Poem ~ An Officer's Advice - Friday, 21 April 1916 - Sunday, 23 April 1916

Impression sketch for An Officer's Advice - by Jamie.

Edward Poulton ALMACK. Captain, Royal Horse Artillery. Died 25.1.1916. Buried at  ALBERT COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, GRAVE I B 8, SOMME, FRANCE. He is also commemorated on the Brentwood War Memorial, Essex.

i 

Early 1916 - about the area of Amiens

And Albert, France, an

Officer of Royal Horse Artillery, Captain

Edward Poulton Almack,

Addressed the reader of his letter; any

Newly commissioned officer.

The purpose of his writing, reminded

Everyman of their entry

Into imminent serious soldiering -

Without apology, the idea

Behind his word was a guideline in

The making of an officer.

The outline of his lecture he admits

No pretence - 'not what

I do, or pretend to do, or even try

Very hard to do - with no

Conscious or unconscious standards,

He would be a poor officer.'

With Captain Almack's words to this

Effect, an officer works

24 hours over seven days - each

Day an officer’s duties

Are never complete; but unlikely to be

Hard at it for every moment.

The first responsibility for the officer

Are the men then the horses -

After these two an officer comes third -

All to be cared for; 'your need

Is to do all you can for best comforts

Of everyone about you.'

ii

Do as much as possible for men

Horses and brother officers -

If a fellow officer is out working

In the wet, ensure a fire

Is ready for him - or even a hot

Bath is prepared on

His timed return, by his servant.

'Do not do little' - to add that

Officer's dinners are

Kept readied for their arrival.

Old soldiering by

'Putting ones nose in is a devil.'

With comforts done

Everyman should pull together.

Officers and men are all in that

Same boat - A 'Masters

Eyes Makes the horse fat.' quoted

Captain Almack - that

Good results are made if looked

After - a rule; to keep

Eyes on everything yet leave alone.

The officer's men are unified

To beat the enemy -

'Insist of the best in everything

Done' - but 'if there

Is nothing to do, then do nothing;'

Allow the men a day

Off, to gain their confidence.           

As a captain of horse artillery,

Almack advises

How, in wet weather, the officer

Needs to be willing

To show any picket of soldiers

His all-weather ability,

By going round tethered horses.

On a wet night a captain should

Turn about the lines -

What expectations of the men

To be out all night

In any type of weather? if their

Commander does

Not show willing for half an hour?

His duty is to take that extra

Distance about area,

To see that any raised issue

Is put right - or just

To say good night to the sentry -

Not to try and catch any

non commissioned officer out.

Captain Almack's small lecture

Summary is to say,

That the best way to make

A good soldier, is to

Tell him that he is a fine fellow;

While cannot deny

That there are 'rotters' about.

Captain Almack's eight years

Service had barely

Averaged two arrests a year -

While he states this

Might be dull purpose, to know

How some young men

Have odd ideas of officer ideals.

Ending on a good luck note,

Captain Almack

Stated there were few officers

As role models -

That his note might just assist

An attentive reader,

To achieve their true 'officership.'

iii

An officer that had been serving

Some year’s prior to war,

Captain Edward Poulton Almack

Was killed in action -

25 January 1916 to - lay at Albert

Communal cemetery

Carrying out his duty to the end.

Might someone then one day,

Passing that way,

Visit grave I B 8, there to lay

A cross or poppy

Before this Captain's headstone;

For the memory

Of an Edward Poulton Almack.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Making of a Officer - Some Golden Advice. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 21 April 1916. P.9. Col.2. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12209084/Daily-Telegraph-April-21-1916.html>  [Accessed: 21 April 2016].

Source: File: Captain Edward Poulton Almack . Online. Available at: <https://livesofthefirstworldwar.org/lifestory/36828> [Accessed 21 April 2016]

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 21 April 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12209084/Daily-Telegraph-April-21-1916.html

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

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Poem ~ Horse Needs for the Military - Thursday, 9 December 1915

Source: File: 1915: Allied cavalry troops' horses are lowered down in a sling onto quayside: Salonika, Greece. jpeg, [online] see original at: <http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/0/ww1/25401273> Accessed: 9 December 2015].

Still caught within traditions,

When cavalry charges took

Place on horseback; military

Boffins held onto their beliefs.

Hoping for day when a breakthrough

Of lines, would enable a grand cavalry

On horses - sabres raised to charge -

In non-stop gallop to Berlin and Kaiser.

While evidence's reality was

A war of attrition, being held,

In lines of trenches and bullets -

Under artillery devastation.

Still held onto were the army's needs

Of horse supplies, for future wants

Of military - made by issued report

8 December from the 1914 committee.

The powers set and led by

Chairman Lord Middleton,

Instructed the Agricultural

Board of steps to be taken.

Supplies of horse had to be ready -

Both England and Wales would

Need horses, sufficient in military

Requirements for mobilisations.

Receipt of war office letters

Depicted a current situation,

Of a state menace to come,

From hunting and racing.

Yet restrictions were then placed

To halt racing of horses, with Ireland

And Newmarket exempt - hunting

While not banned, had its difficulties.

A state of war would likely

Affect the horse breeding -

To deplete thoroughbreds

And loss of sires in supplies.

9 July 1915, a war office letter spoke

How, in recent military mobilisations,

A fact came to light for many numbers

Of horses unsuited to frontline work.

Words of Kitchener, sent

To Earl of Selborne, told of

Military needs for supplies

Of 'light draft' for cavalry.

Also was need good 'stamp' in artillery -

Should the country be every ready

For continued state of war - British

Numbers of horses were still inadequate.

Since 1914,  £12,000,000 had

Been spent, to buy more mounts

From USA - good home breeding

Would have saved monies.

Kitchener therefore requested Selborne

To do his best for getting state aid funds,

To ensure the quality of more well bred

Sires - for mares to produce good foals.

In order to breed light horses,

Various recommendations

Would instruct the Agriculture

Board, in controlled legislations.

This was to be alongside five issues

From the war officer; to purchase

Horses from breeders, remounts

And select fillies, across the Isles.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. Inadequate Supply of Army Horses - An Urgent Problem - Earl Kitchener's Plea. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 9 December. P.10. Col.6. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12031744/Daily-Telegraph-December-9-1915.html [Accessed: 9 December 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 9 December 2015). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12031744/Daily-Telegraph-December-9-1915.html

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

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Поэма ~ Карпатский Конфликт - Понедельник, 29 Марта 1915

Артиллерия транспорт по Карпатского склоне - эскиз Джейми, взятые из исходного изображения, которое можно увидеть по адресу: http://www.historynet.com/carpathian-war-sidebar-eyewitness-to-agony.htm

Я

Тем не менее зимой шла война для русских,
С сил в ногу держит Карпат.
План русского командования было
Сместить Австро-Венгрии, из из войны -
С их цели для венгерских равнин.

В ожидании русской кампании, Германии
Послал шесть дивизий их южной армии
Чтобы помочь Австро-Венгрии - как зимой развернулась
На реке Сан, сб Перемышль крепость - ворота
Это перекрыли северный путь в Карпаты.

С гарнизона осажденной в огромном крепости,
Их двойной монархии пытались остановить русских
Введите горные хребты - это формируется арочные
Барьер - ширина 75 миль и 3600 футов -
Два нападения на россиян уже не удалось, от
23 января 27 февраля - теперь пришел третьим.

28 марта все еще видел суровые условия, как Россия
Выдвинутый в Карпатах - за два дня до
Их прогресс на пути к Черновцах и Bartfield -
И в районном, Lutoviska и Балигруд - тогда
Набирает Галиции в российской администрации,
С 2500 заключенных, предложил Австрия может упасть.

Вера быть как австрийская армия собирается
От истощения к распаду - с 3000 пленных
Ежедневно в плен, общая оценка 600000 австрийцев
Взятые - выбить союз монархий армии
Вернуться в критической точке - их армия теряла тире.

Пыл австрийской кампании потери
Значение в своих мужчин - вместе с возможностью вооружить
Их в области - таким был союз оптимизм.
Вера проводится в готовности российских союзников в
Нажатие на каналы в долине и Венгрии.

II

Ожидание испортились иллюзиями короткой войне,
Как географии может привести только к катастрофе.
Горные районы требуется войска обученные
Для такого местности, высоты и разнообразной погоду.
При ограниченных проходов и бедных эксплуатируемых дорог
Может привести к ошибкам и стихийных бедствий для обеих сторон.

С проблемами артиллерии транспортом по
Высокие неровности основания - батареи были ограничены
Для нижних местности помешать атакам войск
Австрийский вера была не просто отвлечь русски
Вторжение, но и сделать большой, сильный победу
Из центральной власти - так было стремление Габсбургов.

С нормальным зимним спуска на горах
Карпат, команда Габсбургов годов
Были плохо подготовлены к затяжными ситуации
Для боевых действий в минусовых температурах на открытой
Равнины - войска столкнулись с отсутствием необходимости.

Экстремальные проливных дождей, пересечений ледяных водах,
Жестокие метели и отсутствие зимнего обмундирования
Приведет к промокших формы, замороженных в мужской
Тело - с неустойчивой продовольствия, если вообще получил
Может быть заморожены - обморожения и болезни привели к смерти.

Многие солдаты колебались под слабым оборудования -
Как и в картонных подошвах и воздействия в течение длительного времени;
Исчерпание быстро при движении через глубокие сугробы,
При необходимости лопатой снег, чтобы патрули или нападения;
Низкий моральный дух, физическое истощение для лошади и человека.

Как лошади может умереть, в прекращении цепей поставок
Мужчины тоже найдут смерть от снега - бодрствовать
С морозильной смерти, или выбрать свой конец, давая
В вражеского огня или принимать свою собственную жизнь - в темно-
Ночи были самыми низкими часов, как темной температурах
Упал на замораживание веки закрыты в течение кусаться ветра.

Мужчины шли в темноте несчетные часы - тени
Будет пересекать их пути, как волки съели на раненых
И больной мужские крики - так что если вы были австрийский
Венгерский солдат, вы не могли длиться до света - бороться
Против выносливых россиян - чьи Тактическое
Ожидание из Габсбургов преступления паузу до нападения.

Российские manourves командиров благоприятствования
Ночные удары - отступают на последние минуты - тогда
Для восстановления снова, обеспечивая Габсбургов остались
В атаке образований - из остаться в лютый холод,
Как они боролись за местностью - русские на выше
Первый, имеющего превосходную артиллерию, чтобы получить номера.

III

С российского Генштаба связи
Пройдя по - на 29 марта 1915 будет утверждать,
Как незначительные изменения были затем сделал рядом
Речные края - на левом берегу Вислы и право
Банк Нарев, не было никаких важных достижений.

С Австрия падения назад, как Россия перешла
Переадресация на Bartfeld, нашел Zboro деревни загорелся.
В перечисленных имен и названий, то бои об
Ravorjetz, в восточном высоты к Baligord;
Для отпор австрийцев недалеко от Russkedydiuva.

С дней сражаться на Koziuvka 2500 мужчин
Сорок австрийские офицеры - вместе с семью
Машина по стрельбе были приняты в то время как немецкий
Наличие в два раза пленных российских траншей
В Тартак и Серафин сел в то время как врагов
Усилия были возобновлены между Пизой и Szkwo.

Тем не менее немцы были отброшены оставив
Их с большими потерями - одна немецкая практика
Побывав лишить любой мертвый русский из
Их шинели - акт, который предложил целей
Для русской пехоты. Попытки действия Германии
Пострадавшая - сбитый или подавлен русскими.

IV

Ночью 28 марта главнокомандующего
Российских союзников Указывается, каким образом на пятницу,
Русский преступление взяла новый максимум линии, прежде
Передняя часть 23 миль - как 3 австрийские батальоны
Восток Mlimaroc, были вырезаны в штыковую боя.

26 видел обменов около форта
Из Ossowieces, как нападения на немецком
Траншеи в результате 600 заключенных - офицеры
Для номер пять и два пулемета - это
Если бы был в области Вах, Тартак и Zawdy
В связи России продолжал говорить,
Как их оппозиция напала о
Munkacs-Стрый - с попытками противника выбросить
Гранаты в смежных окопах; все остановки.
Все эти manouvres предложил российский превосходство,
Были легко избиение назад австрийскую армию.

Сражения, хотя, никогда не достаточно, как они могут
Казалось бы, - Как Российской преступления марта
Открыт против немецкой Южной армии
И Австрийский третьих - в рамках Унгвар -
Будучи вынужден остановить примерно в 30 километрах коротко -
Только к лицу силу немецкой Бескид корпуса;
Так осуществляется на кровавых Карпат сражений.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon., 1915. Кампания Российской Army- продолжения наступления - Огромный австрийский проигрывает. Daily Telegraph, [онлайн] 29 марта P.8. Col.7. Входит в: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11499936/Daily-Telegraph-March-29-1915.html [Доступ: 29 марта 2015].

Источник., 1915. Карпатский Зимняя война 1915 года По Graydon А. Танстелла Первоначально опубликовано в журнале MHQ. Опубликовано на сайте: 13 мая 2014 [онлайн] Доступно на: http://www.historynet.com/carpathian-catastrophe.htm [Доступ: 29 марта 2015].

Источник., 1915. Карпатский войны Врезка: Свидетель Agony полковник Георг Veith Первоначально опубликовано в журнале MHQ. Опубликовано на сайте: 13 мая 2014 [онлайн] Доступно на: http://www.historynet.com/carpathian-war-sidebar-eyewitness-to-agony.htm [Доступ: 29 марта 2015].

Источник., 1915. Карпатская операция 1915 года А. В. Kudritskii. Большая советская энциклопедия, 3-е издание (1970-1979). © 2010 Гейл Group [онлайн] Доступно на: http://www.historynet.com/carpathian-war-sidebar-eyewitness-to-agony.htm [Доступ: 29 марта 2015].

Манн, J., 2015. 100 лет назад - Стихи Джейми Манн. [Письмо] (Личная переписка, 1 марта 2015 г.).

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11499936/Daily-Telegraph-March-29-1915.html

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Poem ~ Carpathian Conflict - Monday, 29 March 1915

Artillery Transport on Carpathian slope  - A sketch by Jamie, taken from an original image that can be seen at: http://www.historynet.com/carpathian-war-sidebar-eyewitness-to-agony.htm

I

Still winter war raged on for the Russians,

With forces in the foot holds of the Carpathians.

The plan of Russian command had been

To displace Austria Hungary, from out of the war -

With their objective for the Hungarian Plains.

In anticipation of the Russian campaign, Germany

Had sent six divisions of their southern army

To assist Austria Hungary - as winter unfolded

On the San River, sat Przemysl fortress - a gate

That blocked the Northern way to the Carpathians.

With the garrison besieged in a huge fortress,

Their Dual Monarchy sought to stop Russians

Enter the mountain ranges - that formed an arched

Barrier - a width of 75 miles and 3,600 feet high -

Two attacks on Russians had already failed, from

23 January and 27 February - now came a third.

28 March still saw harsh conditions, as Russia

Pushed into the Carpathians - two days before

Their progress towards Czernowitz and Bartfield -

And to the Rayons, Lutoviska and Baligrod - then

The gaining of Galicia into Russian administration,

With 2,500 prisoners, suggested Austria might fall.

The belief being how the Austrian army was going

From attrition to disintegration - with 3,000 captives

Daily captured, a total estimate of 600,000 Austrians

Taken - to knock the Monarchies union of armies

Back into a critical point - their army was losing dash.

The ardour of the Austrian campaign was losing

Value in their men - along with the ability to arm

Them in the field - such was the allied optimism.

A belief held for the Russian allies readiness in

Pushing into the valley's channels and Hungary.

II

Anticipation soured with illusions of a short war,

As geography could only lead to catastrophe.

Mountainous regions required troops trained

For such terrain, altitude and varied weather.

With limited passes and poor maintained roads

Could lead to errors and disasters for both sides.

With challenges to artillery transport across

High uneven grounds - batteries were restricted

To the lower terrains to hinder attacks of troops

The Austrian belief was not just to deflect Russian

Invasion, but also to make a great, strong victory

Of central powers - so was the Habsburg ambition.

With the normal wintery descent on the mountains

Of Carpathians, the command of the Hapsburg's

Were ill prepared for the long drawn out situation

For fighting in subzero temperatures across open

Plains - troops were faced with lack of necessities.

Extremes of heavy rainfall, crossings of icy waters,

Vicious snowstorms and the lack of winter uniforms

Would lead to sodden uniforms, frozen to a man's

Body - with erratic food supplies, if at all received

Could be frozen - frostbite and ailments led to death.

Many soldiers floundered under feeble equipment -

As in cardboard soles and exposure for long periods;

Exhaustion was quick in moving through deep drifts,

In need shovel snow, to make patrols or assaults;

Low morale, physical exhaustion for horse and man.

As the horses might die, in halting the supply chains

Men too would find death from snow - to stay awake

From a freezing death, or choosing their end by giving

Into enemy fire or taking their own life - in the dark

Nights were the lowest hours as dark temperatures

Fell to freezing eyelids closed within biting winds.

Men marched in darkness for untold hours - shadows

Would cross their paths, as wolves ate on wounded

And ill men's screams - So If you were a Austrian

Hungarian soldier, you might not last till light - to fight

Against hardier Russians - whose tactics involved

Waiting out Hapsburg offences pauses before attacks.

Russian manourves of the commanders favoured

Nighttime strikes - retreating at last moments - then

To re-establish again, ensuring Hapsburgs remained

In attack formations - made to stay in the bitter cold,

As they struggled over terrain - Russians on higher

Ground having superior artillery to gain numbers.

III

With Russian General staff communications

Coming through - on 29 March 1915 would state

How little changes had been then made beside

The river edges - on left bank of Vistula and right

Bank of Narew, were no important advancements.

With Austria falling back, as Russia moved

Forwards to Bartfeld, found Zboro village alight.

In the listed names, the battles raged about

Ravorjetz, in an easterly height towards Baligord;

To fight back Austrians of near Russkedydiuva.

With the days fight at Koziuvka 2,500 men

Forty Austrian officers - along with seven

Machine gunnery were taken while a German

Presence twice captured Russian trenches

At Tartak and Serafin villages while enemies

Efforts were renewed between Pisa and Szkwo.

Still the Germans were driven back leaving

Them with big losses - one German practice

Having been to strip any dead Russian from

Their greatcoats - an act that offered targets

To Russian infantry. Attempted German actions

Suffered - downed or silenced by the Russians.

IV

By night of 28 March, a commander in chief

Of Russian allies stated, how on the Friday,

A Russian offence took a new high line, above

A front of 23 miles - how 3 Austrian Battalions

East of Mlimaroc, were cut out in bayonet fight.

The 26th had seen exchanges about the fort

Of Ossowieces, as an onslaught for German

Trenches resulted in 600 prisoners - officers

To number five and two machine guns - this

Had been in the Wach, Tartak and Zawdy region

The Russian communications went on to say,

How their opposition had attacked about

Munkacs-Stryi - with enemy attempts to throw

Grenades into allied trenches; all being stopped.

All such manouvres suggested Russian superiority,

Were easily battering back the Austrian army.

Battles though, are never quite how they may

Seem to be - As the Russian March offence

Opened out Against German Southern Army

And the Austrian Third - advancing to Ungvár -

Being forced to halt some 30 Kilometers short -

Only to face a force of German Beskid Corps;

So carried on the bloody Carpathian battles.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. Campaign of the Russian Army - Continued Advance - Huge Austrian Loses. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 29 Mar. P.8. Col.7. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11499936/Daily-Telegraph-March-29-1915.html [Accessed: 29 March 2015].

Source.,1915. The Carpathian Winter War, 1915. By Graydon A. Tunstall  Originally published by MHQ magazine. Published Online: May 13, 2014  [online] Available at: http://www.historynet.com/carpathian-catastrophe.htm [Accessed: 29 March 2015].

Source.,1915. The Carpathian War Sidebar: Eyewitness to Agony By Colonel Georg Veith Originally published by MHQ magazine. Published Online: May 13, 2014  [online] Available at: http://www.historynet.com/carpathian-war-sidebar-eyewitness-to-agony.htm [Accessed: 29 March 2015].

Source.,1915. Carpathian Operation of 1915. A. V. Kudritskii. The Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition (1970-1979). © 2010 The Gale Group [online] Available at: http://www.historynet.com/carpathian-war-sidebar-eyewitness-to-agony.htm [Accessed: 29 March 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 1 March 2015). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11499936/Daily-Telegraph-March-29-1915.html

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