Poem ~ Private Brown Aged 16 - Monday, 17 July 1916

Impression sketch for Private Brown aged 16

While well known how youth

Was keen to take part in war,

With older peers or brothers -

Determination was told of one

Particular boy, Fred Brown.

Home of the family was Gould

Road, Twickenham - August

1914 saw young Fred Brown

2 months after he turned 16 - 

His older brother was aged 17.

Already in the army, stationed

At Gibralter, the older Brown's

Battalion returned to Hounslow,

Ready to go to France - at a time

When volunteers were drafted.

Fred Brown was among those

That wanted to go and fight

But due to his age, unaccepted.

Yet 'no' was not an option for

This boy, who followed the draft.

As they collected their kit, Fred

Made a request that he might

Be allowed to join them - but

He was told he should stay; 
Only his brother was to go.

When the draft moved onto

The train station, Fred Brown

Followed - still, 'no' was not

An option - as the train pulled

Out, a carriage door opened.

Amid eager youths there was

A scramble to get aboard, Fred

Brown among them - already

Ahead at Southampton, a wire

Alerted the waiting authorities.

Having had their fun, the boys

Were rounded up - all except

Fred Brown - most likely helped,

He was smuggled to the boat,

Which set off across to France.

As they sailed, Fred Brown's

Civilian appearance and years

Gave him away - Fred aged

16 persisted, requesting that

He became an officer's servant.

Finally his desire was granted -

Over the next months of war

Fred recovered from shrapnel

Wounds - an eager, willing duty

Took Private Brown to Ypres.

During this time young Private

Fred Brown suffered in a gas

Attack, to leave him in serious

Condition - but as a soldier

He was ready for the Somme.

June 26 1916, close to his 18th

Birthday Private Fred Brown was

Killed, during a bombardment -

No mention of his brother, to say
Their father served on east coast.

By Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. 1916. British Boy's Courage - Killed On The Battlefield. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 17 July 1916. P.3. Col.7. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12212090/Daily-Telegraph-July-17-1916.html> [Accessed: 17 July 2016].

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

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12212090/Daily-Telegraph-July-17-1916.html

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

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Poem ~ Brutal Fight On Isonzo Line - Wednesday, 5 July 1916

Source: File: A Hungarian perspective of the Isonzo Front - In remembrance of their country's losses. [online] [Accessed: 5 July 2016]

Impression sketch of Italian light infantry of the 1st Alpini Regiment on Monte Nero, during the Isonzo campaigns. [online] See original image at: <http://www.shotinthedark.info/wp/?p=55479> [Accessed: 05 July 2016]

On higher ground an alternative

Struggle was made, in continuation

Of an Italian front, with the empire

Of the Austro-Hungarian's struggle

Against resistance of Italian allies...

In continuation between campaigns

The division of battles, had seen

Five battles of the Isonzo - March

1916 from French pressure, Italy’s

Forces edged about the Soča river...

Austria-Hungary had intent to cripple

Italy, seen as betrayers of the triple

Alliance - the Isonzo front became

A significant stretch in the country’s

North, named after the province city...

Some seven hundred miles away

From the Somme, lay this barren

Ground - in final two days of intense

Artillery that rained down on Somme,

The afternoon of Thursday 30 June...

Saw moves on Monte San Michele

Slopes - over night of 29th, Italians

Crawled from trenches at lowest

Point of the hill - to climb towards

Austrian trenches cut out of rock...

In the stark daylight, awareness

Of the manoeuvre, led Austrians

To open fire - their machine guns

Rattled over the rocks at Italian

Heads - rough ground gave cover...

From where they rose in a rush

Of hand to hand encounters -

In tones close to French uniforms,

Two sides clashed in a struggle

For rugged barren land - until...

In early hours of 1 July having

Been through bombardment,

Movement of air gave Austrians

The advantage - they released

Gas that began to spill down...

The hills rocky edges - pushed

By the wind, yellow sulphur

Fumes made its way to forces

Of Italians, who made no move

But to quickly put on masks...

Through the yellow fog they

Still made their attack - while

Breeze dispersed the enemy's

Poisoned fog, to catch edges

Of Austrian lines, the cloud...

Lingered - fighting in masks

Made it hard to breath and

Restricted vision - it seemed

Both sides were sinking - then

A rush of wind caught the gas...

Deadly vapours took a final lift

Away from the field of battle -

Thankful Italians shrugged

Off their masks to rush forth -

Taking 400 choking Austrians.

by Jamie Mann.

Beaumont, A., 1916. Italy's Campaign - Battle Of The Isonzo. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 4 July 1916. P.2. Col.3. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12211685/Daily-Telegraph-July-4-1916.html>[Accessed: 5 July 2016].

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 5 July 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12211685/Daily-Telegraph-July-4-1916.html

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

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Poesia ~ Gas sull'Isonzo Line - Mercoledì, 5 luglio 1916

Impressione schizzo di fanteria leggera italiana del 1st Reggimento Alpini sul Monte Nero, durante le campagne Isonzo. [Online] Vedi immagine originale a: <http://www.shotinthedark.info/wp/?p=55479> [Accessed: 5 Luglio 2016]

Su un terreno più elevato un'alternativa
La lotta è stata fatta, in continuità
Di un fronte italiano, con l'impero
Della lotta della austroungarico
Contro la resistenza degli alleati italiani ...

In continuità tra le campagne
La divisione di battaglie, aveva visto
Cinque battaglie dell'Isonzo - Marzo
1916 dalla pressione francese, in Italia
Forze bordate sul fiume Isonzo ...

L'Austria-Ungheria aveva intenzione di paralizzare
L'Italia, visti come traditori della tripla
Alleanza - il fronte dell'Isonzo è diventato
Un tratto significativo nel paese del
Nord, prende il nome dalla città di provincia ...

Circa settecento miglia di distanza
Dal Somme, porre questo sterile
Terra - in ultimi due giorni di intenso
Artiglieria che piovvero sulla Somme,
Il pomeriggio del Giovedi 30 giugno ...

Sega si muove su Monte San Michele
Piste - per tutta la notte del 29, gli italiani
Strisciato da trincee a più basso
Punto di collina - a salire verso
trincee austriache tagliato nella roccia ...

Alla luce del giorno Stark, la consapevolezza
Della manovra ha portato austriaci
Per aprire il fuoco - le loro mitragliatrici
Scosso sopra le rocce a italiano
Teste - terreno accidentato dato copertura ...

Dal punto in cui si alzarono in fretta
Di mano in mano incontri -
In toni vicino ai uniforme francese,
Due lati sono scontrati in una lotta
Per robusto terra sterile - fino a ...

Nelle prime ore del 1 ° luglio avere
Conosci attraverso il bombardamento
Movimento d'aria ha dato austriaci
Il vantaggio - hanno rilasciato gas che

Ha cominciato a fuoriuscire verso il basso ...

Le colline rocciose bordi - spinto
Con il vento, giallo zolfo
I fumi fatto il suo modo di forze
Di italiani, che non si mosse
Ma per mettere rapidamente le maschere ...

Attraverso la nebbia gialla che
Ancora fatto il loro attacco - mentre
Brezza disperso il nemico
Avvelenato nebbia, per la cattura di bordi
Di linee austriache, la nuvola ...

Indugiato - combattimenti in maschere
Rendeva difficile respirare e visioni

Limitato - sembrava Entrambe le parti

Sono state affondando - allora
Una folata di vento catturato il gas ...

Vapori mortali hanno preso un passaggio
Finale lontano dal campo di battaglia -
Grato italiani si strinse nelle spalle
Fuori le loro maschere di correre via -
Prendendo 400 soffocamento austriaci...

di Jamie Mann.

Beaumont, A., 1916. Italy's Campaign - Battle Of The Isonzo. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 4 July 1916. P.2. Col.3. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12211685/Daily-Telegraph-July-4-1916.html>[Accessed: 5 July 2016].

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 5 July 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12211685/Daily-Telegraph-July-4-1916.html

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

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Poem ~ A Song of Trauma - Saturday 20 November 1915

Video of song sung by Sergeant Wells.

During Canadian actions in Flanders,

A wounded Sergeant Wells, lay on

The battlefield - captured then taken

To a German field dressing station.

Sergeant Wells felt himself fortunate,

To meet there a considerate young

Officer - the German told the sergeant
Of his belief; Canadians were brave.

Thanking him Sergeant Wells was

Moved - under this young officer's

Order, to be escorted away from gas,

In an ambulance to a place of safety.

Uses of gas for this German, had

No place in warfare, feeling secure

The sergeant's fate changed, once

Out of sight the ambulance stopped.

Ordered out, his escorts prodded

Him with bayonets - to tell Wells

'Walk you Canadian pig,' which

He did - finally he reached Roulers.

The wound on his arm being very

Bad, it was decided to amputate -

With his heart weakened by gas,
He could not be given chloroform.

The Doctor took up a saw - beside

Him a Belgian nun held his hand,

To distract him as the cut was made.

She asked him what he might sing.

The little nun suggested 'God be

With you till we meet again.'

So Sergeant Wells sang out the

Hymn loudly, from chorus to verse.

Then again, until the job was done.

Time came with prisoner exchange, 

Of men no longer of use as soldiers;

In 4 months to leave Saxony camp.

A report came from Central news,

Montreal, to tell how Sergeant Wells

Had arrived in Vancouver, where

he spoke about the nun's journey.

Based in, the Danish West Indies

Then onwards to New York, this

Small nun wrote to his mother,
Telling of her son's sung survival.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. Plucky Canadian - Sings During Amputation. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 20 November. P.6. Col.3. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11994444/Daily-Telegraph-November-20-1915.html [Accessed: 20 November 2015].

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

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11994444/Daily-Telegraph-November-20-1915.html

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

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Lyrics of 'God Be With You Till We Meet Again.' By Jeremiah E. Rankin, 1880

1. 1. God be with you till we meet again;

By his counsels guide, uphold you;

With his sheep securely fold you.

God be with you till we meet again.

2. (Chorus)

Till we meet, till we meet,

Till we meet at Jesus' feet,

Till we meet, till we meet,

God be with you till we meet again.

3. 2. God be with you till we meet again;

When life's perils thick confound you,

Put his arms unfailing round you.

God be with you till we meet again.

4. 3. God be with you till we meet again;

Keep love's banner floating o'er you;

Smite death's threat'ning wave before you.

God be with you till we meet again.

Poem ~ Designer Gas Mask - Saturday, 29 May 1915

The Danger of Gas Bombs -advert. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 29 May. P.7. Col.6-7. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11633886/Daily-Telegraph-May-29-1915.html [Accessed: 29 May 2015].

Yet another variation to combat deadly fumes,

Comes in the ‘life saving Cavendish Anti-

Gas inhaler – stated as a ‘mask that is really

Efficient’ – so stated the latest adverts.

Something of a conical device with three

Straps, under each ear and over the head -

Displays an uncomfortable fitting - worn

In an instant, the complete item for 5/6.

Pads are seen as only partly and briefly

Effective in slowly moving vapours -

Amid explosions of gas seeping into every

cranny ff the home - As are respirators -

Unless of course they have active solution.

All is in anticipation of gas bomb attacks

On homes - as fear is built up with small

Italics, how doors and windows don’t protect.

To prove by science, the Cavendish device

Has been made by Royal Naval Surgeon -

Who has had rescue work in coal mines -

Not only for friends in trenches but at home.

For a bit more at 7/6,one can order this

With refills – each one allowing half hour -

Long enough to get to safety - unless

Of course you are trapped or on front line.

To complete the look for extra 2/- are

Unbreakable goggles - with reminder 

That gas inflicts pain to the eyes -

To give weakness or total blindness.

Therefore sells the dangers of gas bombs

Advertised freely aimed at both soldiers

And civilians alike - don’t procrastinate,

For trivial cost get your mask and goggles.

Faith is in the title Surgical Manufacturing

Company of a London address, open day

And night - how popular then was the life

Saver, Cavendish anti-gas inhaler?

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. The Danger of Gas Bombs - advert. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 29 May. P.7. Col.6-7. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11633886/Daily-Telegraph-May-29-1915.html [Accessed: 29 May 2015].

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

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11633886/Daily-Telegraph-May-29-1915.html

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

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Poem ~ The Fight For St Julien - Monday, 3 May 1915

Impression sketch of St Julien, 1915 - by Jamie.an original image can be seen at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/bandl.danby/004Bn1915.html

Described in prior reports, German gas

Attacks, north of Ypres, had been made

At different times against British forces.

Around one particular section, it was

Not until 24 April, when in early hours

That enemy gas bombs were used.

One eyewitness on the lines stated

That late afternoon, on Thursday last,

French were pulling back on the west.

From a southerly direction, clouds

Of gas were drifting over ground

Driven by wind - closing in on them.

Their own position was occupied,

Being then shelled with explosives

Of high density - through until 8 p.m. 

On following day of Friday, saw some

Hours of bombardment of inclusion

Of gases - in attempt to poison them.

The German enemy infantry only lay

From about 120 yards away - to expect

An effect to put heads above parapets.

Intermittently to give accompaniment

Of rapid rifle fire - when wind dispersed

Gases - the enemy made no advance.

Thinning gas fumes made little effect -

Then on dawn of the Saturday, a sight

Of an airship appeared eastwards.

'Four red stars' fell from craft, to float

Slowly down dying out - their fixation

To observe this turned back to front.

A smoky wall had formed, blurring all

Views of enemy behind yellowish -

Green vapours, pushed by a breeze.

The invisible enemy made fire through

The wall – a prisoner said later how

They were unable to take advance -

Gas fumes had affected themselves.

12.30 a.m. on Sunday 25^th were more

Repeated attacks, forcing a fall back.

Allied retreated NW of Zonnebeke,

On part of the Grafenstafel Ridge,

For a line to reform along a stream -

For a distance on the Haanebeek -

While no change had remained

Along the Yperlee Canal, until 26^th.

At St Julien and east of their village,

Germans, in gathering over previous

Evening, then started their attack.

Each new assault grew more fierce

Yet with reinforcements, the witness

Stated the allied position as secured.

About Broodseinde, to the east, the line

Was cut into and Germans occupants

Settled into a section of allied trenches.

On afternoon of 26th, under a heavy

Bombardment, French and British East

Of St. Julien and Steenstraat moved.

Making a combined counter attack

Which raised right along the front -

To be described as a turning point.

A point to stop the enemy offence,

Allowing the allied to gain ground -

Giving needed relief of pressure.

In that counter attack of a narrow

Front, squeezed the guns - increased

Fire from left, came the French 75’s.

Over from the right British Batteries,

At odd times above the thundery

Noise, spewed howitzers from Ypres.

To the witnesses’ right, infantry began

A storm of enemy trenches nearby

St Julien, to capture the village edge.

Further trenches were taken from

The Bois des Cuisinirs sitting west

Of St. Julien, with more elsewhere.

The advance was made to take

700 yards  - only to fall back from

St. Julien as gas came once again.

As enemy made emplacements

With rattling machine guns in barns

And finds of other advantage spots.

French captured prisoners of 250 -

To retake Lizerne and Het Sas

Trenches and by canal's west bank.

With suffering on both sides, fights

Took place out in open daylight, as

Both sides pushed at varied points.

The Germans made close formations

Of their large numbers, in easy artillery

Targets- night fell with no occurrences.

As the 27^th dawned, an organic line

Of allies held Zonnebeke north - while

Eastern edge of the ridge was to bend -

Southwest, a mile east to St. Julian,

From Haanabeek stream, in a curve

To Vamheule Farm to curve westerly -

Across Low ridges, west to east,

Onto the Ypres Langemarchk Road

To join the French section’s progress.

From the canal’s west bank Germans

Had been displaced, except at bridge

Head of Steenstraat, which they held.

In a counter attack lunch hour, progress

Between the canal and road of Ypres-

Poelcapplle; till right and centre stopped.

With the left flank also halted, the line

Remained the same as previous day.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. Fighting at Ypres – Extensive Use of Poisonous Gas – Value in defence - Gallant Airman’s Death. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 3 May. P.10. Col.4. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11574527/Daily-Telegraph-May-3-1915.html [Accessed: 3 May 2015].

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

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11574527/Daily-Telegraph-May-3-1915.html

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

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