POETRY BY COLIN IAN JEFFERY
PIPER OF THE TRENCHES
The bloodcurdling swirl of bagpipes boosted the morale for men of the Scottish regiments, and intimidated the enemy during World War One.
Unarmed, drawing attention to himself the piper would lead the men ‘over the top’ of the trenches and into battle. Over 1000 pipers died.
Up and out of the trench he goes
The regiment’s piper with only his bagpipes
Standing exposed he plays
Walking along the top of the trench.
Soldiers hear the swirl of the pipes
See their piper facing enemy fire alone
Rise up and swarm from the trench
Following the piper over no-man’s land.
Over shell craters and through barbwire
With German machine guns raking the lines
And While still hearing the swirl of pipes
Many fall in valour never to rise again.
OVER THE TOP
Going over the top in World War One was when soldiers climbed from their trench to attack enemy trenches.
At the battle of the Somme a British general ordered his men to walk towards the German trenches and not run.
“ We don’t want the enemy to think we British are cowards.” Thousands died because of his command.
Birds no longer sing
Where young men cower in trenches
Rifle and bayonet fixed
Wondering if they will live or die
Wanting the comfort of a mother’s kiss.
Officers blows whistles
And the brigade climb out of trenches
Walking over shell craters and through barbwire
On towards waiting machine gunners
Surmounting terrors that make men mad.
There is no sound
But beating of each soldier’s heart
As he steps forward into hell
Trying to control his fears and panic
Thinking of his loved ones back home.
Machine gunners open up
With chatter of bullets raking the ranks
Noise is deafening, screams as men are hit and fall
With wounded struggling in the mud
And for the dead grieving mothers to mourn.
WAR HORSES
At the outbreak of World War One horses were used as cavalry,
but because of trenches, barbed wire and machine guns they were used for pulling guns, carrying ammunition and transport.
Over 8 million horses died on all sides. British horses that survived the war were sold off as cheap meat to Belgium butchers.
Shrill neighing of horses
Screams out terror on the battlefield
Harnessed to the big gun
Eyes wide with fright
Whipped on through dragging mud.
Proud animals with spirits broken
Treated as beasts of burden
Moving ammunition, guns and shells
Used abused without compassion
Supplying the trenches of hell.
There was no respite or mercy
Slaughtered by enemy fire
Dreaming of lush green fields of home
Cantering free and joyful
Without terror of Man’s war.
During the battle of the Somme, France, 1916, the British sustained 60,000 casualties on the first day.
Torrential rains turned the battlefield into a quagmire.
In one month the Allies advanced five miles at the cost of 450,000 Germans.
200,000 French and 420,000 British lives. I lost two uncles.
Blood red poppies sway
Over silent fields
Where birds no longer sing.
Once big guns roared
And young men
Suffered terror in the mud.
Chaplains searched the carnage for God
Finding him gassed and bloody
Crucified upon the wire
One poppy lost among the thousands.