Oh you mean write some more about WW1 Verdun? Well I could give it a go,though the best poems seem to just come to you naturally. I'll see what I can do though,maybe one titled Verdun perhaps...
The observers see the horrors and dwell on them, the infantry man is as always optimistic, you have trained for this now get on and do it.
We sing as we march to the starting line
Maggie may and songs of women and wine
As overloaded we march in bright sunshine
All of us know we will survive this time.
Drop heavy kit and stand around wait a while
Check you weapons top up ammo from that pile
Line up bayonets fixed and still we smile
One last fag before we advance that one last mile
Right lads beyond that hedge the enemy lay
Not sure where on the hill or in the hay
Advance to contact when I say
Keep spread out it's another day.
Your thoughts are where is the next cover, the rock, ditch, dip in the ground or a fold in a meadow, you do not know the grand plan and only see what is within two hundred yards of you, you have no interest in what other troops are doing just your own platoon. You may never make contact or come under fire within yards, then it is chaos you look after your own mates and they you. We are not thinking morbid thoughts because we are fire proof, then one day you are not.
Fishy, My point is Infantry once engaged are far too busy to be thinking morbid thoughts. As to the poetry we ran a poetry thread last year, people who had never put pen to paper became stars then as with all threads it faded away.
If you read the Regimental Histories you find men spent more time out of the trenches training. A Battalion would take over a trench system then rotate Companies in and out anything from a week to ten days. There would be anomalies there always are, we would have rations for two weeks up the blue and end up doing three weeks you made the best of it and old hands knew the system being good Boy Scouts in our time we came prepared.
The horror came when men went over the top in droves and died without ever seeing the enemy or firing a shot, that could never happen again and by 1917 they did know better, modern infantry skills were born at that time and are still practiced today. No matter what inventions they come up with feet on the ground are always needed even today.
Where and when did you serve Frank,if that's ok to ask? I've been lucky being born in a relatively peaceful era and I fully recognise its only by accident of birth that I wasn't involved in those major conflicts of the 20th century. I won't pretend to know what conflict is like because I've never experienced it and yes I write as an observer of warfare.Having said that,Wilfred Owen wrote many poems dwelling on the horror of trench warfare and yet he was heavily involved in fighting,dying about a week before the war finished.
My Dad did his conscription in the RAF Regiment but never saw action.I also had a cousin who served on HMS Yarmouth in the Falklands War. So other than my grandfather at the Somme,that's about it.
Big questions Fishy, Infantry DLI then REME forcible transfer as they needed tradesmen, served with 4th RTR in the Middle East twice then Cyprus twice and Europe managing by being in the wrong place at the wrong time to make it to Warrant Officer First Class. Always with armour. If you thought the Cold War a peaceful era I am afraid you never knew how close you came. What ever forces men and women served in it was live today forget tomorrow and we did. Owen was a graduate he had to lead that is quite a Burdon to carry your orders can get people killed yet you have to get the job done, Owen did have a breakdown but went back, there were many poets and diarists in that war and we hear them quoted all the time. There were others who's letters tell of the best time of their lives, clothed fed and the comradeship like being on holiday they write, those letters are coming to light now.
It was called the war to end all wars yet 20 years on it was raging again and from then Politicians have revelled in war to enhance their standing, they never learn, the serving forces do though, we all become pacifists when we see the stupidity of it all.
Frank
PS sorry it is becoming a bit heavy, war solves nothing.
What lovely poetry and interesting posts. I enjoyed studying war poetry for my English lit GCSE and A level, very moving. I think poetry can express emotions much better sometimes than just writing a piece about a subject. Having said that, I'll admit to being rubbish at history with dates etc and that probably makes the posts even more interesting. Thank you all, but especially Frank, for sharing.
Posts
Oh you mean write some more about WW1 Verdun? Well I could give it a go,though the best poems seem to just come to you naturally. I'll see what I can do though,maybe one titled Verdun perhaps...
Fishy
The observers see the horrors and dwell on them, the infantry man is as always optimistic, you have trained for this now get on and do it.
We sing as we march to the starting line
Maggie may and songs of women and wine
As overloaded we march in bright sunshine
All of us know we will survive this time.
Drop heavy kit and stand around wait a while
Check you weapons top up ammo from that pile
Line up bayonets fixed and still we smile
One last fag before we advance that one last mile
Right lads beyond that hedge the enemy lay
Not sure where on the hill or in the hay
Advance to contact when I say
Keep spread out it's another day.
Your thoughts are where is the next cover, the rock, ditch, dip in the ground or a fold in a meadow, you do not know the grand plan and only see what is within two hundred yards of you, you have no interest in what other troops are doing just your own platoon. You may never make contact or come under fire within yards, then it is chaos you look after your own mates and they you. We are not thinking morbid thoughts because we are fire proof, then one day you are not.
Frank
Thanks, Frank...and all the more poignant for being penned by someone who has been there.
Take care.
I like that poem Frank
Is it one of your own? I'll bear that in mind and try to get inside the head of the infantryman.
Fishy, My point is Infantry once engaged are far too busy to be thinking morbid thoughts. As to the poetry we ran a poetry thread last year, people who had never put pen to paper became stars then as with all threads it faded away.
If you read the Regimental Histories you find men spent more time out of the trenches training. A Battalion would take over a trench system then rotate Companies in and out anything from a week to ten days. There would be anomalies there always are, we would have rations for two weeks up the blue and end up doing three weeks you made the best of it and old hands knew the system being good Boy Scouts in our time we came prepared.
The horror came when men went over the top in droves and died without ever seeing the enemy or firing a shot, that could never happen again and by 1917 they did know better, modern infantry skills were born at that time and are still practiced today. No matter what inventions they come up with feet on the ground are always needed even today.
Frank.
Where and when did you serve Frank,if that's ok to ask? I've been lucky being born in a relatively peaceful era and I fully recognise its only by accident of birth that I wasn't involved in those major conflicts of the 20th century. I won't pretend to know what conflict is like because I've never experienced it and yes I write as an observer of warfare.Having said that,Wilfred Owen wrote many poems dwelling on the horror of trench warfare and yet he was heavily involved in fighting,dying about a week before the war finished.
My Dad did his conscription in the RAF Regiment but never saw action.I also had a cousin who served on HMS Yarmouth in the Falklands War. So other than my grandfather at the Somme,that's about it.
Big questions Fishy, Infantry DLI then REME forcible transfer as they needed tradesmen, served with 4th RTR in the Middle East twice then Cyprus twice and Europe managing by being in the wrong place at the wrong time to make it to Warrant Officer First Class. Always with armour. If you thought the Cold War a peaceful era I am afraid you never knew how close you came. What ever forces men and women served in it was live today forget tomorrow and we did. Owen was a graduate he had to lead that is quite a Burdon to carry your orders can get people killed yet you have to get the job done, Owen did have a breakdown but went back, there were many poets and diarists in that war and we hear them quoted all the time. There were others who's letters tell of the best time of their lives, clothed fed and the comradeship like being on holiday they write, those letters are coming to light now.
It was called the war to end all wars yet 20 years on it was raging again and from then Politicians have revelled in war to enhance their standing, they never learn, the serving forces do though, we all become pacifists when we see the stupidity of it all.
Frank
PS sorry it is becoming a bit heavy, war solves nothing.
Frank I've enjoyed reading your posts.
What lovely poetry and interesting posts. I enjoyed studying war poetry for my English lit GCSE and A level, very moving. I think poetry can express emotions much better sometimes than just writing a piece about a subject. Having said that, I'll admit to being rubbish at history with dates etc and that probably makes the posts even more interesting. Thank you all, but especially Frank, for sharing.