Poem ~ Laconia Omen - Monday, 5 March 1917- Tuesday, 6 March 1917

Impression sketch of RMS Laconia by Jamie. See original images at:<http://www.tynebuiltships.co.uk/L-Ships/laconia1912.html>

With launch in 1911 RMS Laconia,

A Cunard Ocean Liner, was a young vessel

When war began in 1914 - built

At Wallsend Britain, by makers Swan Hunter

And Wigham Richardson Ltd.

Later commandeered for war

Service Laconia sailed to South Africa -

At Simon's Town, having then
Been fitted out as an armed Merchant

Crusier, with a new purpose.

The Laconia patrolled waters,

In Indian and South Atlantic Ocean,

From April 1915 - employed

As a headquarters, during the actions

To take on German East Africa.

Returning to Britain in June

1916, the Laconia again returned

To Service September 
1916 with Cunard - six months later

Laconia departed New York.

25 February 1917 on route

For Liverpool - the hour 9 O’clock when

The Laconia steamed west,

Northwest by Fastnet - aboard were

75 passengers and 217 crew.

Outnumbered by crew, only

A fraction of usual passengers travelled

Including Americans - time

Was almost 10 O’clock, when many

Travellers were yet to retire.

The crossing of the Atlantic

Had been uneventful - a passenger

Quizzed a London solicitor

Over chance of being torpedoed; '4000

To one,' said Henry Chetham.

A member of the British diplomatic

Service offered another opinion to state

'250 to 1, if we don’t meet a sub.'

An apt answer came along, creating

A sudden slam like a large door.

A lurch forwards and sideways

Under their feet, everyone jumped up.

A New Yorker commented.

To say It's a lousy torpedo, only a fizzer.'

A hit had been made starboard.

An explosion blew near the 
Engine room - the Laconia still floated. 

Captain Irvine's instructions for 
Safety saw orderly move to lifeboats

The U50 sub still close by.

Lifeboat drills now became

Real as five blasts on the ships whistle

Signalled an evacuation.

After 20 minutes another hit struck, full

On into the engine room.

The blast damaged a lifeboat

Being lowered into the water, in which

Sat two Americans - mother

And daughter; Mrs Mary Hoy along with

Elizabeth Hoy reached sea.

Now the Laconia began to list

Taking on water, as passengers and

Crew released more lifeboats.

Quickly sinking the Laconia's stern -

The nose of the vessel, dipped.

Then straight in the air; silently

The vessel slipped into dark waters,

10.20 p.m. within 30 minutes

Survivors rocked alone in their boats;

Not all had made it safely.

In sour silence the survivors

Saw a black, glinting wet shape move

Towards them - in darkness

An accented voice called out, 'vot ship

Was dot?' A reply called back.

A steward yelled, 'the Laconia,

Cunard Line' - the German voice gave

Casual reply; 'yov’ll

Be alright the patrol vill pick you up.'

The sub moved away.

Some six hours later Royal

Navy patrolled came across these

Drifting boats but not all

Had made it - 6 crew 6 passengers

Had become victims.

Boat No 8 had held 14 souls -

This had been badly damaged during

The torpedo hit, so as soon

As it touched water, the sea began

Dragging them down.

Survivor, Able Seaman Walley,

Told of hopelessness to try to bail any

Water out - yet it did not

Sink, but kept afloat by fact of holding

Tanks - he held on in the stern.

Everyone clung to the edge

Of the underwater boat - every swell

Whipped over the souls that

Held on - in the stern seats Mrs Hoy

And daughter stood in the boat.

Time passed, counted

By the cold waves that washed them

No. 8 - finally grey haired

Mrs Hoy lay back; daughter Elizabeth

Held her and talked away.

Likely her mind became

Lost as she held her dead mother.

Soon it was too much,

Left weak in body and her mind

As another swell came.

The two women wearing

Lifebelts and were swept away -

The frozen survivors left

With more corpses, stubbornly

Holding on until rescued.

Account by Floyd Gibbons

Told of the despair and struggles

In the sea, until encounter

Of a mine sweeper and a patrol

Boat found their pale lights.

Six hours had passed when

One after another they pulled aside

HMS Laburnum, where

Tattooed arms of jack tars reached

Out to the fortunate few.

The story of yet another

Lost sea vessel; although relatively

Few lives were lost - unlike

The Lusitania - the small act would

Have great effect in war.

by Jamie Mann.

Source: File: RMS Laconia. Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Laconia_(1911)> [Accessed 5 March 2017]

Source: File: Today in World War I - U-boat Sinks Laconia, Kills Two Americans. Available at: <http://today-in-wwi.tumblr.com/post/157711139713/u-boat-sinks-laconia-kills-two-americans> [Accessed 5 March 2017]

Source: File: The Sinking Of The Laconia, By Floyd Gibbons. Available at: <http://www.worldwar1.com/sflac.htm> [Accessed 5 March 2017]

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Poem ~ Little Tragedy - Wednesday, 27 December 1916

Source: File: Men from 6th (City of London) Bn, The London Regiment (City of London Rifles) 1915. See an original image at: <http://armyservicenumbers.blogspot.co.uk/2008/08/6th-city-of-london-bn-london-regiment.html> [Accessed 27 December 2016]

To illustrate tragedies of war on families,

Came the story of a family of the Littles'

From Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire -

Before 1914 Jim Little and his wife had 

Emigrated to begin a new life in America.

The young couple had a daughter, Alice.

While the husband and father remained

In New York, Mrs. Enid Margaret Little aged

24 and daughter Alice Laura of 14 months,

Set out to sail to England onboard the ship

Lusitania - on 1 May 1915 they travelled

Second class when the ship was struck.

Sunk by a German submarine both were

Drowned - after the tragedy greatly plagued 

With grief, husband and father Jim Little had

Decided to fight for his homeland. He came

Back to England joining 1st/6th Battalion

London Regiment (City of London Rifles).

A rifleman, Private Little 6460 by autumn

1916, was fighting on the western front.

Further sadness befell the Little family,

When Arthur and Laura Little of Aylesbury

Received the telegram that told how their

Son had been killed on the Belgium front.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Toll Of The War. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 2 December 1916. P.11. Col.6. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12213909/Daily-Telegraph-December-2-1916.html> [Accessed: 27 December 2016].

Source: File: entry by Liverpool Anne 02 December 2009. Available at: <http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=302984.72> [Accessed 27 December 2016]

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 27 December 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12213909/Daily-Telegraph-December-2-1916.html

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Poem ~ Owen: Teacher to Soldier - Sunday 21 - Tuesday 30 November 1915

Impression sketch of a smiling Private Wilfred Owen - by Jamie. see an original at: http://www.standpointmag.co.uk/node/5483/full

i

By the river Garonne, of South West

France, Bordeaux had seen itself

As the temporary sister of Paris -

In an invasion threat of the capital.

With issue abated, matters turned

Back to ordinary status - with seat

Of Government back in Paris, some

Normality returned to Bordeaux.

One British resident to experience

That excitement, settled back into

A routine as English tutor - yet matters

For Mr W. Owen altered with spring.

While settled within his pre-war post,

Issues of war, and an idea to fight,

Were never far from his mind's eye -

Everywhere talk, papers and soldiers.

ii

Idling plans continued in thoughts

Of his own situation - and somehow

What he might do for the war's fight;

Those about tried to dissuade ideas.

With a six week plan set to take him

Back to Britain and London’s heart -

A pivotal centre of the war machine,

Owen suppressed such excitement.

Yet countered by sensibility, a need

To earn money, he promised to return

Within the summer months to carry

On his duty as professor of elocution.

From Bordeaux, a slow journey took

Wilfred first to Paris, where he met

With Tailhade - poet and friend -

To take in Parisian sights and scenes.

iii

Yet doubtless to see movements

Of endless soldiers, both English

And French nations pass, always

Onwards to some fighting frontiers.

This intensity of sights for Wilfred

Owen increased on reaching Calais,

With its boundless military nature

Of troop ships, in and out of harbour.

Likely self conscious of his civilian

Attire, Owen probably brooded,

Within the encircling men of his age,

Who filled all boats and London trains.

Owen's Arrival in a British capital,

Would bring an alternative scene

Of previous visits - in atmosphere

In London's life of wartime fixation.

iV

Papers daily added with fresh

News - to include May-times

Sinking of the Lusitania; while

Nothing dulled his enjoyment.

Taking his task as trader to perfume

Fair - Kitchener posters all around,

Questioned his reason or excuse,

Why Owen was not yet in khaki.

Thrilled but  briefly tired of London

Bustle, the son made his return

To Shreswbuy's Mahim - to allow

A temporary escape to poetry.

In whirl of satisfied travel a poet

Paused again in London, where

A hotel note sparked a thought, to

Invite gentlemen to Artists Rifles.

V

Owen speculated over ambitions,

To see London slums in Victorian

Hangovers - to ponder on desires

For success as a possible poet.

Still remaining without decision

To join the tutor, as promised made

The Sunday return trip to Paris;

With mixed emotions after London.

New stories came of campaigns

In Gallipoli prompting Owen's vow;

If war had no sight of improvement

To take to an autumn enlistment.

Home communications reached him

Of a relative in khaki - to prompt

A premonition of grandchildren, 

Who would ask what he had done.

Vi

Aged 21 with almost a year of war,

A summer illness of June crept

Hold of Owen, to prompt his fitness

Vow - a need of a soldier's regime.

A mother's distant concerns could

Not deter a son of independence -

To give her unwillingness to provide           

His requests of regiment's address.

His decision was to write anyway

To Artists Rifles, posted to a vague

London Address - duly a reply

Came to advise of lengthy training.

Although aspirations may have

Been to take a commission, Owen

Had no means - so then initially

He would start as ordinary Tommy.

Romantic notions were never far

From such a poet's head - maybe

An alternative route could allow him

To join the Italian Cavalry instead.

Vii

From his letter's honesty, Susan

Owen advised how her son might

Find more satisfaction in a position

Of safety, within a war office post.

With brief encounter of a sailor

Whose familiar accent of home,

Prompted Owen to ask passage -

In war such ideas were impossible.

Self-guilt grew in civilian clothes -

In summers depth came more plans,

For routes to take him homewards;

Concerns of friends advised him no.

Summer of 1915 then on the wane

And Owen had completed promise

To teach his students - now his plan

Took over, to make a London return.

Viii

Shrewsbury and autumn's falling

Dead leaves, acting as a reality

Of what he should be his destiny;

Led him to London’s Bloomsbury.

On a pause of steps in the shade

Of Artists Rifle Headquarters, two

Masks looked bleakly down on him

While Wilfred Owen stepped inside.

A keen, willing Doctor passed him

As fit, while Owen gave happily

Provided his word of willingness;

As the fight for Loos had begun.

With long shrugged off hesitancy, his

Joining up could only provide relief

To take vow of voluntary service -
That soon would become compulsory.

iX

For a man and poet, prepared

To give himself to a voluntary vow,

Was more a true romantic notion

Than hesitating, only to be pushed.

Arriving at that point Owen set

On a four year path in duty to king

To shrug off unglamorous ideas,

As a man working in munitions.

Previous paths had been diverse

Such as journalism, civil service,

The ministry or even a scientist

Or interpreter; he became a tutor.

Other potential careers had even

Included business traveller or

Consular role,  no prior thoughts

Had seen him in role of a soldier.

Neither man nor Doctor registered

Any omens, wherein his previous

Medical had not been signed off -

Owen stripped again, to be found fit.

At 5 foot 5, a height that had once

Been unacceptable Owen was taken

On, having a fit heart with 6/6 vision,

He stood with a chest of 36 1/2 inches.

X

The deed was finally completed, when

On Thursday 21 October 1915, saw

Three men to step forward to swear

Allegiance, to serve home and abroad.

Wilfred Edward Salter Owen stood

Before an officer, Captain Bloomfied,

To read out the oath and give a virgin

Bible, a considered and loving kiss.

Romance takes many forms - equal

To poets of old who might describe

Notions of duty, man's honour, pride

Or passion to die for one's country.

At moments when in life bold steps

Take a different unforeseen path,

Excitement might rule ignorance -

A man emerged; Private Owen 4756.

by Jamie Mann.

Hibberd, D., 2002. Wilfred Owen – A New Biography. London. Weidenfeld & Nicolson. Ch 9, Ch 10.

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

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Poem ~ The Acona Event - Monday 15 November 1915

Source: File: SS Ancona.jpeg, [online] An original image can be seen at: <http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?134717> [Accessed: 11 November 2015].

With one more unrepentent blow

At sea, another effect started to grow

Amid the opinions of American people -

This came on top of murder of Cavell,

By German execution and Lusitania

Sinking from six months before.

The SS Ancona was built in Ireland,

Operated in Genoa, by Italian Steamers

Navigation Society as a passenger liner.

Stopping at Messina, on the toe of Italy,

The liner took on more passengers -

To leave Sunday evening, 5 p.m.

With 163 crew, out a total of 446

Aboard, the Ancona began her voyage.

By Monday 8 November to sail south East

Of Sardinia by Cape Carbonara - under

The lead of Captain Massardo - varied

nationalities included Americans.

Among the cargo, entrusted to a civil

Servant, was a shipment of silver and

12 trunks of gold - believed to be intended

To purchase arms for Italy - as morning

Moved on an explosion hit the sea -

Some twenty yards from the ship.

At the same time a submarine shape

Was spotted, several kilometers distant -

The Ancona was steaming as the German

Boat gave chase - although it was flying

Austrian flag - shells were being fired

To destroy the onboard wireless.

The passengers were thrown

into panic - the time was closing

Towards 1p.m. as boats were lowered -

With the Ancona moving, the first

boat capsized and they fell into

Water - all to be drowned.

The second boat touched water,

Only to be hit by a torpedo - the third

Lowered, during which several people fell

Overboard; still the firing continued until

finally the Ancona halted at rest - then

Came the submarine at 200 yards.

From prow to stern, shells had then

Peppered the boat - Captain Massardo

Rushed through the Ancona, still to find

Some 30 aboard - he ordered the last

Boat down with rest of the crew, final

Passengers and the 2nd officer.

Captain Massardo stood on deck,

As the submarine with Austrian flag,

Fired a torpedo, he awaited the shock which

Struck; to leaving a gaping hole - Ancona

Began inevitable movements down -

Another enemy flag was hoisted.

The steamer lurched and prompted

Captain and his first officer begin a climb

Down, by use of a cable, towards the sea -

But as the ship rose they were forced

To jump - they made it to a lifeboat,

To aid others as the Ancona sank.

American reactions to Captain's

Account, caused a perception, from

Fact that the Ancona came under attack,

Without any warning - silence cracked

By protests, with the New York Times

To exclaim downright murder.

Outrage was fueled by fact 

That some Americans had been

On board the SS Ancona - President

Maintained neutrality - this was

Strained by people and press,

Echoed by a dinner speaker.

Joseph Hodges Choate, who had

Once been an ambassador in Britain,

Made it known, despite the Government

Stance, he totally supported the allies -

Fighting against 'barbaric atrocities' -

The US had given one warning.

In the event of the Lusitania case,

Washington had spelt out a promise -

That such persistent German deeds would

Be considered intended acts of hostility -

If Austrian or a German disguise - that

Warning stood as quoted by a paper -

USA patience was not limitless.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915 American Patience - 'Not Inexhaustable'. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 15 November. P.10. Col.6. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11994274/Daily-Telegraph-November-15-1915.html [Accessed: 15 November 2015].

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

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11994274/Daily-Telegraph-November-15-1915.html

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Poem ~ A Wary America - Sunday, 8 August 1915

Impression image of signature of President Woodrow Wilson - by Jamie. See original at: http://www.historyinink.com/1009901_President_Woodrow_Wilson_ALS_5-18-1915.htm

While American neutrality watched

From the sidelines - as an independent

Nation situated out of European war -

Changes had begun to stir.

Their neighbor Canada, already part

Of war, allied with France and Britain -

Yet a greater part of a population had

A German allegiance.

America had already suffered a hit,

In the sinking of the Lusitania and loss

Of American citizens; even more than

Before observed the war.

Akin to British reluctance in need

Of any kind of war, President Wilson

Changed a gear; 'a nation forewarned

Is a nation forearmed.'

Plans for a definitive programme

Of national defence, to be presented

To Congress, as Wilson started talks

With the Amy and Navy.

Wilson, akin to previous President

Roosevelt, shared opinions; America

If required, had to back up polices

By force, or like China, be powerless.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915 America and War - Adequate Defence. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 7 August. P.7. Col.7. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11780911/Daily-Telegraph-August-7-1915.html [Accessed: 8 August 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 8 August 2015). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11780911/Daily-Telegraph-August-7-1915.html

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