Poem ~ Prisoners Of The Easter Rising - Friday, 12 May 1916

Source: File: A sketch of inside the GPO during the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin Ireland. (National Museum of Ireland) [online] See an original image at: <http://hubpages.com/education/1916-Easter-Rising-Sean-McDermott-executed-Kilmainham-Jail-Arbour-Hill-Stoneybatter-Dublin-Irish-history-Ireland> [Accessed: 12 May 2016]

Within the Irish Easter Monday rising, 

Came a tale of a Royal Fusiliers officer -

The Lieutenant was captured by rebels,

And held prisoner in the General Post

Office - After being searched for arms

His hands were bound by telephone wire.

Over the following days the Lieutenant

Observed how the insurgents consisted

Of various trade experts; electricians

Engineers and an explosive expert from

Germany - an elaborate method was set

To ensure the prisoners did not move.

Kept down into the cellar the prisoners

Were blocked in by boxes, amid stores

Of dynamite, cordite, gelignite including

Guncotton - a light was left on to reveal

One box of gelignite, set up with fuses -

Bombs were placed about the cellar.

Within this setting the rebels situated

Their prisoners - left to debate their

Fate, as rats in a trap - all together

They kept calling out, until a rebel

Appeared to say 'its alright boys' -

By then the GPO was well on fire.

Taking them to a yard at this buildings

Rear down into a corridor, emerging

In a room where they faced a woman,

Dressed like a man - she stood, waving  

A revolver at them - along with threats

She spat at English lieutenant's face.

After a short time the prisoners were

Led outside - they were to be used

As a protective screen in order for

Rebels to escape - pushed to front
Of prisoners stood the Lieutenant,

With a private of the Dublin Fusiliers.

Ahead of them, at some 150 yards,

Were watching English troops who

Manned a machine gun - a rebel

Held a gun to his head; in promise

To fire, unless he ran - taking to his

Feet the officer was shot at ten yards.

The English Lieutenant fell forwards

In the street, wounded in the thigh.

The officer looked about to see

Behind him, how the rebel unload

A gun into the Dublin Fusiliers head.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Officers Escape - Help From A Rebel. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 8 May 1916. P.11. Col.2. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12209758/Daily-Telegraph-May-8-1916.html>  [Accessed: 12 May 2016].

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 12 May 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12209758/Daily-Telegraph-May-8-1916.html

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

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Poem ~ Retribution - Tuesday, 9 May 1916

Source: File: Thomas MacDonagh. [online] See original image at: <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thomas_MacDonagh.png> [Accessed: 9 May 2016]

Source: File: Thomas Clarke. [online] See original image at: <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thomas_Clarke_the_brave.jpg> [Accessed: 9 May 2016]

Source: File: Patrick Pearse. [online] See original image at: <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Patrick_Pearse.jpg> [Accessed: 9 

Source: File: Michael Mallin - remembering a forgotten leader from the 1916 Rising by Brendan Daly. [online] See: <http://www.irishcentral.com/roots/-michael-mallin-remembering-a-forgotten-leader-from-the-1916-rising-159930455-237512301.html> [Accessed: 9 May 2016]

With problematic issues providing evidence,

Irish rebel court martial’s were held

In secrecy - a conveyor belt of justice began

With arrests of 3,430 men - along

With 79 women, some knowing of little hope.

The beginning of trials 2 May ended with death

Sentences on heads of three men;

Tom Clarke, Thomas MacDonagh Patrick Pearse.

3 May dawned in Stonebreakers Yard,

Kilmainham Gaol, to be executed by firing squad.

In letters allowed to families, Tom Clarke felt

Relief of execution, from alternative

Dread of prison - where he had spent years -

Four days later on eve of Michael

Mallin's execution, he also wrote to his family.

Home lay on road from Richmond Barracks -

Close to Kilmainham Gaol, Mallin

Had hoped to see his wife and children

On passing - but only the dog

Prinnie was sat by the door - Mallin was torn.

Emotive words of his final letter reflected

How the revolution's leaders would

Have felt - the executions continued despite

Irish MP John Redmond's warning -

Asquith saw seeds of lasting Irish troubles.

by Jamie Mann.

Source: File: The Irish Times. Easter Rising 1916 – the aftermath: arrests and executions. By Shane Hegarty and Fintan O’Toole Thu, Mar 24, 2016. Online. Available at: <http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/easter-rising-1916-the-aftermath-arrests-and-executions-1.2583019> Accessed 9 May 2016

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 9 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 ~ Rebel Woman Doctor - Sunday, 7 May 1916

Impression sketch of Doctor Kathleen Lynn. [online] See original image at: <http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/1916-diary-of-rebel-doctor-kathleen-lynn-1.2583254.jpg> [Accessed: 7 May 2016]

By travelling courier news,

The exchange Telegraph

Company received details

From Dublin’s recent siege.

Confirmation how rebellious

Sinn Feiners had gained

German and Austrian support,

Was in arrest of an activist.

Wearing uniform of a Dual

Monarchy an Austrian

Officer was discovered in

The burning GPO surrendered.

Another two Austrians

Were also arrested, within

A house of Balls Bridge area -

They had been making bombs.

Among arrests in City Hall

Was a fighter with bandolier

Of cartridges and revolver -

Being Doctor Kathleen Lynn.

In her return from USA

As a trained medic to become

Chief medical officer of the

Easter rising, she was defiant.

In their identification during

Arrest, Doctor Lynn described

Herself as a Red Cross Doctor,

As well as a conscious belligerent.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Austrian Officer Captured. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 4 May 1916. P.9. Col.5. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12209623/Daily-Telegraph-May-4-1916.html>  [Accessed: 7 May 2016].

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

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12209623/Daily-Telegraph-May-4-1916.html

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

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Poem ~ English Women and Irish Rebels - Wednesday, 3 May to Thursday, 4 May 1916

Source: File: Soldiers gather on Dublin street. The Battle of Mount Street Bridge: Easter Rising 1916. [online] See original image at: <http://thewildgeese.irish/profiles/blogs/the-battle-of-mount-street-bridge-easter-rising-1916> [Accessed: 2 May 2016]

With stories of Irish rebellion

Emerging, were tales of how

No one was safe in the city

Of Dublin.

In spending a holiday in Ireland's

Capital, Dublin, was experience

Of a young lady and friend, to

Be targeted.

With troops in the city in a house

Opposite, the ladies were serving

Food and drink to troops, when

Shots fired.

Hidden within nearby shrubbery

Rebels, described as rioters, fired.

English soldiers shouted to women

To run.

The two women ran back across

Road, as bullets zinged about -

Behind them soldiers and officer

Were hit.

The fight began 1.20 p.m. as two

Women and another two, sped

Upstairs to the third floor, to look

Out the window.

Gunshots began by Sinn Feiners -

This time from direction of a lane

A bullet cut the blind and ricocheted

On a wall.

The four women turned to flee

As another two shots targeted

Them - a bullet grazed cheek

Of one.

Taking this as confirmation that

The house was targeted by

Rebels, they set to shelter night

In basement.

When the firing finally ceased by

Evening, the ladies emerged and

And resumed their intent to serve

Tea to soldiers.

On stating how their house was

Targeted by rebels, they followed

The advice of the troops to move

Next door.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Women As Targets. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 1 May 1916. P.11. Col.3. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12209367/Daily-Telegraph-May-1-1916.html>  [Accessed: 3 May 2016].

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 3 May 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12209367/Daily-Telegraph-May-1-1916.html

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

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Poem ~ Irish Sentiment In France - Tuesday, 2 May 1916

Source: File: Army recruiting poster, 1915, featuring Michael O'Leary. [online] See original image at: <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Michael_O'Leary_WWI_poster.jpg> [Accessed: 2 May 2016]

Irish Troops were out in France, where

Their bravery had been proved -  

As shown by Michael O'Leary in 1915.

In the knowledge of home situation,

The sentiment of Irish Troops

Were said to be very close to dismay.

The pen of Reuter’s correspondent

Told how the press in Germany,

Set out to highlight Irish revolution.

A regiment of Irish men stationed

In France reacted, by giving

The Germans a few harrowing days.

Stationed about Hulluch, in region

Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Irish
Troops saw revolt as German led.

That unrest back home had been

'Man made sedition' - word

Of Reuters told of bitter toned voices.

Men of Connaught, Munster spoke

In Connemara tones of armed

Dirty fellows, playing German games.

One Irish tone promised in five minutes

with Roger Casement, how he

Would die content, in under that time.

With likely need to smooth matters

Over, the 16th Irish Division

Was attributed to share same feelings.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Disgusted Irish in France. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 1 May 1916. P.10. Col.5. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12209367/Daily-Telegraph-May-1-1916.html>  [Accessed: 2 May 2016].

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 2 May 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12209367/Daily-Telegraph-May-1-1916.html

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

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Poem ~ Easter Rising: American View - Monday, 1 May 1916

Impression sketch of Roger Casement. [online] See original image at: <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sir_Roger_Casement_(6188264610).jpg> [Accessed: 01 May 2016]

i

Involved in the Irish plan

To break free of British Rule,

Sir Roger Casement had formed

The idea of a German Irish alliance.

He hoped to gain German

Support for the Irish rebellion,

To provide soldiers and 200,000

Rifles - but Casement's plan failed.

Believing that any uprising

Would falter without German

Backing, Casement returned

With intention to halt the rebellion.

From German hospitality,

The Irish Nationalist travelled

Back to Ireland aboard a U boat;

To land in Ireland at County Kerry.

Yet a reoccurrence of malaria

Made Casement too ill to travel -

So he remained at McKenna's Fort,

When he was then arrested for treason.

ii

News of Sir Casement's

Capture was reported, to have

Stirred some American people -

Particularly among Irish Americans.

Prior to any official release

Of events unfolding in Ireland,

Coded information was received

In the United States - to be circulated.

In delayed mid week reports

From New York, supporters there

Of Sinn Fein and Clan-na-Gael, had

Likely provided rebels financial support.

A statement by 'New York World'

Critics suggested that in the US, Irish

Revolutionaries always left getting shot

Shot, or shooting to unsophisticated cousins.

Those Irish having been settled

In America, were said to have ended

Feud with Britain - they saw Irish uprising

Stamped Made In Germany, to be treachery.

Risking lives to fight Germany

Were 200,000 Irishmen - a belief

Was a ruse of German propaganda,

Without any true link to the Irish people.

American opinion conceived how

The Irish rising and Sir Casement's

Part were in fact reaction to Redmond,

Irish MP - possessing old-fashioned ideals.

Opinions continued to emerge,

As the rebellion in Ireland carried

On - New York newspapers variously

Agreed that loyal Irish held no illusions.

The revolt was put down to be

Another bungling event of war-led

Berlin - with parallel guilt to Belgium

Invasion of selfishness behind the offence.

Opinion of German ambition

Had no respect for Ireland, other

Than to prompt hate for Britain - usage

Of Ireland was the greatest betrayer of war.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. American Views On The Dublin Revolt - A Futile Attempt. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 28 April 1916. P.7. Col.7. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12209365/Daily-Telegraph-April-28-1916.html>  [Accessed: 1 May 2016].

Source: File: Roger Casement. Online. Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Casement> [Accessed 1 May 2016]

Source: File: Roger Casement: How did a hero come to be considered a traitor? By Peter Crutchley. 25 November 2013. Online. Available at: <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-25017936> [Accessed 1 May 2016]

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

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

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Poem ~ The Rise Of Ireland: An Exhausted Rebellion - Sunday, 30 April 1916

Source: File: The Easter Rising 1916 (real footage of aftermath). [online]: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cew_ZLgi3Cc> (PD-US) [Accessed: 30 April 2016]

Impression sketch Nurse Elizabeth O'Farrell. [online] See original image at: <http://www.thejournal.ie/eirebrushed-play-1428985-Apr2014/> [Accessed: 30 April 2016]

Sunday - Surrender with Hope

From radical nationalist efforts

Dublin city centre

Lay in ruins - beaten to rubble

By the British army.

As the sun rose on Sunday

30 April 1916,

Citizens emerged, sifting debris.

Yet events of past few days were

Not fully concluded;

3rd Battalion of Irish Volunteers

Maintained strongholds.

South of the city beyond Brunswick

Street barricades,

Two lone priests set out on a walk.

Capuchin Priests becoming involved

With the surrender,

Convey a signed order by Pearse,

Walking to Jacobs factory -

A third priest carries same to rebels

On Brunswick Street;

Holohan tells his men he'd rather die.

But the group of 50 begins a march at

10 a.m. North King Street.

Nurse O'Farrell meets rebels at Bollards

Bakery, but De Valera

Replies, 'order has no weight' - efforts

By priests end by MacDonagh

Agreeing to speak to General Lowe.

Past midday the Irish Citizen army

Finally surrenders -

While talks go on between sides

Some rebels are still

Defiant - Lowe and MacDonagh

Meet the priests,

Who are told of a truce till 3 p.m.

MacDonagh informs his Battalion

Of intended surrender -

'We will fight it out!' shout some,

But to no avail - those

Not in uniform can flee if they so wish -

Nurse Elizabeth O'Farrell,
Though exhausted, keeps her mission.

Other holdouts receive this news,

To smash guns in anger -

Others stayed as snipers on rooftops.

On the ground MacDonagh

Hands his revolver to General Lowe.

The afternoon wears on,

With emerging garrisons marching.

Exhausted and hungry they are

Met by varied reactions.

Respect equaled by threatening

Behaviours, from citizens

And Army alike - volunteers pass

Gate of St Patrick's Park -

Crowds of eyes turn to consider them.

The day has reached mid afternoon,

As Irish Battalions

March from their fortresses, onto

Streets and captivity -

Among the ranks remained disbelief,

But weary from

A week long fight, most comply.

Time slowly turns to evening - for

The 3rd Battalion

Is led from Bolands Bakery by

O'Connor, met

By infantry described as, 'baying

For blood' - a mood

Lifts as Canal Street crowds cheer.

A great mix of emotions continues

As guns are laid down

In Grattan Street - the remaining

Leaders watch men

Put down their arms - the pavement

Covered in weapons,

O'Connor steps forward with his sword.

This had been given to him on Good

Friday as mark

Of the men's respect - O'Connor returns

The respect, placing

The sword to rest atop of the guns;

In a fight for a republic,

These Irish men faced a future unknown.

by Jamie Mann.

Source: File: The Irish Times: An Easter Rising timeline: Sunday, April 30th, 1916, 1916. Online. Available at: <http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/an-easter-rising-timeline-sunday-april-30th-1916-1.2194023> [Accessed 30 April 2016]

Source: File: Easter Rising 1916: Six days of armed struggle that changed Irish and British history. Online. Available at: <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-35873316> [Accessed 30 April 2016]

Source: File: Easter Rising From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Online. Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_Rising> [Accessed 30 April 2016]

Source: File: Easter Rising. Online. Available at: <http://www.history.com/topics/british-history/easter-rising> [Accessed 30 April 2016]

Source: File: The 1916 Easter Rising. Online. Available at: <http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/ireland-1845-to-1922/the-1916-easter-rising/> [Accessed 30 April 2016]

Source: File: The Battle for the South Dublin Union 1916 by Paul O'Brien Author, Irish Military Historian. Online. Available at: <http://www.paulobrienauthor.ie/436-2/> [Accessed 30 April 2016]

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 29 April 2016). 

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

#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Ireland