Poem ~ Schooling for Soldiers - Wednesday, 4 November 1914

With 8,000 territorial soldiers,

Based at White City, in their

Training - undertaken before

Going to France to fight -

Was seen as an opportunity

To provide all educational

Lectures and classes.

These young volunteers,

Possibly thinking they were

Heading for adventures,

To escape such institutions,

Came in for some surprise,

As their Commanding Officer

Approved such lectures.

Meeting on the 4 November,

The Education Committee,

Made further discussion for

Likely programme of events -

Backed by London County

Council Higher Education

Committee, to create classes.

A circular promptly being issued,

By The Board of Education, sent

To all local education authorities -

Invited them to take part- to issue

Such instructions at army camps,

Or any locations where numbers

Of recruits and all other soldiers, 

Are stationed - over the weeks

Classes will be in the evenings.

The education board understood,

That writing and reading facilities

Exist at such camps - as well as

Recreational pursuits and other

Evening territorial occupations.

This opportune situation, gives

Openings for instructional classes,

Educational discussion and lectures.

The details for instruction will include

A series of 12 lectures of 45 minutes -

French and German simple conversation

Assisting the men on health subjects,

In two lectures per week - with history

And geography of war alongside vocal

Music lessons of marching and patriotic

Songs, played out in weekly lectures.

These men are to enjoy each weekly

Evening basis, sewing and darning

For one and half hours - then daily

There will be wood carving, leather

Work, drawing and sketching  -

Repoussé - such art of metal work,

Yet to prove a trade in the decorating

Of crafting spent shells cases.

Most importantly of all, is camp cookery.

The classes to be done at a cost of £300,

To be led by a master from an evening

School institute, - with the soldiers remaining

In camp for up to six weeks, arrangements

For these educational proposals were put

In effect straightaway, for the next six weeks.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1914.  Classes for Soldiers -  White City Scheme. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 4 Nov. p.4. Col.1. Available online at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11034515/Daily-Telegraph-August-15-1914.html [Accessed: 4 November 2014].

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

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11200977/Daily-Telegraph-November-4-1914.html

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

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Poem ~ Women’s Emergency Corps - Wednesday, 4 November 1914

On Tuesday p.m., the Women’s Emergency Corps

Formed objectives, meeting at the Kingsway Theatre.

Chaired by Lady Aberconway who spoke how public

Needs, were now being filled by their organisation.

The Women’s Corps  had been in out the field first

In Belgium to assist the Belgians, prior to their

Move to France and how they took up instructions

Of British Soldiers into the language of the French.

Lady Aberconway declared how Britain before war,

Gained from Austria and Germany toys in their

Millions - but now was the time for Britain to make

Such children’s toys - orders for which were growing.

In assistance came the colonies with many samples

Sent to South Africa and elsewhere – these locations

Are very likely to place great orders for Christmas.

GK Chesterton  made a statement in regard to the role,

That women were taking and how they now came

To civilisation’s rescue  - their forces would reverse

Inherent wrongs, thus redirecting the correct course.

In this statement Chesterton says this will be

The greatest war that the world will ever see -

That women were symbolic as an emergency force.

by Jamie Mann.  

Anon.,1914.  Women and the War – Rescue of Civilisation. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 4 Nov. p.4. Col.7. Available online at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11034515/Daily-Telegraph-August-15-1914.html [Accessed: 4 November 2014].

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

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11200977/Daily-Telegraph-November-4-1914.html

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

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Poem ~ Submarine D5 sunken - Wed, 4 November 1914

A statement by the Secretary of the Admiralty

Reported that in early hours of previous day

That a German Squadron fired on coastguard

Gunboat HMS Halcyon, with one man wounded.

As reports came from the Halcyon movements

Of British Navy ships steamed to assist,

Which was believed to prompt enemy vessels,

Rapid retreat being shadowed by light cruisers.

With dusk’s approach no action could be made.

The last German Cruiser was believed

To be dropping mines as it retreated –

Striking one mine, Submarine D5 sunk.

With the vessel moving on the surface,

Two men and two officers on the bridge

Survived. The home waters became quite

After this, with the gunboat  squadron,

Then able to support the left Belgian flank.

by Jamie Mann.

Secretary of the State., 1914. German Squadron in the North Sea – Gunboat fired on – Submarine D5 Sunk – Enemy’s New Devilry. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 4 Nov. p.9. Col.4. Available online at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11034515/Daily-Telegraph-August-15-1914.html [Accessed: 4 November 2014].

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

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11200977/Daily-Telegraph-November-4-1914.html

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

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Poem ~ Yarmouth Attacked - Tuesday, 3 November 1914

In the previous month of October

Tactics at sea changed a gear,

For the Germans devised methods

In their attacks upon British navy.

With Germany’s navy outnumbered,

By their opposing fleet, their naval

Strategy was to attack British ships

In small groups, or ideally individually.

Orders of the Kaiser, for no major fleet

Action to occur - instead their trick,

Was to send small ship formations

On raids, with particular set objectives.

The German fleet were to lay mines

To sink any passing British ships, or play

Cat and mouse game - objective to gain

Attention of grouped ships, to chase

To where their high sea fleet lay

In wait - within Germany’s safer seas. 

A strategy of the British navy was to keep

The main part of the Great Fleet together,

To make a superior force, whenever they

Engaged the German navy out at sea.

One German naval plan, was to make raids

On coastal towns of Britain - which would

Cause the splitting up of their enemy’s navy.

If this could be achieved, in taking ships

From the grand fleet ,they would more likely

Able to fire and destroy any isolated ships.

In the maneuverer of a raid on the British coast,

Came German of cruisers - the lightest being

Kolberg, Stralsund, Graudenz, SMS Strassburg.

While armoured cruiser SMS Blücher, following

With battle cruisers Moltke, Von der Tann, then

SMS Seydlitz, under Admiral Franz von Hipper.

2 November,16.30 p.m. - from the Jade River left

German battle cruiser squadron - with two further

Squadrons following soon after - they were to lay

In wait for any British ships that the battle cruisers

Might entice back, into the range of their guns.

Midnight and the squadron moved north - to pass

In darkness, fishing ships of varied countries.

3 November 6.30 a.m. the German patrol sights

A buoy - ‘Smith’s Knoll watch’ confirming a position

Close to Yarmouth. The coastal town was then

Patrolled by two old destroyers; HMS Leopard

Along with HMS Lively and the minesweeper,

HMS Halcyon who challenged two enemy cruisers.

The German response was in fire of small gunnery,

Then with calibre guns - such salvoes fell short,

Yet threw sea water to drench the Halcyon,

So much that it might founder. Within the shell

Storm a fragment of shell broke, to kill a seaman.

Moving into Action, HMS Lively at 2 miles distance,

Commenced to create a wall of smoke, to hide

British ships – with the enemy battle cruisers

Firing at once at HMS Lively, made the gunners

On each enemy cruiser, unable to ascertain their

Own shelling - making for their inaccurate firing.

7.40 a.m. Admiral Franz von Hipper made orders

To cease fire on HMS Lively - choosing instead

To turn their shelling onto Yarmouth town itself.

Their fire reaching as far the beach, in distraction

As the Light Cruiser Stralsund, laid coastal mines.

Out of imminent danger, Halcyon sent out a radio

Warning of the German ships - HMS Success

A destroyer, joined them as three more ships

Still in Harbour steamed up - British Submarines

D3, D5 and D10 moved from their anchorage

To assist – Submarine D5 sunk on striking a mine.

8.30 a.m. and Halcyon returned safely to harbour.

9.55 a.m. a British Battle Cruiser Squadron,

Under Admiral Beatty moved south, with Grand

Fleet squadrons speeding over from Ireland -

But Admiral Hipper had already moved his ships,

48 nautical miles, in their home ward direction.

by Jamie Mann.

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 2014. [online] (modified on 12 October 2014 at 08:07) Available at: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raid_on_Yarmouth> Accessed 3 November 2014]

Mann, J., 2014. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 15 August 2014). 

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

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Crew of the Submarine D5

Anon.,1914. Crew of the Submarine D5. The Daily Telegraph [online] 5 Nov p.12. Col.2. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11208689/Daily-Telegraph-November-5-1914.html  [Accessed: 5th November 2014].

Poem ~ Calais Mutiny - Monday, 2 November 1914

Travelling from Baltimore, the steamer,

Mermion, was destined to carry a cargo

Of oats for Antwerp, Belgium yet events

Were to make for delays and issues,

Leading to a mutiny among the crew.

The steamer Mermion departed the port

Of Baltimore, within the state of Maryland,

An independent city in the United States.

The Mermion tracked Chesapeake Bay,

By Virginia and Delaware, to Atlantic waters.

The Mermion bringing foodstuff for Belgium,

Under the Captainship of John William Clark,

And Chief Officer Gilbert Milton made progress

Across the sea -yet came unrest amid the crew.

Captain John William Clark explained how

The Mermion arrived at Flamouth, England.

Then being given orders to sail the channel

And proceed to Antwerp – yet due to war

Circumstance, it was no possible to complete

The unloading of cargo at the Belgian port.

The steamer returned to Dover, then orders

Were to go to Zeebrugge and onto Bruges -

Where finally 200 tons of oats were unloaded.

More orders for Mermion to sail onto Ostend

And progress to Calais where some crew,

Nine men in total, refused to do their duty.

On October 29 crew members had asked

The Captain for money – but were refused.

Being given reason of their unruly conduct.

At the port of Calais, this crew then threw

All the ships navigation lamps overboard.

Their recovery needing employing of divers,

As police were involved with their arrests.

The arrested men were first detained at Calais,

Before their removal back to England - escorted

By four gendarmes, armed with fixed bayonets.

The nine men after a formal hearing were charged

Under the Merchant Shipping Act, to be detained

In Folkstone, and remanded to Canterbury Prison.

With the mutiny case presented at the Folkstone

Magistrates Court, Mr Rutley Mowll of Dover,

Defended - the prosecution led by Mr Haines,

Whose outline said that on October 29, at Calais,

Nine men, being part of the crew, had shown

Open and complete disobedience of their captain.

Onboard the men let it be known of dissatisfaction

To the officer of their inadequate drinking water –

Also stating that potaotes supplies being in short

Supply, for some part of the voyage from Baltimore.

Their dissatisfaction of nine aboard the Mermion

Grew with reasons of the meat supply becoming

Rotten, while the water given them was poisoned.

Before the court, Captain Clark stated there were

No grounds for any of these men’s accusations.

Corroboration for the captain was then made,

Given by the Chief Officer, Mr Gilbert Milton.

A defence witness stated fact that all foodstuff

And water was bad - On behalf of the defence

Mr Mowll stated how clear it was, that the men

Had not been treated with any due consideration.

In the outcome of the court the magistrate

Made summary - that while circumstances were

Unusual – deciding court justice would be final.

The nine crew men had already received some

Punishment with regard to their being currently

Imprisoned - first in France and then England.

Added was a fine of £1 each to the men made

Without needs of costs.  In addition Captain

Clark of the Mermion, made swift application,

For the men’s service contracts to be annulled.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1914. Mutiny at Calais – Ships Crew Charged. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 2 Nov. p.3. Col.2. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11200941/Daily-Telegraph-November-2-1914.html [Accessed: 2 November 2014].

Mann, J., 2014. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 2 November 2014). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11200941/Daily-Telegraph-November-2-1914.html

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

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Poem ~ Trooper Siegfried Sassoon - Sunday, 1 November 1914

Siegfried Sassoon May 1915 

by George Charles Beresford

Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siegfried_Sassoon [Accessed on 15 November 2014]

The hunting season

Had gone and in 1914

Created a debt for

Siegfried Sassoon.

Already a poet,

With poems published,

As he went to war,

On a roasting August day.

The man and poet

Like many had no prediction

Of what might come.

Another new start

Leaving the boredom

Of days behind at Weirleigh.

Already a trooper

By August 14,

Sassoon stepped forth,

Into the Sussex Yeomanry.

Ready for war as the horses

Were ready for him

To carry fetch and groom

For officers and them  - 

Yet he was still to make

The frontline of war,

When, in October Sassoon

Was putting some horses

Through their field work

Only to promptly fall

And break an arm.

Given time to brood

In slow recuperation.

The climax of what

Might have been now

Seemingly far away

Sassoon considered

A commission with an

Infantry division

Might get him quickly

To the front.

The idea bloomed,

In his writing a letter,

Addressed to the

Royal Welch Fusiliers.

Came the Adjutant’s

Reply, to his keen

Idea, the suggestion

Being for him to wait

And join May 1915.

by Jamie Mann.

Roberts, J.S., 1999. Siegfried Sassoon. Richard Cohen Books.  Ch. 4

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