Poem ~ Captain John Armstrong: Z Company - Sunday, 28 January 1917

Source: File: Northumberland Fusiliers Cap Badge. See an original image at: <http://www.centenarynews.com/article?id=3291> [Accessed 28 January 2017]

Amid the columned lists of casualties,

Four officers died from their wounds;

Lieutenant Allan Annand, Lieutenants'

Alfred Norman Headley, Hugh Godfrey

Godfrey De Lisle Bush and Captain

John Armstrong joined the roll of honour.

North east of England, on the banks 

Of River Wansbeck, lay the market

Town of Morpeth - 4 Alexander Road,

Home of one Morpethian family; two
Brothers John and Edwin being sons of

Councilor Isaac and Rachel Armstrong. 

John Armstrong had schooled locally

At Morpeth Grammer, then Armstrong

College - after second-class honours

He gained teachers certificate in 1913 -
John was a sportsman in the cricket

XI along with the school football team.

After 1913's failure for the Creighton

Challenge Cup, he won this by 1914 -

A young man readied for war, already

A colour sergeant in school cadets -

Also to be in Morpeth Boys Brigade -

In rank of Lieutenant when war broke.

At Armstrong college John Armstrong,

From Officer training Corps applied

For commission, by December 1914 to be

With Northumberland Fusiliers - praised

By head of grammar school as athlete,

Mentally able for the power of leadership.

In 1915 a posting took John to Gallipoli -

With the following year, July 1916 saw

Him in France and promotion came within

Seven months, by October to Captain -

Active fighting into winter months saw this

Officer wounded on 10 January 1917.

Edwin Armstrong, John's younger

Brother had been in Grenadier Guards

Since 1915 – Also wounded Edwin

Was then in hospital, at the time when

His brother John succumbed and

Died within 6 days, from his wounds.

From the war office a wire home told

Parents, who read the army's regret,

To say Captain J. N. Armstrong had

Been wounded, on 10 January 1917

With Z Company - 16 January, army 

Council sent sympathy for their loss.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1917. Roll of Honour. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 26 January 1917. P.4. Col.4. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12214129/Daily-Telegraph-January-23-1917.html> [Accessed: 26 January 2017].

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 26 January 2017). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12214129/Daily-Telegraph-January-23-1917.html

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

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Poem ~ War Marriage Mishap - Sunday, 12 March 1916

Impression sketch for War Marriage Mishap - by Jamie.

i

Sanderson versus Sanderson,

Had involve a Mr Graham in case

Of wronged marriage - the woman

At the centre had given her address;

Clarges Street, Mayfair in London.

The woman Vivian Hesse Graham,

Had made Acquaintance of Lieutenant

Edward Lloyd Sanderson - a young

Man of an upstanding Yorkshire family.

In June 1915 stationed at Thetford.

During home leave Edward Sanderson

Met Vivian, then quickly developing

Fondness for the young lady - leading

Them to stay at a Norwich Hotel,

In name of Mrs and Mrs Sanderson.

The couple later stayed at Caterham,

In Kent - Edward believed her name

To be Lavender Vivian Souray - within

A short time he asked her to marry

Him; but his parents quizzed her past.

ii

There followed a letter from his

Father asked Edward to end all

Relations with Sourly - yet Edward

Was too much in love to obey,

Or consider his parents wishes.

Vivian and Edward's Summer of

Love resulted in a letter to the father,

About the anonymous document

He had received - Lavender Souray

Told him of her utter innocence.

They mysteriously denied any ability

To authorise elements of their proof -

Lavender reiterated her surprise

Of their son, being so much in love

With her - advising he be given time.

iii

Time for his affections to abate -

to state their closeness could not

Harm him and how he would surely

Be broken hearted to leave her so

Soon - she asked pardon of errors.

Lavender admitted how a marriage

With their son Lloydie, could not

Happen - giving her suitor a surprise,

She admitted her marriage to a man

Hugh Graham, serving in Dardanelles.

Able Seaman Hugh Merton Graham,
Had been wounded, serving in Gallipoli,

29 August 1915 - yet it was not until

20 September his next of kin became

Informed, seeing his name in papers.

By date of early September, Vivian

Told Edward an admiralty telegram

Stated her husband as dead - with

Belief Edward asked her to Norwich

Where they were to be married.

iV

In a condition of their marriage

Vivian would keep her own name -

So she signed register as Souray.

The day was 23 September, the

Lieutenant was 27 and Vivian 21.

In learning of the wedding Edward's 

Parents were dismayed, having looked

Into the brides past, thad discovered

She had lived under various names -

Leading a wandering manner of life.

All was not as it should seem -

Finally matters came to a head,

Before Mr Justice Bargrave Deane.

Edwards’s wife admitted to him

Her name; Yvonne Vivian Souray.

Her profession had been as actress

On a London stage - the hearing

Then heard how her first husband,

Had in fact recovered of wounds, 

Back on duty by 4 October 1915.

Corroboration for the fact of Graham

Living, came from his sister and a letter

From him, dated 17 January 1916 -

George Bostock of Royal Navy Record

Office, confirmed the man was alive.

V

Then Lieutenant Sanderson petitioned

For their marriage to be annulled,

As a result of facts - the plea of Vivian

Sanderson being, she was induced

To go though their marriage ceremony.

The officer's parents having learned

Of the wedding taking place, became

Distraught - when their son heard

The proof of their enquiries, Edward

Requested the nullity on 4 December.

Miss Souray first married Mr Graham,

20 January then 23 September 1915

Married Mr Sanderson, while her first

Husband was still living - Mr Justice

Pronounced decree nisi and nullity:

Both parties met in total agreement.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Girl's Two Marriages - Singular Nullity Suit. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 12 March 1916. P.5. Col.4-5. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12183691/Daily-Telegraph-March-8-1916.html [Accessed: 12 March 2016].

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

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12183691/Daily-Telegraph-March-8-1916.html

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

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Poem ~ Australian Trooper 'Bluegum' - Tuesday, 22 February 1916

Impression sketch of Oliver Hogue aka Trooper Bluegum,

- by Jamie. An original image that can be seen at: <http://mosman1914-1918.net/project/blog/oliver-hogue-aka-trooper-bluegum-1880-1919> [Accessed: 22 February 2016]

To download an ebook version of 'Trooper Bluegum at the Dardanelles' by Oliver Hogue book  see: <http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/46097>

Born Sydney Australia, Oliver Hogue

Proved he had sporting ability,

To perfect his skill as horseman -

When school ended, young Oliver

Believed himself a born Bushman.

With youth and time Oliver setout

To cycle East coast Australia -

To cover the countless miles to Cairns.

Suiting the outdoors, his career

Involved him as commercial traveler.

Back in Sydney 1907, Oliver Hogue

Turned his talent to journalism,

With the Sydney Morning Herald.

To believe in 1914 he could become

The country’s official war correspondent.

While denied this route he took

Another path as a trooper with

6th Light Horse Regiment - to leave

For the front 21 December 1914,

On SS Suevic of the white Star Line.

By then commissioned as Second

Lieutenant, with a destination

Of Egypt - for the next months

He served Gallipoli as a soldier,

Until enteric fever sent him to England.

Once back in Sinai area Oliver Hogue,

Now Lieutenant, became orderly

Officer to Colonel Ryrie - basically

Still a journalist, Hogue's recorded

Experience in letters to family and Herald.

Despite all Hogue stayed cheerful,

To stick to reporting the truth -

An officer to be known across

Australia for his accounts, under

The pseudonym Trooper Bluegum.

Writing out verbal pictures of Gallipoli

He contributed various articles

To T.P.'s Journal of Great Deeds

With readable, straightforward

Ways to say how he avoided a scratch.

'While blokes like Paddy Ryan

Gained a hole in hat and DCM -

While Billy Sing had a shoulder

Wound - how at total 30,000

Dead came the single word to quit.'

With a chatty style to state his

Hurt at leaving their sleeping pals

At Anzac - the story would

Stick, even in peace between

Campaigns, Bluegum didn't forget.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Trooper 'Bluegum'. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 22 February 1916. P.12. Col.3. Available at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12165475/Daily-Telegraph-February-22-1916.html [Accessed: 22 February 2016].

Source: Mitchell, E. File: Hogue, Oliver (1880–1919). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Online. Available at: <http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/hogue-oliver-6700> [Accessed 22 February 2016]

Source: Major Oliver 'Trooper Bluegum' Hogue. Australian War Memorial. Online. Available at: <https://www.awm.gov.au/people/P10675880/> [Accessed 22 February 2016]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12165475/Daily-Telegraph-February-22-1916.html

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

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Poem ~ Cartoon Offence - Saturday, 19 February to Sunday, 20 February 1916

Imaginary sketch of 'Reported Missing' Cartoon - by Jamie.

With topical stories and cartoons,

The Bystander magazine since 1903,

Had set to entertained the British

On a weekly basis - with changes

Of the times to reflect on humours.

With varied satirists contributions

Providing a staple diet, perhaps

It was not long before offences

Of the establishment would start

To emerge, as in January 1916.

Circulated countrywide, an edition

Of the 26 January Bystander had

Sent out 34,000 issues, to contain

One particular image - to evoke

Defence of the Realm Act 1914.

The particular picture was entitled

'Reported Missing' - under a tree

A private in a sun hat lay, possibly

At Gallipoli or south East front, drunk

Without arms, holding a jug of rum.

The expression of the sun helmeted

Soldier was in hopeless drunkenness,

Signed by the creator 2nd Lieutenant

Charles Edward Burton Bernard, from

The 10th West Yorkshire Regiment.

Enough to evoke threats against

Regulations, HR Baines and Co Ltd

And Lieutenant Bernard were

Called to court - at the Mansion House

Where Sir David Burnett presided.

For defence, Gordon Heart K.C.

As Director of Public Prosecutions

Said that this magazine issues,

Would also have reached many

Neutral countries and Germany.

A reaction of laughter was raised,

With challenge of any circulation

In Germany would prejudiced

Recruitment of British forces in that

Country - Sir Burnett commented.

This cartoon promoted a great lack

Of respect for differences during

Times of war or peace - to depict

A drunk soldier unable to do duty;

Before 1914 it may have been funny.

Mr Carter the magazine editor

Had been given notice to leave -

In a claim that this was nothing

To do with any Bystander picture -

Yet it seemed oddly convenient.

The argument for offence lay

In fact that an officer's signature

Claimed cartoon's creation -

A drunk private was a gross

Slander on his majesty's forces.

Depicted by an officer, a drunk

And disorderly private would

Prejudice discipline and further

More to affect future recruitment;

To present a very serious matter.

Sir David Burnett's decision on

Side of the prosecution, evoked

Fines of £50 on Mr Carter and

Lieutenant Bernard and £100

Against publisher Messers Baines:

Mr Hewart declared an appeal.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Military Discipline - An Officer's Cartoon - 'Bystander' Fined £100. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 19 February 1916. P.5. Col.2. Available at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12161949/Daily-Telegraph-February-19-1916.html [Accessed: 19 February 2016].

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12161940/Daily-Telegraph-February-18-1916.html

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

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Poem ~ Turkish Tunnel War - Wednesday, 26 January 1916

Impression sketch of British Officer in Turkish Tunnel - by Jamie. See original at:

i

An article by way of Australia’s

High Commissioner, was penned

By Captain Bean - an official

From the Dardanelles, for press

With the imperial Forces.

With the retreat from Turkish

Land having taken place, stories

Still emerged to tell experiences -

As those of the 24th Australian

Battalion in a tunnel's discovery.

Along with 23 Battalion men,

An officer and Engineer's

Corporal they entered entrance

To an underground passageway,

At a distance behind Turk's lines.

In an air of joviality they took

To hand and knees, crawling

Underground - to see where

The tunnels led, the officer

Turned into a slanting tunnel.

In the light at the end of that

Tunnel, was seated a Turkish

Sentry - his rifle aimed down

The hole - this officer froze,

To believe he had been seen.

A foot held mid-air, this officer

Held his pipe clenched tightly

Between gritted teeth; the sentry

Sighed and leaned gently back -

The officer was safe in darkness.

Moving on, the Anzac found

Another opening and guard -

This time the more confident

Officer, closer then peered out

Seeing Turkish guards talking.

Withdrawing by a backwards

Slow shuffle, the Australian

Left that sentry - in their return

They blew Turkish barricade

And sentry high into fresh air.

ii

2nd Australian Division

Fought their battles below

Ground, in pitch darkness -

The division of diggers

Digging into other tunnels.

Armed with their picks,

They broke into Turkish

Spaces - through the gap

A candle might be seen,

Held by Turkish diggers.

In claustrophobic fights,

As shots flashed in the dark

Of underground warrens -

Until possession between

Sides were finally settled.

With hand to hand fights

In tunnel against tunnel -

They crossed side by side

To intersect with frantic

Turk and Anzac reactions.

In the early days of arrival

A New Zealand situation,

Of machine gunnery called

Quinn's Post, was situated

On the top of the valley.

Quinn's Post in the dense

Scrub, turned into a churned

Field from actions beneath -

Where fifty Anzac mines blew,

Along with ten Turks mines.

Quinn's Post lay to bitter end,

Among relics of broken timber,

Like rotten teeth, amid earthy

Clods - while craters cut across

What had once been trenches.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Epic Of Anzac - 'Tunnel Against Tunnel'. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 25 January 1916. P.12. Col.3. Available at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12111105/Daily-Telegraph-January-25-1916.html [Accessed: 25 January 2016].

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 25 January 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12111105/Daily-Telegraph-January-25-1916.html

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

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