roues articulées -

The crawler tracks would carry 75 mm

Gun cross-country, on a steel caisson.

Objections were raised as directions

Could not be controlled - machines

That could cross multiple terrains had

Proved unsatisfactory - artillery drawn

By horse was perfectly fine - not put

Down, Captain Levavasseur revised

His project in another 1908 prototype.

Yet the plan was rejected by August -

The British had already invented

A chain track, by company Hornsby

And Sons - various trials had led to

Fitting of rolling tracks onto tractors -

After a wheeled tractor was beaten

By trial display, came other changes.

July 1907 in Aldershot, an improved

Chain track was shown a possibility.

David Roberts engineer for Hornsby

Showed a trailer mocked up to carry

A gun - the tracked trailer prompted

The nickname 'caterpillar,' appropriate

To evoke that particular insects crawl.

Trials continued with this caterpillar

Tractor - adding trailers by November

1907, David Roberts displayed this

Tracked trailer to the Royal Artillery -

And then again some months into 1908

At Aldershot, with King Edward present

They displayed the engines versatility.

The caterpillar tractor and trailer showed

The possibility to cross rough grounds,

By obstacles scattered in its path - a mock

Up of a dummy gun was added, along

With a horse team stuck in mud freed

By this machine - the caterpillar crossed 

40 miles non-stop to gain a £1000 prize.

ii

Two years later 1910, a third version

Towed ammunition and 60 pound gun

Over difficult earth - this prompted Major

Donohue's suggestion, how a tractor

Might be fitted with gun and iron shields;

This left Roberts to later regret not

Taking on an idea of an automated gun.

Conceptions had emerged over time

To include a fictional thought in a story

Of 'The Land Ironclads' - H. G. Wells took

The invention of pedrail mobility - being

Wheels of pivoted feet - until war's reality 
became impeded by a landlocked conflict,

Prompting the need to break stalemate.

Matters began to alter after a trial took

Place in Wales - artillery officers gave

Questions over the tractors lack of power,

Prompting a conversion to petrol driven

Engine - a difference of opinion between

Mechanical Transport committee and

Royal Horse Artillery noted shortcomings.

Into 1911 and David Roberts hopes to sell

His idea faded; the war office retracted all

Interest - for £4000 he sold patents to Holt

Manufactures, USA - who also registered

Term 'Caterpillar' as a trademark - matters

Took another turn, when war across Europe

Opened up opportunities for inventions.

Based in California USA, Holts producing

Crawling tractors became favoured as

A way to pull artillery and haul trains

Over rough French tracks - parallel ideas

Had no borders; Colonel Jean Baptiste

Eugène Estienn, commander of French

Artillery Regiment, became tank's father.

Estienn stated how victory belonged

To first who would devise a cannon

On a vehicle over multi terrains - while

French had limited Holts tractors, use

Of them by the British prompted this

Colonel's caterpillar track ideas to carry

An armoured vehicle - his other idea

Included a personal shield on wheels.

Another Estienn development was how

To overcome enemy trenches and wire -

The 'Boirault' was a special machine;

A large open frame driven by a central

Engine - an oblong that could tilt, this

Large rotating track crushed obstacles.

Yet slow fragility led to its end, mid 1915.

iii

As Boirault 1 was abandoned June 1915,

Parallel British industry in July saw a new

Prototype for a land fighter underway.

Developments for fighting vehicles given

To the Landslips committee, prompted

Trails of various wheel and track vehicles -

But single and triple track systems failed.

The project began 1 August 1915, given

To William Foster and Company - just

Under four weeks 'number 1 Lincoln

Machine' did its maiden run in the yard,

Problems showed up one by one to be

Met by challenges to solve resistance,
This in turn led to suspension changes.

Need to traverse five-foot trenches found

Tracks sagged off the wheels and jammed,

While a 16 ton body was too much weight

For the tracks - this led to various track

Designs - William Tritton tried out methods

With tracks held firmly, to be unsprung -

Cast links with steel plates were riveted.

Though the machines speed was limited,

This proved a successful method - then

Into the autumn 1915 rolled out 'Llittle

Willie,' the little sibling of Mark I tank -

This test machine showed issues that

Could be resolved in the next generation;

Work was set out on an improved design.

The main fundamental difference to Willie

Came in a body of a parallelogram, with

Unequal adjacent sides - a rhomboidal

Shape - in considering centre of gravity,

A gun turret on the body’s centre would

Be too high - guns were therefore placed

Either sides; a shape to echo the Boirault.

The army’s armour and armaments needs

Were worked into the finished designs -

Within months, December '15, came names

Like 'His majesty’s ship centipede,' Wilson

Machine and Big Willie, were melded down

Into 'Mother' - to perform before Land ships

Committee at the very beginning of 1916.

A repeat performance was given before

Cabinet ministers and more senior army

Members - 'Mother' was driven over

A prepared landscape of parapets, wire

Craters and over trenches - though the

Secretary of state for war Kitchener was

Wary, Lloyd George prompted production.

With the Land Ships Committee renamed

'Tank supply Committee,' the staff officer

Hugh Elles would be commander of tanks

In France - initial orders began 12 February

Followed by a further 50 in April - the reality

Of land ships codenamed 'tanks' arrived by

British engineering ingenuity, ready for battle.

by Jamie Mann.

Source: File: History of the tank. Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_tank> [Accessed 1 September 2016]

Source: File: British heavy tanks of World War I. Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_heavy_tanks_of_World_War_I#Mark_I> [Accessed 1 September 2016]

Source: File: Boirault machine. Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boirault_machine> [Accessed 1 September 2016]

Source: File: Little Willie. Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Willie> [Accessed 1 September 2016]

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 1 September 2016). 

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

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Poem ~ Kitchener Rumours - Sunday 7 November 1915

Source: File: Horatio Kitchener. jpeg, [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Horatio_Kitchener,_1st_Earl_Kitchener_-_Project_Gutenberg_eText_15306.jpg> Accessed: 7 November 2015].

Having left British shores Earl Kitchener,

Was by 7 November, on route to Gallipoli -

The objective to gain first hand truth

Of the war situation on the Turkish front.

Only a day after departure came need

For announcement to explain, that while

Minister of War was away, the war office

Came under the command Mr Asquith.

Such situations had been quite normal,

When Earl Kitchener's duties took him

From Whitehall - While Downing Street

Had seen a normal ministers meeting.

A press Bureau statement told how

Sir Edward Grey, Lloyd George other

Ministers, with a few military officers,

Met as usual nothing out of ordinary.

Not unusual, except for suggestion

Of a circulated story, about resignation

Of Lord Earl Kitchener - the humdrum

Duties saw meet Board of Education.

Therefore in words of bold, told how

A temporary absence of the great man

Was being carried on by Prime Minister,

Without truth in resignation of Kitchener.

While there is often no truth in rumours,

Rumours might often turn out to be true.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. Lord Kitchener - Temporary Absence On Public Duty - Resignation Denied. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 6 November. P.9. Col.4. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11975530/Daily-Telegraph-November-6-1915.html [Accessed: 7 November 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 7 November 2015). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11975530/Daily-Telegraph-November-6-1915.html

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

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Poem ~ When will Peace Be? - Wednesday, 22 September 1915

Source: File: Female delegates to the 1915 Women's Peace Conference in The Hague, aboard the MS Noordam. 1915.jpg, [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woman's_Peace_Party> Accessed: 22 September 2015].

Another debate asserted

The subject - over the likely

Length of one European war.

This was the question made

By theorists based in New York,

Of Earl Kitchener’s statement -

That Germany ‘had almost shot

Their bolt’ - made in the week

Beginning 13 September 1915.

A challenge taken on by American

Independent strategists, who had

Made neutral war observations.

Their findings proved encouraging

To the allies, but counterbalanced

By future Germans decisions.

What might Germany decide,

Over next ten months? Sources

Of statistics shared with English.

Their accuracy was likely flawed;

As probable enemy forces, stayed

Same totals as they had in 1914.

American speculation centered

On Austro-German Reserves

Forces, by calculated projections.

From future 1917/1918 cavalry

Classes to be 1,200,000 reserves,

Along with 3,200,000 in the field.

Yet Germany would face 500,000

In the field and 500,000 reserves

To make them a difficult winter.

By spring of 1917, the Germans

Would likely be forced to narrow

Their fronts; East and the West.

But if Russia became defeated

By the end of winter, Germany

Might gain an equal army.

Conclusions from the experts

Of American strategy, slightly

Anticipated German 'distress.'

Using all best figures available,

The subject was open to revision;

Dependent on next few months.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. Duration of the War - American Views. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 22 September. P.8. Col.5. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11879779/Daily-Telegraph-September-22-1915.html [Accessed: 22 September 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 22 September 2015). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11879779/Daily-Telegraph-September-22-1915.html

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

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Poem ~ Kitchener Seeks Men - Thursday, 16 September 1915

 Impression of the iconic Kitchener Recruitment Poster - by Jamie. See original at: http://www.epitaphsofthegreatwar.com/call-to-arms/

In preference for voluntary men,

Lasting for a century -

British army had used campaigns 

To build all armed forces.

Then with new war, an initial call

Had exceeded 100,000 -

Bands, women and comedians

Had all prompted men.

After twelve months new armies

Readied; with divisions

Tested all prepared for the field -

Which Lord Kitchener

Advised the House of Commons.

Wednesday 15 September 1915,

Heard the allied font

In the west, remained almost

Unchanged - not to say

Relaxed - with strengthened lines.

Lord Kitchener reminded them,

That despite the new army

Prepared and equipped to fight,

Still many more recruits

For 1916, would be needed.

The fact of the Registration Act

Passed - whereby women

And men had to register their

Residence - such results

Allowed to calculate resources.

Lord Kitchener, in reference

To this said that would

Show possible numbers for army

And munitions needs -

In a lead towards conscription.

Without admittance to what

Might happen, Kitchener

Promoted future requirements

Of the military and how

To meet national obligations.

At the same time of suggested

Agendas, the trade union

Congress made its opposition,

To compulsory military

Services, in answer to views.

The committee was overseen

By Mr. W. C. Anderson

On the same day as Kitchener's

Summary, gave unified

Agitation in a subversive press.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. Lord Kitchener on the War's Progress - Our New Armies - Front Extended - Still More Men Needed. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 16 September. P.9. Col.7. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11863839/Daily-Telegraph-September-16-1915.html [Accessed: 16 September 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 16 September 2015). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11863839/Daily-Telegraph-September-16-1915.html

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

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Poem ~ English India - Wednesday, 14 July 1915

Impression sketch of in the Pavilion grounds - by Jamie. See the original at: http://brightonmuseums.org.uk/royalpavilion/history/ww1-and-the-royal-pavilion/

With Brighton's past, Indian influence

Of Royal Pavilion might have seemed

An obvious choice for the wounded,

Of the Indian continent to be treated.

The destination for Mr Chamberlain

And his wife's visit, for an inspection

Of the hospitals, tending to Indian

Soldiers who had suffered wounds.

The belief was that Brighton would stay

In hearts as a sacred place for many

Years, as Brighton’s people and Mayor

Gave out a great deal of generosity.

Mr Chamberlain had spent the first day

At Kitchener's Hospital - adjoining

The racecourse was a grand looking,

Converted workhouse building.

With a curved sign, stating in English

And Indian text, the 'Kitchener Indian

Hospital' - which would house 2000

Patients - all with modern medicine.

Working with complete personnel

Of Indian staff, were numbers of British

Orderlies, who worked in success

Together, in carrying out their duties.

Mr Chamberlain took a keen interest

In arrangements for providing patient

Food, in nine kitchens - for all the sects 

Of vegetarian and meat eating castes.

Thus separate kitchens, slaughter

Houses and sections all distributed

The food; along with the cooks taught

Methods in using gas and counters

On the following day Mr Chamberlain

Saw York-Place Hospital, under the rule

Of Colonel Sweeny and Indian medical

Service, catering for 600 Indian men.

Later the visit moved to the Pavilion

Hospital, holding 722 beds - India's

Secretary of state stayed till 6 p.m.

To see arranged beds under Dome

And the music room chandeliers.

To mark end of his visit Indian officers

Assembled, to march past secretary

Of state, with whom he shook hands -

And also Subadar Mir Dast, in recovery
In gaining the VC for his act of gallantry.

Subadar Mir Dast, weak from poison

Gas; lay in a bath chair - the man's story

Was gaining Order of Merit in bravery

Of 1908 - his officer had joked that greatly

Disappointed not to get VC, but he did.

In dining with Mayor, Mr and Mrs Otter

And the Chief Constable, Colonel Gentle,

Who made assurance to secretary of state

The behaviour of the Sepoys as gentlemen,

Whose care received was in appreciation.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. Wounded Indians - Mr A Chamberlain's Visit. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 14 July. P.3. Col.7. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11732036/Daily-Telegraph-July-14-1915.html [Accessed: 14 July 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 14 July 2015). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11732036/Daily-Telegraph-July-14-1915.html

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

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