Poem ~ Friends Reunited at Front - Thursday, 4 March 1915

Source: File: Prince.jpg, 2015. Dogged determination. World War One Great war Stories, Luton's Great War, told by its people today Submitted by Deejaya on 14 August 2014. 2 March 1915. [online] Available at: <http://www.worldwar1luton.com/blog-entry/dogged-determination> [Accessed: 4 March 2015].

i

Since the earliest months of conflict

And movements of enemy and allied

Forces that weaved through Belgium

And France, people fled their homes

In villages and towns often destroyed

Burnt to the ground –

Through such deserted places as these

English soldiers found other abandoned

Refugees – dogs of those gone or dead

Who then attached themselves to these

English troopers.

With displacement of animal's homes,

A refuge was created near Boulogne -

On the road to Wimereaux - whereby

Pets, dogs or other animals, found by

Soldiers would be looked after - until

They reclaimed by the human owners -

Their missing friends.

ii

One such story of dog and human friend

Could be recalled from the earliest days

Of an opening war starting August 1914.

A dedication and affection between man

And his closest friend to be recounted

In the month of March 1915.

In that late summer month James Brown

From his home in Hammersmith, London

Said goodbye to both his wife and Prince -

Their Irish Terrier. Private Brown called

To serve With the King's army in France

A horseman in the 1^st North Staffordshire's

Some time passed and Prince pined for

James’ Company – when on September

27^th his wife then noticed Prince had

Gone missing, she looked about - sadly

Unable to find him anywhere, she became

Afraid to write to her husband to explain.

iii

Two more months passed when a letter

Came for Mrs Brown from Mr Brown both

Solving and creating a mystery. Previously

Confessing that Prince was missing, a reply

Of her husband said he was sorry Prince

Not being found there, but that their terrier

Was now with him, stationed at the front line.

The story of Prince being found, had began

At Armentieres - Private Brown had returned

From a patrol and on that day as he rode

Back with other riders, amid the men was one

Standing with a dog, who walked toward him,

At first thinking the dog was very like his own

Irish Terrier, James Brown saw the man grin

To say, ‘I believe that this chap may be yours.’

In dismount James could still not believe his

Eyes until he knelt to say his name, ‘Prince?’

Who then greatly made a fuss of him.

With man and dog united as the fellow gave

Explanation how the Irish Terrier had travelled

Over to France, journeying with other troops.

Mr Brown's words to Mrs Brown explained his

Wonder; ‘Just fancy His coming and finding me.'

He added Prince, 'is quite settled Down with me.’

Then how her husband had found some old

Great coats, which he had used to make Prince

A coat to keep warm and how his faithful terrier

Was then adopted by the regiment as their pet.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. The Soldiers Dog. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 4 Mar. p.8. Col.7. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11447670/Daily-Telegraph-March-4-1915.html [Accessed: 4 March  2015].

Source.,1915. The Dogged Determination Great War Stories. Submitted by Deejaya on 14 August 2014, [online] Available at: http://www.worldwar1luton.com/blog-entry/dogged-determination [Accessed: 4 March  2015].

Mann, J., 2014. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 4 March  2015). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11447670/Daily-Telegraph-March-4-1915.html

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

#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #ww1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1animals #WW1dogs

Poem ~ British Soldiers to Boulogne - Wednesday, 19 August 1914

To paint a picture for those at home a soldier correspondent,

Marks the arrival of first British regiments upon French soil.

It is 9pm Saturday night in Boulogne finds all cafes closed,

But all the local and café people do not want to go home.

Instead they gather round the British Military headquarters,

Of Hotel Bristol, about the railway station and waiting rolling stock.

Words spread about Boulogne of activities at Wimereux rest camp

In preparations to leave for battle lines alongside French comrades

This collecting of joyful civilians are there to wish troops Gods speed.

They represent the relief of French people receiving British people

Into war; these Scotsmen are the first to be allied to French forces.

From informality about the Chateau, comes the order for formation.

In lines they now march down the hill, to sounds of French accents,

Calling ‘goodbye’ and ‘good luck’ – then rush to shake Scottish hands,

And spoil their Marching order. Good-humoured disarray is displayed.

Amid sound and waving their regimental insignia are begged by people.

The French who clasp them give them tricolour of France for their caps

Their progress is slowed down the hill while horses slip on the stones.

Scottish soldiers give no signs of their slump in joy

as nearing the station cries of ‘Are we downhearted!’

In Scottish accents are answered by themselves with ‘No!’

These words soon pass into the calls of French people surrounding them.

The Scottish battalion marches on to the uniting sounds of Bagpipes.

Men become happier when a maid or older lady, give a kiss to a soldier.

They pass the quays to where their troop trains are waiting to depart,

To board with destination unknown – even if known, no word would be said.

A snatched conversation between our soldier correspondent and reservist,

Declare how men pride themselves as the very backbone of the army.

He cannot but admire the beaming troopers 'esprit des corps' –

This cockney reservist says they are called ‘Die-hards’ and promises

On meeting any Germans they will live up to this.

In their preparation for a twenty-hour journey they are certain,

That they will arrive near the front to start fighting on Monday morning.

Yet if they travel for three hours they will arrive at a camp for another wait.

‘He don’t know anyfink!' Challenges another cockney of this prediction.

From another window they watch Harry from Hoxton address some French

To make them laugh with songs and saying in his strange British accent.

The train departs with much noise, shouting of farewell between strangers.

This buoyant Boulogne arrival is in contrast to Southampton departures,

Now officially revealed is how this English Port is playing its part in war.

The Southampton shipping port sits as a shadow of what in peacetime,

Being a bustling place of quayside workers and varied shipping companies.

Under the decree of an army act the port machinery runs as clockwork,

Behind a guarded dock beyond lock gates in an operation undertaken

To safely see the shipping of men and equipment off to the continent.

While complete secrecy could not be given, the port town, Southampton

Willingly undertook its part in ensuring the passage of Kitchener's army.

Southampton must have, for a time, seemed like extensive barracks.

The people of the town, in addition to the rest camps on their common

Billeted as many members of the army in their homes, as they could.

Without fuss of bands singing or garlands of flowers marking their way,

These first troopships with an escort of tugs slipped their moorings.

Into the channel only a signal from a nearby yacht and hoots of tug boats

Bid them farewell, returned by a cheering of these France bound troops.

by Jamie Mann

Anon., 1914. Off to the Front - British Soldiers at Boulogne - Enthusiastic Scenes. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 19 Aug. p.7. Col.7. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11034601/Daily-Telegraph-August-19-1914.html [Accessed: 19th August 2014].

Anon., 1914. Scenes at Southampton. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 19 Aug. p.7. Col.7. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11034601/Daily-Telegraph-August-19-1914.html [Accessed: 19th August 2014].

Mann, J., 2014. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 19 August 2014). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11034601/Daily-Telegraph-August-19-1914.html

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

#WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1 #WW1poem #GreatWar #ww1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1mobilisation