Impression sketch
of British officer taking German prisoners, with an empty revolver - by Jamie.
From Parisian newspapers
excitement
Arrived - news relayed from day
before,
17 August, in the capturing of
Germans.
From an officer's Somme description,
Told how a battalion, were in position
North west of Pozieres, in advances.
In taking of a German first
trench line,
Next objective was to move
onwards
To second line, so they started
forwards.
The officer and his orderly's
intentions
Were to follow, despite the
uneven, rain
Soaked ground hindering all
progress.
Additionally both men had wounds;
a bullet
Had passed though the officers
arm -
Breaking his elbow - he stopped
in pain.
Kneeling by the side of a communication
Trench, they heard scuffles close by -
Shapes emerged into the open air - rats?
Suddenly on hands and knees out
came
A German officer - close behind
him, from
A small shelter came German
soldiers.
'A curious situation' unfolded -
the British
Officer was aware his revolver was
empty
As they faced a large number of
enemy.
The officer raised up his empty
handgun -
At the barrels end were words of
begging
In English; 'Don’t shoot!' expectant
of bullets.
'I will kill the whole lot of you, if a single
Man moves,' the officer showed confidence
As the German group sat as silent lambs.
Left with a steady hand on an
empty gun,
The officer sent his orderly for
assistance -
He sat alone with these obedient
enemies.
In following orders of their own officer,
The soldiers piled up their rifles - all
Sat together in mutual regard of fear.
An age seemingly passed, when over
The edge the orderly led a corporal with
Three Tommies, to take the Germans.
The officer ordered these prisoners
Down the trench, counting out twenty
Two men - he felt great relief in success.
With pride of how he had used an empty
Revolver along with one hand, he told
The German officer who silently sulked.
By Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1916. Officer's Empty Revolver -
Twenty-Two Germans Surrender. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 18
August 1916. P.9. Col.6. Available at:
<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12212786/Daily-Telegraph-August-18-1916.html>
[Accessed: 18 August 2016].Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 18 August 2016).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary
#worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Somme
