KiloIndiaAlpha Posted June 14, 2000 Share Posted June 14, 2000 Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge, Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs And towards our distant rest began to trudge. Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind; Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots Of tired, outstripped Five-Nines that dropped behind. - Gas! GAS! Quick, boys! An ecstasy of fumbling, Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time; But someone still was yelling out and stumbling, And flound'ring like a man in fire or lime . . . Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light, As under a green sea, I saw him drowning. In all my dreams, before my helpless sight, He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning. If in some smothering dreams you too could pace Behind the wagon that we flung him in, And watch the white eyes writhing in his face, His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin; If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues - My friend, you would not tell with such high zest To children ardent for some desperate glory, The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori. ------------------ Dulce Et Decorum Est Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullethead Posted June 14, 2000 Share Posted June 14, 2000 KIA said: <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Damn straight. Who wrote this poem, anyway? I know I've seen it before. ------------------ -Bullethead jtweller@delphi.com WW2 AFV Photos: people.delphi.com/jtweller/tanks/tanks.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Formerly Babra Posted June 14, 2000 Share Posted June 14, 2000 Lucasta, when to France your man Returns his fourth time, hating war, Yet laughs as calmly as he can And flings an oath, but says no more, That is not courage, that’s not fear— Lucasta he’s a Fusilier, And his pride sends him here. Robert Graves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Germanboy Posted June 14, 2000 Share Posted June 14, 2000 <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Bullethead: KIA said: Damn straight. Who wrote this poem, anyway? I know I've seen it before. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Was it Wilfried Owen? Or Sassoon? Good read: 'Goodbye to all that' from Robert Graves. A very good autobiography written at the age of 29, IIRC. Graves was one of the so-called 'War Poets', and a subaltern in the Great War, at some point with the 2nd RWF, about whom there is another great book, 'The war the infantry knew'. Written by their MO. ------------------ Andreas The powers of accurate perception are often called cynicism by those who do not possess them. (forgot who said it) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Formerly Babra Posted June 14, 2000 Share Posted June 14, 2000 Graves was in the 23rd RWF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Germanboy Posted June 14, 2000 Share Posted June 14, 2000 <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Formerly Babra: Graves was in the 23rd RWF<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> According to his autobiography, which I have next to my iBook at the moment, he was in the 1st RWF, and 2nd RWF. I have no time to read it again, so he might also have been in the 23rd. Can't recall that though. At the Somme he certainly was in the 2nd. ------------------ Andreas The powers of accurate perception are often called cynicism by those who do not possess them. (forgot who said it) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Formerly Babra Posted June 14, 2000 Share Posted June 14, 2000 Ah, I see the confusion. There is only ONE RWF (Royal Welch Fusiliers), the 23rd. Could be he was in the 1st and/or 2nd battalions. Haven't a clue there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Germanboy Posted June 14, 2000 Share Posted June 14, 2000 <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Formerly Babra: Ah, I see the confusion. There is only ONE RWF (Royal Welch Fusiliers), the 23rd. Could be he was in the 1st and/or 2nd battalions. Haven't a clue there.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Well, actually there was only one Regiment RWF and it was not numbered. Pre-war, IIRC they had two batallions. During the war they raised higher numbers, and it went up to the 25th at least. The higher numbers are referred to by Graves as new army, meaning they were part of the Kitchener recruitment drive. Subalterns were sometimes posted to different batallions, so Graves was in the 1st and 2nd, the 3rd was the replacement and training batallion, so he was with them when returning to duty after being wounded. the 8th was in Mesopotamia. At some time he was supposed to be posted to the 24th or 25th in Egypt, but that did not come about. The batallions were quite distinct before the war, and had not seen each other for a long time, the 2nd having been in India for a long time. It was considered a lucky batallion with little losses until it got almost wiped out at the Somme (Mametz Wood, High Wood actions). ------------------ Andreas The powers of accurate perception are often called cynicism by those who do not possess them. (forgot who said it) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Formerly Babra Posted June 14, 2000 Share Posted June 14, 2000 That is true that the regiments were not numbered just prior to the war. However, 23rd=Royal Welch Fusiliers, 24th=South Wales Borderers, 25th=-King's Own Scottish Borderers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Germanboy Posted June 14, 2000 Share Posted June 14, 2000 <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Formerly Babra: That is true that the regiments were not numbered just prior to the war. However, 23rd=Royal Welch Fusiliers, 24th=South Wales Borderers, 25th=-King's Own Scottish Borderers. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Learned something again. I did not know that, I never got into pre-WW I regimental history in the UK. There is only so much a man can take. ------------------ Andreas The powers of accurate perception are often called cynicism by those who do not possess them. (forgot who said it) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiloIndiaAlpha Posted June 14, 2000 Share Posted June 14, 2000 <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Bullethead: KIA said: Damn straight. Who wrote this poem, anyway? I know I've seen it before. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Wilfred Owen. He also wrote this... ----- ANTHEM FOR DOOMED YOUTH What passing-bells for these who die as cattle? - Only the monstrous anger of the guns. Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle Can patter out their hasty orisons. No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells; Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs, - The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells; And bugles calling for them from sad shires. What candles may be held to speed them all? Not in The hands of boys but in their eyes Shall shine The holy glimmers of goodbyes. The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall; Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds, And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds. Wilfred Owen. ------------------ Dulce Et Decorum Est Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Germanboy Posted June 14, 2000 Share Posted June 14, 2000 <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by KiloIndiaAlpha: Wilfred Owen. He also wrote this... -<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> If you are interested in this stuff, you could do much worse than picking up the 'Regeneration Trilogy' by Pat Barker. Sort of semi-fictional story about Sassoon and Owen, who met during Sassoon's treatment in Craigclockhart Army Hospital in Edinburgh. Sassoon survived the war and wrote 'Memoirs of an infantry officer', among other things. Another very good read. Owen was KIA shortly before the armistice in France. A fitting way to go, perhaps. ------------------ Andreas The powers of accurate perception are often called cynicism by those who do not possess them. (forgot who said it) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurtz Posted June 14, 2000 Author Share Posted June 14, 2000 deviating threads. Never ceases to amaze how the subject change Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurtz Posted June 15, 2000 Author Share Posted June 15, 2000 I was thinking of writing a Combaiku of the Day. But I am a poet, I can’t write on command! The Horror! The Horror! At last brought to light: Steve and Charles’ Magnum Opus But I want it now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurtz Posted June 17, 2000 Author Share Posted June 17, 2000 Credit card is charged emptiness fills my wallet rapture fills my soul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackhorse Posted June 17, 2000 Share Posted June 17, 2000 We will give orders. Leaves fall on the objective; Must be the air bursts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gen. Sosaboski Posted June 17, 2000 Share Posted June 17, 2000 Silent, we keep watch Soon, the land will be shattered The Poles will rise soon ------------------ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackhorse Posted June 17, 2000 Share Posted June 17, 2000 No mailman today The dog looks out the window She wanted him too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark IV Posted June 17, 2000 Share Posted June 17, 2000 Mailbox empty. Darkened cave, silent mocking. Despair hangs like bats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobC Posted June 17, 2000 Share Posted June 17, 2000 still waiting [This message has been edited by RobC (edited 06-17-2000).] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoolColJ Posted June 17, 2000 Share Posted June 17, 2000 Heres my 2 cents The mighty 88. Is long and loose, and full of juice ccj Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kverdon Posted June 17, 2000 Share Posted June 17, 2000 Silent Tears Like Rain, Fall Upon My Desktop My Mailbox is Empty You guys have really gotten me in the mood to play Shogun Total War while I await CM. <G>. Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zamo Posted June 17, 2000 Share Posted June 17, 2000 Lusty, busty, babes Frolick in the surf I have a boner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullethead Posted June 18, 2000 Share Posted June 18, 2000 Lucky bastards crow CM's spring-like arrival I'm still in winter ------------------ -Bullethead It was a common custom at that time, in the more romantic females, to see their soldier husbands and sweethearts as Greek heroes, instead of the whoremongering, drunken clowns most of them were. However, the Greek heroes were probably no better, so it was not so far off the mark--Flashman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurtz Posted June 18, 2000 Author Share Posted June 18, 2000 Downloading patch now Waiting in vain for my mail dark clouds fill the sky ------------------ Four things greater than all things are; women and horses and power and war. - Rudyard Kipling [This message has been edited by Kurtz (edited 06-18-2000).] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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