Poem ~ Villages Devastated - Friday, 20 April 1917

Source: File: The destruction of the church in Moÿ-de-l'Aisne, February 1917. Available at: <http://02610.moy.free.fr/Moydelaisne/02610.moy/Infos/Municipalite/Moyquand/N23/Lanciers.html> 
[Accessed 18 April 2017]

With the western front in France,

Reaching its 35th week in 3rd

Year of war, devastation of lives

Of the population had no conclusion.

Between the invasion of Germany

Taking over ground of Aisne

And reunification of that area,

Came reports of great annihilation.

Making a visitation of the retaken

Region, Chairman of the Aisne

Refugee Committee D.Camp,

Learned of systematic destruction.

Eleven French towns and villages

Were wiped off the map -

The occupiers had used

Variations of means in process.

Battering rams had been built

To destroy ancient town

Walls; dynamite, petrol tar

All employed to take down houses.

Exteriors of churches still stood

But all contents taken,

Graveyards lay broken -

Opened vaults emptied to bury own.

Some 25 miles from Laon town,

Lay Ugny le Gay - little

More than a hamlet

Of 234 people, lay in persecution.

Germans made tax of exactions.

First demanded monies

February 1915; £140.00 -

The same demand again in August.

September 1915 saw how the Mayor

Of Ugny le Gay and others

Were imprisoned, until

Payment of £500.00 were handed over.

October 1915, £200 fee equivalent

In francs was demanded -

12 months later, October

1916, another extortion sum of £1500.

When finally the Germans were forced

From the area, the people

Found their possessions

Had been seized, pillaged and abused.

Young girls of the village were taken

Away - villagers disinterred as

Germans set homes on fire

Destroying machinery and fruit trees.

Any French people who returned to their

Villages, would have struggled

To see where their homes had

Once stood; to see crushed stone piles.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1917. Devastated France. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 9 April March 1917. P.6. Col.5. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12214440/Daily-Telegraph-April-9-1917.html> [Accessed: 20 April 2017].

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 20 April 2017). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12214440/Daily-Telegraph-April-9-1917.html

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

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Poem ~ The Guilt of Hyman Coots - Tuesday, 18 January 1916

Impression sketch of Hyman Coots selling forged military passes - by Jamie.

The final trial of fraudster Hyman Coots,

Took place 17 January 1915.

The Monday Marlborough Street Police

Court deciding the case

Of the Russian Jew, a cinematograph actor.

Hyman Coots aged 18, gave his address

Of Lorne Road, Brixton,

In Lambeth, a Borough of South London -

The charge was forging

Military passes and encourage desertion.

In an operation to capture the fraudster,

Three men followed

Orders of Canadian Military Police -

Private Alfred Allen

And two Sergeants, went to his address.

Hyman Coots supplied two military

Leave passes, in exchange

For money from the Sergeants, while

Providing civilian clothes

To Allen in suggesting his desertion.

Head of the military Police Assistant

Provost Marshall,

Captain Hewitt, while taking the case

To the court had left

The final outcome to the magistrate.

With the two charges made before

The court, Mr Denman

Presiding, believed the prosecutions

Leniency was down

To the prisoner's youth of 18 years.

One outcome could have been taken

Further, to a trial to lead

To a long term of penal servitude -

Instead the decision

Was to be a six months sentence.

These would be for each charge

To run side by side

Resulting in a year’s detainment -

Hyman Coots said

In his drug habit he was oblivious

To what he had done.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Deserter Decoy Sentenced. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 17 January 1916. P.12. Col.4. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12093336/Daily-Telegraph-January-18-1916.html [Accessed: 17 January 2016].

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 17 January 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12093336/Daily-Telegraph-January-18-1916.html

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

#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Homefront

Poem ~ Under-aged Private Janaway - Friday, 14 January 1916

Impression sketch of Gunner Harry Janaway, aged 14 - by Jamie.

NOTE:  an article on teenage boys in trenches can be found at: http://forums.canadiancontent.net/history/129576-teenage-soldiers-world-war-one.html

24 January 1914 Harry Janaway

Travelled to Chichester to join military -

The youngster had informed

Authorities, as his age being 18 years.

He became Gunner Harry Janaway

Of the 130th Battery Royal Field Artillery

And after undertaking training

Was sent to front in France - May 1914.

Young Gunner Harry Janaway

Was involved in the fighting about Ypres,

Armentieres, La Bassee then

Loos; in close scrapes twice to gain wounds.

In January 1916 Harry Janaway

Had his true years discovered by authorities -

By age inquires of some soldiers -

The boy had lied about his age by four years.

4 January 1916, Gunner Janaway

Was his 15th birthday, to depart for home.

Being dismissed by the military

Harry Janaway was annoyed by discovery.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Hero of 15. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 14 January 1916. P.8. Col.7. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12093307/Daily-Telegraph-January-14-1916.html [Accessed: 14 January 2016].

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 14 January 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12093307/Daily-Telegraph-January-14-1916.html

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

#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Tommy

Poem ~ War Crime Of Hyman Coots - Thursday, 6 January 1916

Source: File: Cafe Royal.jpg. [online] An original image is Available at: <http://www.hotelcaferoyal.com/the-hotel/history/> [Accessed: 6 January 2016] 

In London, along way from home,

A soldier with the Canadian Army

Service corps, Private Alfred Allen,

Decided to spend some money

And time at London’s Cafe Royal.

Private Allen fell into conversation

With Hyman Coots and companion,

A lady - six hours of shared company

Passed - ending in the suggestion,

By Hyman Coots to meet next day.

At an agreed time and place Hyman

Coots - while eighteen years looked

Older for his age - confided in Allen

How he could do anything to gain

Money and that Alfred could too.

Hyman Coots believed how he had

Found a companion to share time -

That with his help he could desert,

To provide clothes for his escape;
Alfred was foolish to stay in army.

Private Allen kept his cool in order

To fool Hyman Coots - reporting

Back to his superiors, the young

Man’s Intent - with some others

He visited Lorne Road, Brixton.

This being the address of Coots.

With two officers Allen stated

Were friends of his - to be drunk

With plenty of money - in actual

Fact they were military Police.

Sergeant's Pawsey and Kohl

Of the Canadian military police,

Saw Hyman Coots set to give

Civilian clothes to private Allen,

And hand them military passes.

While both sergeant's stated

They had outstayed their leave,

Left Coots arrest to D.S. Taylor

And S.M. Dee - in their custody

Coots claimed his innocence.

With Military passes produced

And evidenced as fraudulent,

Hyman Coots stood before

Mr Denman at Marlborough

Street Court to be charged.

The prisoner described his self

As Russian and cinematograph

Actor - Hyman's crime was to forge

Passes and attempts to persuade

A soldier of his majesty to desert;

In remand Hyman's bail was refused.

 by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Alleged Deserter Decoy. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 3 January 1916. P.4. Col.7. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12072932/Daily-Telegraph-January-4-1916.html [Accessed: 6 January 2016].

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 6 January 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12072932/Daily-Telegraph-January-4-1916.html

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

#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1HomeFront

Poem ~ Curious Case of Private Palmer - Friday, 3 December 1915

Impression sketch for Curious Case of Private Palmer  - by Jamie.

The Curious case of John Digby Palmer,

Aged 20, was heard in town of Hove -

A Private in 6th Battalion Royal West

Kent Regiment, to be held on remand.

One day’s delay had been made with

Attempt by Palmer to take his life -

While held in the police station cells -

His suicide had been tried with poison.

With his recovery, a charge of suicide

Was withdrawn, the court concentrated

On Palmer's attempted fraud, to gain

Board and lodgings, on false pretences.

Private Palmer had various attempts

To gain sympathetic entry, to include

Being related to lord Selborne; other

Times how his mother was Lady Palmer.

Another ruse was that he had status,

Of being Viscount Loughborough -

Furthermore that he had was invalided

Home, being wounded and gassed.

Private Palmer's mother, quite upset,

Gave proof of her son's claims, to say

How her boy having been ill for some

Time, to have affected her son's mind.

Before the court, young John Palmer

Stated how he had no recollection,

In having done these alleged acts

Of offence, but was committed to trial.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915 A Hove Mystery. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 3 December. P.13. Col.4. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12025575/Daily-Telegraph-December-3-1915.html [Accessed: 3 December 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 3 December 2015). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12025575/Daily-Telegraph-December-3-1915.html

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

#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Hove

Poem ~ Arrested Officer - Saturday, 21 August 1915

Impression sketch of arrest of Captain Murray/ Menzies - by Jamie.

Catching the train, in order

To travel from Torquay

To Paddington London,

A military train passenger

Was met 19 August 1915,

By Detective Sergeant Yandell.

From F. Division, the Police

Investigator had acted

On receiving a telegram,

From Torquay Police -

About the Black Watch

Officer with his description.

The Torquay train pulled in

The GWR station at 3.10 p.m.

Where Yandell discovered

The Officer - accompanied by

A gentleman and two ladies -

To address him as Captain Murray.

The Black Watch Officer's

Reply was 'no, Menzies.'

Yandell told how he matched

Captain Alexander Murray -

Wanted, with a warrant

For his arrest, in a case of fraud.

A reply of alleged Menzies

Was polite - to ask to wait

For him to gain his suit case;

In his staying at the Great

Western Hotel - There they

Could establish his true identity.

Yandell, the acquaintances

Of the officer, and Detective

Vowles of the GWR police,

Followed him to the said hotel.

Up to the third floor  - there

Detectives asked for his papers.

Such documents would surely

Prove him to be Menzies - but

He claimed that he was back

From Dardanelles on sick

Leave - with his shoulder

Put out in result of concussion.

A wound was result of high

Explosive - then he further

Added, that his papers had

Travelled on with baggage

To Holborn - D. S. Yandell

Remained decidedly unsatisfied.

Yandell turned to ask if one

Of the ladies, that had been

Travelling with him, for any

Kind of evidence to qualify

For this Captain's Identity -

The woman turned to Captain.

She said that in confidence,

He should confess the

Real reason for his being

In London, to both these

Gentleman of the law -

The Captain alluded to reasons.

By orders of the War Office,

Menzies was to see the king

At Buckingham Palace -

This was for his being awarded

The Victoria Cross - again

Any papers had been lost on train.

With D. S. Yandell yet to be

Satisfied of identity, he looked

To his other companions

As the captain bolted down

The stairs - closely pursued,

He was successfully stopped.

Quick hall porters had detained

The running man, who was

Taken into custody - travelling

By cab to the station to pause

At Harrow road, where he

Leapt out - again to be chased.

Again stopped and grabbed,

A struggle ensued between

Police and their prisoner.

With officers in assistance,

He was conveyed to station

Of Paddington Green Police.

When appearing in court,

The man still wore uniform

Of a Captain of Black Watch,

42nd Royal Highlanders -

With ribbons of VC, DSO,

Indian Frontier and another.

The prisoner had also been

Possession of sword case

With sword along with two

Scabbards - once searched,

A letter of war office being

Addressed to Captain Murray.

The correspondence said

He was to report 19 August,

At 4.30 - the suitcase which

Was found in his possession,

Identified by a prosecutor

With Barclays bank cheques.

At Marylebone Police Court,

The prisoner was remanded -

DS Yandell stating he had

Committed various offences;

Letters depicted him a Sergeant

And a Lieutenant Rutherford.

This all linked in with another

Case, in charging of a pattern

Maker with no fixed abode.

Under name Sam Rutherford,

Accused of stealing a case.

As a boader at 24 Devonshire

Terrace, having made getaway

On 7 July with stolen suitcase -

Containing chequebook, Post

Office savings, bank book - all

Property of Archibold McLeod.

Exactly how the two linked

Together, lacked clearance

From account - only to later,

In the Menzies/Murray case,

Did the contents, to total five

Pounds, make a resurface.

by Jamie Mann.

Ann.,1915. Alleged Bogus V.C Hero - 'Captain' and Police. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 21 August. P.4. Col.3. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11801552/Daily-Telegraph-August-21-1915.html [Accessed: 21 August 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 21 August 2015). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11801552/Daily-Telegraph-August-21-1915.html

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

#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1HomeFront

Poem ~ Fraudalent 'Soldier' Wife - Sunday, 15 August 1915

Impression sketch of Fraudulent 'Soldier's' Wife - by Jamie. 

The Local Police Court

Of East Croydon London,

Saw the trial of woman

Prisoner Caroline Byrne.

On Leighton Street,

East Croydon, married

Mrs Byrne lived with

Her civilian husband.

  

Although Mr Byrne 

Had previously been

In the army he had

Not currently re-joined.

Over a period of ten

Months – from October

1914 Mrs Byrne actively

Drew regular army pay.

Mrs Byrne acted as wife

Of a soldier on service,

Whose husband was

In Royal Horse Artillery.

Therefore, under false

Pretences, accepted

Grocery supplies from

Military Association.

Mrs Byrd tearfully said,

Her husband had made

Her do this; her sentence

Was decide by war office.

Mrs Byrd's imprisonment

Would be sentence of six

Weeks, following rules

Of the second division.

Kept apart from other

Prisoners, the class wore

Other coloured clothes,

And allowed more letters.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915 Army Separation Frauds. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 14 August. P.5. Col.6. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11788262/Daily-Telegraph-August-14-1915.html [Accessed: 15 August 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 15 August 2015). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11788262/Daily-Telegraph-August-14-1915.html

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

#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1London