Poems & Poets from the Great War at Sea & World War II
“No stone is set to mark his nation’s loss, No stately tomb enshrines his noble breast, Not e’en the tribute of a wooden cross Can mark this hero’s rest.” A school boy by the name of Eric Blair wrote these lines in memory of Lord Kitchener, Secretary of State of War, who drowned when the …
Continue reading “Lord Kitchener and the loss of the HMS Hampshire”
‘On the afternoon of Wednesday 31st May a naval engagement took place off the coast of Jutland. The British ships on which the brunt of the fighting fell were the Battlecriuser Fleet supported by four fast battleships.’ Admiralty communique of 2nd June 1916 The 98th anniversary of the Battle of Jutland/Skagerrackschlacht has just passed without …
I first noticed Charles Causley’s work featured in ‘ ‘The War at Sea’ edited by John Winton; part of the ‘Freedom’s Battle’ series , (1967) . A largely prose history featuring some poetry, about World War 2. Causley’s life apart from his war service, was spent in Launceston,Cornwall, where he was a school teacher. .He was …
Current Research Projects Beatrice Gibbs/ Alexandra Etheldreda Grantham Thought that it was time to expand about the purposes of this blog. As well as trying to highlight the whole range of World War 2 poetry that is in danger of being overshadowed and forgotten, it’s also important to encourage further research, trying to discover more …
Continue reading “Beatrice Gibbs/ Alexandra Etheldreda Grantham”
Stand still! Stand Still! Ye leaping waves And mourn along with me For a gallant ship has crossed the bar Of the great eternal sea: A flash, a roar, a blood red flame, Then a huge overwhelming cloud, And a thousand soles ( sic) are wrapped within The ocean’s winding shroud. Ten thousand doors do …
Chose for her helm more fair than fame A spotless record to her ancient name Her compass that which varied not not swerved Lit by a loyalty that never failed Shone high tradition when the Vanguards sailed So sailing, found the haven of their quest, Where they are glad, because they are at rest She …
What far faint sea-winds passed into their soul, What glimmer of dim-seen waves, and sting of spume And low lone wash of waters through soft gloom ! Desire went sea-ward to the sea’s control When all the world was young. . . . Then lo ! the roll Of battle-thunder crashed with echoing boom Across …
Continue reading “Dead Sailor Boys by Constance Ann Renshaw”
A Forgotten Poet of World War 2 I first came across the work of John Bayliss from looking at Andrew Sinclair ‘The War of the Wasp- The Lost Decade of the Forties’ (1989). The book’s title came from a John Bayliss poem ‘Epilogue : Testament and Prophecy’ . “And I say to you who have …