Poem ~ Contrasting Tribunal Cases - Sunday, 22 October - Tuesday, 24 October 1916

Source: File: 1916 tribunal sitting in Preston. See an original image at: <http://www.ppu.org.uk/cosnew/co_Narrative1.html> [Accessed 22 October 2016]

From date of 27 January 1916,

Conscription into the military

Had for the first time in Britain

Come into effect, after the period

Of transition of the Derby Scheme;

Whereby men were encouraged

To join up on a voluntary basis.

This confirmed total war status,

Affecting everyman between ages

18 to 41 - if single, automatically

Seen to have enlisted by 25 May

1916; married men were 'deemed'

To be in the same situation -

Categories defined their status.

An army's preferred classification

Being A - able to shoot, hear

And undertake active service -

Men categorised below A took

In account of physical abilities;

From B1 men with glasses, able

To shoot and march five miles.

B2 men should walk five miles

And hear enough, for purposes

Of labour service abroad - while

B3 men to be limited to sedentary

Work overseas - any C men only

Able to do home service; being

Free of disease for garrison duty.

Subdivisions added numbers;

So A1 men could carry full packs

On long marches, while C3 men

Could only do sedentary work

At home - medical categories were

Not fixed, to take account for 

Wounds or sickness until A1 again.

As part of conscription process,

The formation of tribunals set

Out to consider cases centered

On domestic or business situations -

To be seen as harsh on objections

To fight, because of conscience;

Over 2000 tribunal bodies existed.

With the business of war seeking

To ensure army was being supplied,

The call up of men were yet to see

Class C2 and Class C3 - appeals

Of those men in such classes

Could be withdrawn, yet if called

Up they were allowed to re-appeal.

Tribunals continued in hearing

Of appeals, to include a mechanic

Before the Lambeth panel - a single

Man of 23 employed by a firm said

How his employer had requested

A badge, to display he was on war

Work in munitions transportation.

The request had gone to ministry

Of munitions - war service badges

Had, before 1 March 1916, been

Issued to any individual in munitions

Work; to act as exemption certificate.

This firms appeal was refused - such

Badges were no longer being issued.

Should this 23-year-old employee

Be called up, he would gain similar

Transport work in the army; this

Fact was reiterated by the mayor,

Alderman Gibbs advised that munitions

Ministry was aware of processes - yet

Most appeals were on domestic basis.

A House of Commons appeals

Tribunal, being led by Chairman

Mr. Maclean MP, dismissed

Any immediate review of one

40-year-old father of six children -

Saying no need to go into matter;

Ages were 5 months to 9 years.

'I don't think we need send a man

With six children,' said Mr Maclean.

While a man of 29, at the same

Tribunal, having recently married

Then asked for further exemption;

Previously been classified in C1

Class, sought to arrange his affairs.

Unlike the married man of 40

With 6 children, he did not have

A large family to maintain - though

He was the only support to his

Widowed mother; 'I am afraid you

Will have to go,' Deputy Chairman

Of Commons tribunal informed him.

A case of an appeal on medical

Grounds, concerned a man who

Had been as B1 - then at another

Medical, stated B3 - to say fit only

For sedentary work. When called

Up the B3 card was dismissed;

This case was to be finally decided.

Captain Anstey, in representation 

Of military, provided the suggestion

To a further examination of the man,

By Appeals Medical Board - next

A military representative appeared

At the Dover Borough Tribunal, asking

To request a number of exemptions.

Certificates of 8 men to be assigned

To disbanded Dover Anti Aircraft Corps.

They had been bound by 'Ultra Vires,'

When first applied 'beyond the powers;'

The Military rep said how a tribunal

Could overwrite these cards - such

Men with training would be of use.

Valid certificates were deemed 'Intra

Vires' - in this case they lacked legal

Authority, to have 'Ultra Vires' status -

Some Anti Aircraft Corps permits were

Withdrawn, others legally represented

Were given short terms - due to expiry
Dates the applications were withdrawn.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. War Tribunals. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 10 October 1916. P.5. Col.3. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12213454/Daily-Telegraph-October-20-1916.html> [Accessed: 22 October 2016].

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 22 October 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12213454/Daily-Telegraph-October-20-1916.html

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

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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 ~ Germany's Fodder - Friday, 14 July 1916

Source: File: young soldiers of the 248th Regiment from Wurtemburg.  See an original image at: <http://www.queensroyalsurreys.org.uk/new_museum/20th_century_room/Case5/The_Football.shtml> [Accessed 13 July 2016]

In the practice of confiscation

Of pocket books from prisoners,

Or the dead, a deduction made

Regarding German methods.

Between years of 17 to 20 all

German men had been subject

To military service since 1871,

In class of their 20th birthday.

An indication from pocket books

Provided suggestion of differing

Classes of their soldiers, already

Being sent to the frontline to fight.

In the months of 1916, classes

Of this year were called on, along

With 1917 classes; information

Proved failing army resources.

Southern Germany and Dresden

Were cleared, ready for influxes

Of 1918 class of German youth -

Sources noting, already underway.

A conclusion, from pocket book

Studies suggested these young

Soldiers, intended for decisive blow,

Were just used to fill wasted fronts.

Such classes were little more than

Fodder, to drain resources of south

Germany over Prussia - the 1918

Class call-ups were yet to happen.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. 1916. Germany's cannon Fodder - Failing Resources. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 14 July 1916. P.7. Col.1. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12212035/Daily-Telegraph-July-14-1916.html>[Accessed: 14 July 2016].

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 14 July 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12212035/Daily-Telegraph-July-14-1916.html

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

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Poem ~ Universal Conscription - Friday, 19 May 1916

Source: File: German recruitment poster. [online] See an original image at: <http://mentalfloss.com/article/12383/21-world-war-i-recruitment-posters-around-globe> [Accessed: 19 May 2016]

A German version of Lord Kitchener Wants You poster. 'You too should join the Reichswehr.'

With tradition of voluntary army service 

Having waned, 1916 had seen the 

Military Service Act come into force -

A pre curser had been the Derby Scheme,
To encourage type of 'moral conscription.'

From the spring the act introduced

By law, the liability of classes

Of men, aged between 18 and 40 years -

Exempt were religious ministers or

Widowers with children as dependents.

Will Thorne, union founder and Labour

Parliament member, had volunteered

At the war's start - As Lieutenant Colonel

General Secretary of a union, Thorne

Remained to play a part on home front.

By Thorne's request, as to compulsory

Ages for military service in other

Countries, the information provided

Came from Mr Tennant, Scottish MP

And Under-Secretary of State for War.

The published graph showed slight

Variations - Service in Belgium began

On 18th birthday, to end after reaching

33 (in peace) - in France it was after

19th year, to end aged 28 in the October.

For Russia, a man would be 20 years

Until reaching 43rd year; Montenrgro

Served from 18 to 62, while Serbia,

Starting aged 18, ended on 50 birthday -

For Italy it was 20 until 39 year reached.

In the country of Japan, a man could

Enlist between 17 and 20 years, until

End of service at 39 years - across

In Turkey was only for five years from

March after 20 birthday; to end 25 years.

From the side of opposition, Austria

Called men on their 18th birthday - in

Times of normality to end on 42 year;

For the war men were called up to 55;

For active service was 1/1 after 21st.

Germany, like Japan, called for their

Men aged 17, for military service

Until 45th Birthday - while active

Service started after their 20th year;

A clause was added for time of war.

Harold Tennant told how in war time

There was no claim in final Discharge

Dates regarding Austria, Germany

Or Russia, as well as France; Austrian

And German conscripts were called
After age of 17 - likely at any time.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Foreign Armies - Ages Of Service. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 18 May 1916. P.10. Col.4. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12210152/Daily-Telegraph-May-18-1916.html>  [Accessed: 18 May 2016].

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 18 May 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12210152/Daily-Telegraph-May-18-1916.html

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

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Poem ~ Songs Of War - Saturday, 13 May - Monday, 15 May 1916

Source: File: I'll make a man of you! (Tune: I Don't Want to be a Soldier) OhWhataLovelyWar [online] : <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x308MIPPUyA> [Accessed: 13 May 2016]

Source: File: Vesta Tilley. [online] See an original image at: <https://heroinesofthestage.wordpress.com/2014/08/09/miss-towards-heroines-of-the-stage/> [Accessed: 13 May 2016]

i

Kitchener replied with pointed finger,
When the Kaiser had started to huff -

While a country went willingly to war,

What better way for all the soldiers

To go, than to sing new catchy songs.

Already well known from before, the
Lyrics of 'Its a long way to Tipperary'

Were well suited to a marching song -
Without any suggested deeds of war,

Words evoked a longing for home.

Music and war had always travelled

Together, as already well established

By the Music Hall well before 1880s -

Popular Lilly Langtry and Marie Lloyd 

Were soon joined by new performers.

Vesta Tilley, readily known for her
Impersonations of men, with risqué 
Behaviour - to raise wary eyebrows
Playing her character 'Burlington

Bertie,' made her name before war.

ii

Vesta Tilley conceived characters

'Jack Tar Home from Sea' - another

Was 'Tommy In the Trench' - with

Husband Walter to commence a drive

For recruitment, gaining a new name.

Now Britain’s greatest recruitment

Sergeant, Great littlie Tilley sang

'Jolly Good Luck to the Girl Who

Loves a Soldier,' to bring men onto

Stage - persuading them how Army 

Was alright, but open to controversy.

'I’ve got a it of a Blighty one,' Tilley

Sang as a soldier glad to wounded

Home - not exactly what the war

Office wanted to hear – many songs

Had the power to inspire peoples

Patriotism and to gain manpower.

Song sources knew no borders -

With American tunes popularity 

Flows of songs emerged from pen

Of Wenrich, as in 'When You Wore

A Tulip - I Wore a Big Red Rose.'

iii

Back home pianos had centre

Place in many families’ parlors -

With boys away at war, families

Sang same songs as brothers,

Sons or fathers - old or new tunes
Marched them on the road to war.

In eager backing of government,

Propaganda and music became

Well matched - the medium stirred

Public to join British army - 'Keep 
The home Fires burning’ by Ford 
And Novella; a sweethearts ideal.

Brothers Felix and George Powell

Played the London Hippodrome. In

A break George wrote some lines

Of a song, that Felix had idly fitted 

Music too - only to see it as 'Piffle'
George stored it under song 'duds.'

iV

While across the water in New York,

Music publishers Day and Hunter

Decided to offer 100 guineas, to find

A marching song for fighting troops -

The Powell brothers looked at their

Rejected song to revise and enter.

Talents had by end of 1914, seen

Release by Mark Sheridan a singer

Of seaside songs, with 'Belgium Put

The Kibosh on the Kaiser' - inspired

By BEF's halt of the Schlieffen Plan.

A few moths passed - a telegram

To Powell brothers told them they

Had won first prize with composition,

'Pack Up your Troubles In Your Old

Kit Bag and Smile, Smile, Smile’ -

Its popularity was in it's simplicity.

This song praised the Tommy who

Could remain cheery, in the worst

Conditions - with the simple luxury

Of a Lucifer match to light his fag,

All to return the Tommy's smile -

Powell brothers were onto a winner.

V

With the 'kitbag song' quick to prove

A hit, other older compositions were

Revived - the popular 'Mademoiselle

From Armentieres' made resurgence -

New, adaptable, French risqué words

Leading to claims by several writers.

Alternatively 'three German Officers

Crossed the Rhine' - depicted enemy

Having a jolly good time - to result

In illegitimacy, leading to birth of a fat

Prussian, to grow up without morals.

Other words told how Mademoiselle

Had not been kissed for some forty

Years - while a more demure Colette,

With sea-blue eyes, was seen by

Lawyer Frederic Weatherly - a lady

Who evoked the Roses of Picardy.

One night Frederic Weatherly travelled

Home by London bus when suddenly

The refrain hit the lawyer - he jumped

To the street to stand beneath a lamp,

Putting down the idea on an envelope.

With subject of a love affair, music sheet
Sales quickly hit record 50,000 monthly -

Sentimental Images of Colette in Picardy

Prompted eager young men to sing while
Waiting to enlist for France and Flanders.

Vi

As a weapon of war, songs

Played their part, popularised

By the singers of the day - those

Early volunteers in rallying, sang
Of kitbags and roses - out to hit

The Kaiser only to yearn for home.

Both comedians and singers

Were playing their parts - along

With government policies, to be

The official and unofficial drivers

To recruitment, as civil heroes.

In new stars of stage and song

These included Harry Champion,

Harry Lauder, George Formby,

Gertie Gitana, Marie Lloyd

And Vesta Tilley, among many

Others, to set the pace of time.

Vii

Many artists and composers

Took inspirations, whose lyrics

Cleverly caught a keen public -

Writers Wimperis and Finck

Worked out the ultimate song

For voluntary recruitment rallys.

Calling out to youngest men by

A flirty lady, who dated military

Men - the purpose of her task,

As sung by Minnie Love, would

Make them all better soldiers.

In a call to other girls to walk out

With an army and the navy, her 
Dates included; a Hussar, a baby
Boy scout, a Scottie, a rifleman in
Green and a captain of the crew. 

Not to forget time with a bosun

A day later a Sub and Marine -

Finally with a midshipman or two.

She'd offer her services if a man

In front would take king's shilling;

A long war promised many songs.

by Jamie Mann.

Source: File: The 10 best: first world war music. Online. Available at: <https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2014/nov/07/the-10-best-first-world-war-music> Accessed 13 May 2016

Source: File: Music Hall. Online. Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_hall> Accessed 13 May 2016

Source: File: Mademoiselle from Armentières. Online. Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mademoiselle_from_Armenti%C3%A8res> Accessed 13 May 2016

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 13 May 2016). 

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

#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1songs