Landsturm Posted 1 April , 2008 Share Posted 1 April , 2008 Good morning to all! Sorry if someone had a suberb idea for this month, but unfortunately I managed to cut in, just to be in time. If you think about April in the Great War, the month has many big events in it. We already dealt with the gas attacks of April 22nd 1915, so lets dedicate this month to the April 25th 1915 start of Gallipoli Landings I hope this subject gives us many interesting perspectives and stories! Regards, Tuomas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 1 April , 2008 Share Posted 1 April , 2008 Mmmmmm. Probably have to be prose again as Gallipoli is hard to rhyme. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunboat Posted 1 April , 2008 Share Posted 1 April , 2008 Good choice Tuomas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzie Posted 1 April , 2008 Share Posted 1 April , 2008 As an Aussie this one is going to, believe it or not, be hard to do. Good subject. Kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 2 April , 2008 Share Posted 2 April , 2008 Not up to the standard of APH but a first offering with thanks to Tuomas [and apologies for straying from the 'Landings'] A MEF Melange Gallipoli and the Dardanelles, Achi Baba and Sedd-ul-Bahr, Salt Lake and Scimitar Hill. Kitchener, Willmer, Fisher, Hampshire, Lancashire, Ayrshire, Gurkha, Mustapha, Suvla, Sitwell and Stopford, Ross and Cromarty, Hamilton and Braithwaite. Monash, Morto, Murdoch, Keyes, Keysor, Krithia, Pope's, Punjabis, Paris. Twelve Tree Copse and Redoubt, Gully Ravine and Anzac, The Vineyard and Courtney's. de Lisle, de Robeck, de Tott's. Rounds, rifles, reinforcements, shortages, shortages, shortages! Disease, death, debacle and defeat. Homeric heroism remembered and revered, alive, sacred, forever and ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzie Posted 2 April , 2008 Share Posted 2 April , 2008 Wow, it is like a fast slide show, every word conjuring a different image. Well done! Kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 2 April , 2008 Share Posted 2 April , 2008 Thanks Kim, you're comments are much appreciated regards Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunboat Posted 2 April , 2008 Share Posted 2 April , 2008 Michael I agree with Kim You almost have to dive for cover under the hail of images... it is extremely effective Brilliant start! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 2 April , 2008 Share Posted 2 April , 2008 Many thanks GB regards Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Landsturm Posted 3 April , 2008 Author Share Posted 3 April , 2008 Quite nicely listed the good themes you might consider if you're out of ideas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 3 April , 2008 Share Posted 3 April , 2008 Tuomas, I must confess that me effort did start off as a list, that was prompted by Squirrel's comment about difficult rhymes but in the end I liked the 'rapid-fire' effect and just jiggled it about a bit with some personal feelings to close with Now, let's hear from the rest of you out there best regards Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 7 April , 2008 Share Posted 7 April , 2008 Sticking strictly to the task allotted And something more than a list this time 2nd attempt the Gallipoli Landings Egypt saw our arrival. We trained there, and became a unit. Lemnos gathered us in. We practised there, and became a team. Skyros holds Brooke back. He's entombed there, and became a legend. Mudros bade us depart. We embarked there, and became a force. Aegean waves bore us on. Fate waited there, and made us heroes. "They achieved the impossible." T'was said there, but we are memories. Come on Pals, It's lonely here on the parapet; Looking forward to being joined by others Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marina Posted 7 April , 2008 Share Posted 7 April , 2008 Liked the effect of the verbs in each first line. Marina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzie Posted 7 April , 2008 Share Posted 7 April , 2008 Now you have made it hard!! The first was is great for the images and pace, the second one is just as good, but in a different way, as it takes you on a journey. Cheers kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 7 April , 2008 Share Posted 7 April , 2008 Gallipoli? You sure you want me to tell you? Alright then. I'll do my best but you'll have to excuse me if I have to stop every now and again. You'll understand why as I tell you. Now then, as far as I understand it, the plan was to force the Dardanelles and take Constantinople with a view to knocking Turkey out of the war. The Navy had a crack at it and didn't make much headway so they sent the Army in. Of course, the Turks, not being silly, guessed we would land and roughly where and so they were ready for us. We were sent to Egypt, to get accustomed to the heat I expect, and then we went to Mudros. That's a rocky island in the Agaen sea where the landing force set off from. We boarded the ships and sailed off for Galliploi and then they loaded us in to little boats and rowed us to the shore. There was battleships and all sorts making a terrific row with a bombardment as we landed but the Turks gave us a pasting with their machine guns............... Half our lads were gone before we go to some cover half way up the beach. Screaming and shouting and kicking some of them wounded was................. The dead ones just lay there....................................... Eventually we got off the beach and fought our way up a steep gulley and by the second day we had a sort of trench dug. But the ground was rocky and hard making digging anything in it hard work and all the time under fire and more of the lads killed.................. Their snipers was mercyless and there was less than a third of us left who had landed............... We were tired, hungry and worst of all there was very little water............................. We ended up holding a narrow strip of barren country next to the sea and the Turk he gave us what for every day. So many men and animals and what guns we had and all the stores and stuff in such a small space so every time a Turk shell or bullet came over it scored a bullseye................. Then there was the attacks across the scrub and rocks and desperate fights and bombing by those who survived to get that far........................ Evil that was and the result was more killed and wounded on both sides and nothing gained................ I felt sorry for the wounded, jolted on stretchers down to the beach and if they survived that far loaded on a boat to get to a ship...................and all in heat with the sun beating down. Even the nights were blistering hot.......................................... Then there was the disease..........................More of the blokes were casualties from the Dysentry than was caused by the Turks........................Evil disease that was, wasted a man 'till he died............ The heat and the flies didn't help. Flies everywhere, in your mouth, your eyes, up your nose, in your food, everywhere they was......................... There was only about 50 men from those who landed with the battalion when we left the place.......... Glad to see the back of it....................... B*lls up all round if you ask me.................... All those lads gone.............and for what....................? Sorry,can you make a cup of tea? My throat's getting dry............................. And fetch me a handkerchief will you.......................................... Ooh Ta! That's better. Now where was I...........................? So, anyway, after about 8 months or so the Generals decided we should b*gger off and leave Johnny Turk to it. Best decision they made during the whole business if you ask me. We slipped off with our tails between our legs and was gone before the Turks knew about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzie Posted 8 April , 2008 Share Posted 8 April , 2008 Squirrel that's great! No mention of a regiment or nationalality, it covers every soldier from every army. They all suffered. Well done. Kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 8 April , 2008 Share Posted 8 April , 2008 Thanks Kim, wrote it from any o/r's point of view after the war. And, keeping to generalisations as the teller particularly and probably the listener would be unable to cope with any more detail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunboat Posted 8 April , 2008 Share Posted 8 April , 2008 Michael another wonderful effort (dont worry you shan't be alone for long) Squirrel if I may be so bold I think that is your best entry to MGWAT thus far...it really compliments Michaels work as well. It was if you had agreed that Michael should produce a lyrical lead into your narrative piece. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 8 April , 2008 Share Posted 8 April , 2008 Thanks Gunboat, decided I couldn't match what Michael had done - tore my draft verse effort up when I saw his second piece. Good job too as it was rubbish. Just thought about how an old soldier might explain things to a younger relative really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 11 April , 2008 Share Posted 11 April , 2008 quote: how an old soldier might explain things to a younger relative really Nice idea and well delivered plus, I'm not feeliing lonely any more, thanks to Squirrel, but there's still room for more on the parapet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 11 April , 2008 Share Posted 11 April , 2008 Thanks Michael - much appreciated. More support and contributions needed! Letsby Avenue! Approach the firestep and burst forth please! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 11 April , 2008 Share Posted 11 April , 2008 quote: Approach the firestep and burst forth please! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunboat Posted 11 April , 2008 Share Posted 11 April , 2008 quote: Approach the firestep and burst forth please! Surely a court martial offence Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 11 April , 2008 Share Posted 11 April , 2008 Approach the firestep and burst forth please! Surely a court martial offence What would be the appropriate punishment? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest soren1916 Posted 12 April , 2008 Share Posted 12 April , 2008 This might give you some ideas, Ellis Silas sketchbook: http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=h...%3Doff%26sa%3DG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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