Poem ~ Crowds; Scarier Than Bombs - Sunday, 12 November 1916 - Monday, 13 November 1916

Impression sketch of Private 'Todger' Thomas Jones VC being welcomed home - by Jamie.

Down in the county of Cheshire in the locality

Of Rucorn, saw a welcome home of one of their

Son's - the port and industrial town - then to be

Known as the 'Runcorn Victoria Cross' of Private

Todger Thomas Jones - Where a northwest

Welcome awaited his arrival.

On the Thursday afternoon of 9 November

1916, saw extreme enthusiastic crowds to lift

Him on the shoulders of carriers, to commence

To take him home - on route where Bridgwater,

Regent and Station roads converged, the crowd

Grew to greater proportions.

Till then Todger was swept away by all the

Crowd’s attentions - during an interview Private

Todger Jones told of his capturing of more

Than 100 Germans - by his admittance he told

That in the likelihood that he would be killed,

He may as well go down fighting.

In preference to digging down, he arrived

At a enemy dugout to get rid of three guards;

'With my old magazine.' Here one man spoke

Good English, Todger said to him that if the lot

Did not surrender the lads would be over by their

Thousands to cut them to pieces.

The German relayed the message into the dug

Out, he said, 'if we do not surrender they will

Cut us to bits 'one by one they came out to

The open - among them one German bolted

And Todger carried out this warning and shot

Him in the head.

The remainder shot up their hands and they

Chorused 'Mercy kamerad!' Todger admitted

That he had laughed and faced 120 enemies

Staring in fear at him - 'good lord what can

I do with this lot?' - Just then some lads made

Appearance and rounded them all to their lines.

Back to the future on 9 November 1916 Todger

Had found himself amid the crush of a crowd -

Under him a carrier wobbled in the crush and

Nervy Todger touched ground and took to his

Heels down a side street, running all way back
Home - arriving exhausted.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. 'Todger' Jones V.C. - Flight From His Townsmen.The Daily Telegraph, [online] 10 November 1916. P.09. Col.4. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12213606/Daily-Telegraph-November-10-1916.html> [Accessed: 12 November 2016].

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 12 November 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12213606/Daily-Telegraph-November-10-1916.html

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

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Poem ~ Private Thomas Hughes VC - Friday, 3 November 1916 - Sunday, 5 November 1916

Source: File: Private Thomas Hughes VC. His injuries continued to trouble him after the war. See an original image at: <http://www.canadiancolour.ca/2015/03/11/john-chipman-kerr-vc/> [Accessed 03 November 2016]

A soldier from the British Isles infantry,

Joined the list of names from Somme

VC awards - born in Ireland Corravoo,

Castleblayney 30 May 1885; Thomas

Hughes answered the call for soldiers.

He became Private Hughes 3-5027

In the 6th Battalion, The Connaught

Rangers - aged 31 by July 1916's

Opening Somme offensive; various

Battles marked out different stages.

Two months into the onslaught saw

Concentration around the commune

Of Guillemont - on the British sector's
Right edge stood alongside French

6th army - having already seen battle.

The purpose then, was to prevent

Formation of a stronghold salient

On north side of Delville Wood, that

Was then ringed by German hold.

Here the Connaught Rangers fought.

From Irish shores Private Thomas

Hughes was no stranger to races,

Having before the war worked

As a jockey - Although this terrain

Was tough, with no sign of a horse.

Thomas worked quickly on his feet.

The official opening commenced

3 September, as Private Hughes

Dashed alongside the Rangers,

When a wound stopped his tracks.

Luckily to be just a minor injury quickly

Dressed - with impatience Hughes

Went out again - catching company

Of his fellow Rangers he looked out

To the racetrack; Hughes saw danger.

A short distance ahead Private Hughes

Spotted movement of semi-concealed

German machine gun - in surprise

Of those taking shelter Hughes sped

Into a game of dodge and running.

The machine gunner focused on

Him alone - in rapid reaction Hughes

Sprinted and zigzagged to avoid

The barrel's aim - although a bullet

Or two were to find a mark on him.

As in one moment of either then

Or nothing, Hughes did not wait

Or think, but reacted to take aim.

Hughes feet carried him fast - one

Shot and the gunner had fallen.

Suddenly Hughes found himself

At the front of the machine gun.

In shock or relief, the remainder

Of the crew put up their hands,

He marched back his prisoners.

The rangers moved on, as their

Fellow hero had remaining wounds

Dressed - With Hughes determined

Actions he was to be recommended

For an award of the Victoria Cross.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Fifteen New V.C's. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 27 October 1916. P.8. Col.7. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12213502/Daily-Telegraph-October-27-1916.html> [Accessed: 03 November 2016].

Source: File: Battle of the Somme: Tale of a forgotten Monaghan hero.

Available at: <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-36665702> [Accessed 03 November 2016]

Source: File: Thomas Hughes VC. Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Hughes_(VC)> [Accessed 03 November 2016]

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 03 November 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12213502/Daily-Telegraph-October-27-1916.html

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

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Poem ~ John 'Chip' Kerr VC - Wednesday, 1 November - Thursday, 2 November 1916

Source: File: Corporal John Chip Kerr VC (right) With his Brother Sergeant Rollie Kerr (left). See an original image at: <http://www.canadiancolour.ca/2015/03/11/john-chipman-kerr-vc/> [Accessed 01 November 2016]

In a region of Canada’s British Columbia,

Out of the shadows of rocky mountains,

Flowed a tributary of the River Columbia -

Flatbow water, to later become known

As Kootenay River; the name of a region,

A wide, wild untamed land to be settled on.

Miners and smelt workers being among

The first to settle there - also where a young

John Chipman Kerr took up employment

As a lumberjack, until his mid 20's - in 1912

Buying a homestead, John and Charles 

Rollie Kerr took up new lives as farmers.

Settling in Alberta a province of forests,

Badlands, mountains and prairies they

Took to life on land close to Spirit River;

A northern Alberta town that sprung

As a trading post along the water - yet

After only two years news of war came.

Though thousands of miles away, the

Bothers decided to play a part and travel

To Alberta's capital Edmonton - in quick

Decision to go, the brothers shut the door

Of their humble home, being little more than

A shed - a note gave any reader a clue. 

'War is Hell, but what is homesteading?'

In Alberta's capital both John and Rollie

Signed up to the Loyal Edmonton Rgt.

This reserve force given authorization

By 7 November 1914 - 'The Loyal Eddies'

Prepared to leave Canada ready for war.

With both brothers in the 49th Battalion,

The date 3 June 1915 saw force sail for

Britain to finally reach France, 9 October.

Under Canadian Major General Mercer

Brothers Private Chip Kerr and Rollie Kerr

Became part of the 3rd Canadian Division.

On the Somme Private Kerr joined battle

For Flers-Courcelette - this the prime

Objective for the Canadian Corps - the

Date of 16 September Private John Kerr

Was a bayonet man with a bombing party;

'Chip' Kerr was hit by a sudden explosion.

He found a finger of one hand was blown

Away. Despite the rise of pain he wrapped

The hand and carried on - he could still fire

His gun and parry his bayonet - then when

The chance arose he could not leave;

Having become separated from his team.

Kerr carried on in exchange of grenades

With nearby enemy - running he jumped

From the trench on the side, with layered

Parados - immediately he came under

Fire but he ran forwards towards where

He came into close contact with the enemy.

He aimed, fired, aimed again, all in rapid

Succession taking down many enemy -

In belief that they must be surrounded by

This soldiers actions, the Germans quickly

Gave surrender - Kerr had led the capture

Of 250 trench yards, along with 62 prisoners.

No. 101465 Private John Chipman Kerr

Of Canadian Infantry became recognised

For bravery - despite a wound he had fooled

Germans to think they were surrounded - and

Found himself cited in the London Telegraph,

Friday 27 October, amid awards of new V.C.s.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Fifteen New V.C's. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 27 October 1916. P.8. Col.7. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12213502/Daily-Telegraph-October-27-1916.html> [Accessed: 01 November 2016].

Source: File: John Chipman Kerr Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Chipman_Kerr> [Accessed 01November 2016]

Source: File: Victoria Cross - First World War, 1914-1918 John Chipman Kerr Available at: <http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-Dhp/gal/vcg-gcv/bio/kerr-jc-eng.asp> [Accessed 01November 2016]

Source: File: Library and Archives Canada Blog Private John Chipman Kerr VC Available at: <https://thediscoverblog.com/2016/09/16/private-john-chipman-kerr-vc/> [Accessed 01November 2016]

Source: File: Private John Chipman Kerr VC Available at: <https://townspirit.wordpress.com/2011/11/09/private-john-chipman-kerr/> [Accessed 01November 2016]

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 01 November 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12213502/Daily-Telegraph-October-27-1916.html

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

#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1medal

Poem ~ Private 'Todger' Thomas Jones VC - Monday, 30 October - Tuesday, 31 October 1916

Source: File: Private Thomas Alfred 'Todger' Jones VC. See an original image at Britain At War: <http://www.britainatwar.com/view_article.asp?ID=3777> [Accessed 30 October 2016]

Amid the Somme awards for bravery,

Three privates were to show their worth -

Following on from Flers, Courcelette

Came a fuss at three communes; Morval

Gueudeciur and Lesboeufs - delayed,

The British were to join French attacks.

Among the thick of the fray, 1st Battalion

Cheshire Regiment included one private,

Nicknamed Todger Private Thomas

Alfred Jones - then aged 35 - his task

With his company was to consolidate

Defences before one French commune.

A man of Cheshire, Jones had come

From Runcorn that lay on river Mersey.

Now at a stage before Morval village

Todger Jones contemplated his fate -

He had survived while many fellow

Cheshire men died, only to be replaced.

None of them shared his origin or knew

Traditions of his county - an aggrieved

Man perhaps, Todger found a friend

In a runner Kenworthy, years his junior.

The date 25 September 1916 had seen

This fellow came up to join the line.

Runner Kenworthy hailed to his friend

'Good day today Todger! It's my 18th

Birthday!'  But those were the youngsters

Last words as a German bullet struck

Him down dead - Todger was horrified

And angered by the death of his friend.

He had spotted the possible originator

Of the bullet - from a sniper sitting high

In a tree - he was 200 yards distant.

Seeing red, Todger stood to start to walk

Out - he had not been ordered or given

Permission; in seconds he was shot at.

Poets would have told Todger he had

A charmed life, he later thought, as this

Sniper hit his helmet - the bullet went

Inside, as a marble spinning in a vase

To heat him up; as he went closer some

Five more bullets cut through his tunic.

This was not his time though - unaware

Of ripped clothing Todger brought down

The sniper - in a blur he saw two more -

They waved a white flag as they fired -

But he aimed and took them both out,

Then he arrived at a German trench.

With fear entering the enemy, a line

Of Germans funneled down to a hole

To get away. Already having used his

Grenades that day and lacking any

Urge to pursue them down into their

Dugout, Todger did the next best thing.

Picking up a dropped stick bomb

Todger tossed this after them - likely

Finding this a warning to possible

Entrapment, one fearful German

Emerged, hands up to stutter and  

Tell him they wished to surrender.

Todger agreed, seeing no other way,

Ordering them out - warning that if any

Held a weapon he would shoot them.

One by one they came out to test his

Stance - the line of them endless,

Until in front of him were 120 men.

Holding the lot still with his rifle tight,

They stood hands over their heads -

Todger was relieved when a sergeant

And another came, expecting to find

Him dead - only to find him in charge

Of 120 captured, compliant Germans.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Fifteen New V.C's. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 27 October 1916. P.8. Col.7. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12213502/Daily-Telegraph-October-27-1916.html> [Accessed: 30 October 2016].

Source: File: Thomas Alfred Jones Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Alfred_Jones> [Accessed 30 October 2016]

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 30 October 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12213502/Daily-Telegraph-October-27-1916.html

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

#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1medal

Poem ~ Corporal Leo Clarke VC - Saturday, 28 October - Sunday, 29 October 1916

Source: File: Private (Acting Corporal) Leo Clarke. See an original image at Governor General's Foot Guards: <http://footguards.ca/victoria-cross/private-acting-corporal-leo-clarke/> [Accessed 28 October 2016]

To view Leo Clarke's War Records go to:<http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/100-stories/Pages/clarke-leo.aspx>

Amid citations of latest fifteen VCs were

To number four privates; Clarke, Jones

Hughes and Kerr as advised in a London

Gazette supplement - a private from

The Connaught Rangers, two with Canadian

Infantry and another from a Cheshire Regt.

From Hamilton Ontario Lionel, Leo, Clarke

Gave his attestation within six months

Of war - 25 February 1915 from where

He then lived; 785 Pine Street Winnipeg

Manitoba, a Canadian Prairie Province;

Clarke worked as a construction engineer.

Known as Leo, he joined with the Canadian

Infantry 27th Battalion - they sailed from

Quebec on S.S. Carpathia 17th May 1915.

By 6 August Private Clarke was to become

An acting Corporal - whose purpose was

To groom likely candidates to promotion.

In France by September, Clarke moved

To the 2 Battalion by October - to gain

A wound during December - but back

To duty short days later aged 23; by then

Of average height 5ft 7 1/2, grey green

Eyes and dark brown hair, weight 156 lbs.

Acting Corporal (Private) Leo Clarke

No. 73132, advanced into the line close

To Pozieres - Saturday 9 September

1916, the move of 1, 2 and 3 companies

Were covered by a bombardment

Of artillery shelling Germans; 16:45 p.m.

The bombardment lacked any effective

Result and Germans easily took back

Every lost position - German gunnery

Retaliated - focusing fire on advancing

Canadians companies - 1 and 3 were

Pinned down, as no 2 gained objective.

In the trapped centre, company action

By Lt. Pringle charged a machine gun -

Following him the company pushed out

Into fierce close fighting of bombs and

Bayonets - Sgt. Nicholls with bombers

Shot forward across to German trenches.

In starting to build a block, using wood

And barbed wire rolls, the small number

Went to clear the Germans out - taking

Action they made good destruction, until

A counter attack of two officers leading

20 Germans, leaving many casualties.

Seeing what was happening Cpl. Clarke

Assisted by Private Soppitt held them,

As Clarke began to make a barricade -

Now the Germans rushed him - Clarke

Emptied a revolver at them to quickly

Refill - still they came - he fired again.

With fate of Soppitt unknown, the first

German to reach Clarke then sliced

His leg with a bayonet, to be shot dead

By him - the Germans then turned about

Starting to retreat - Clarke had gained

A German rifle and another, firing at them.

Roused into fury and forgetting any

Feelings of his wound, Cpl. Leo Clarke

Shot dead another four fleeing figures -

As fifth one tumbled he pulled him up,

Leading him back as prisoner - finally  

Ordered to go to a dressing station.

Despite this Leo was back the next

Day - Clarke settled down into daily

Routine, but with his exploit known,

Acting Corporal Leo Clarke 73132

Was recommended a Victoria Cross

For bravery - awarded posthumously.

In his action of defence Clarke had

Killed nineteen of the Germans

That charged - just a month later

He was again in trenches, involved

In Thiepval fighting - the battalions

Orders to secure capture of Regina.

Regina trench stretched from Le Sars

Village to Stuff Redoubt - Leo Clarke

Taking shelter in a funk hole at rear

Of a trench, with heavy shelling raking

The ground - one shell hit close by

Him, causing the trench to collapse.

In same battalion his brother, Charles 
Clarke, hurried over to Leo's rescue

And worked to dig him out - with help

He was taken to No 1 General Hospital.

The extent of his injuries quickly became

Apparent - Leo Clarke was paralysed.

At Etretat he was diagnosed paraplegia;

The weight of the earth having crushed

His back, damaging his spine - on the day

18 October the notes of Major Nicholson

Stated how Leo Clarke arrived there,

11 p.m. transported their by No. 22 train.

All his lower limbs were paralysed, to add

How Leo answered their questions with

Difficulty - 'restless, weak and groaning.'

Yet into the early hours of 19 October

He slept for a time, talking and restless.

By morning he was tinged by cyanosis.

In the light of day symptoms provided

Evidence from his deterioration, he had

Only hours - Corporal Leo Clarke died

At 11 a.m. a report described enlarged

Spleen, his lungs dark and congealed;
Finally, he lay at rest by Etretat church.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Fifteen New V.C's. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 27 October 1916. P.8. Col.7. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12213502/Daily-Telegraph-October-27-1916.html> [Accessed: 28 October 2016].

Source: File: Leo Clarke. Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Clarke> [Accessed 28 October 2016]

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 28 October 2016). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12213502/Daily-Telegraph-October-27-1916.html

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

#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1medal