The Gunner, The Signaller, The Great Uncle…
Like a giant, clanking crustacean
Each tank encroached with deliberation,
Grumbling, stumbling, tumbling
But supporting, for the first time, an advance,
Whilst the field artillery thumped and crumped
And deafened in the chaos of death, noise and confusion…
To preserve crucial communication
With a designated post of observation,
Inspecting, reflecting, directing,
Any wiring damaged by German ordnance
Was attended to by a signaller, slumped and cramped
And stiffened by a chorus of shells, gunfire and intrusion…
A bullet seared into his knee
As he kept open the line of communication,
In an act of bravery
Which led to his evacuation,
A casualty station
And embarkation
To Blighty, a mighty
Relief for salutary
Contemplation
And a Military Medal as compensation…
Pete Ray
12th April 2021
My Great Uncle George Ray was a Royal Field Artillery Signaller at the Battle of Fers-Courcelette, 15th-16th September 1916, where he kept the line of communication open to an Observation Post.
He was shot through the knee, survived and won a Military Medal.
Tanks were used for the first time in this advance and George would have witnessed their arrival.
I never knew him…
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