by ALLEYNE HALL
From my father’s war diary, 4 August 1917: Sergeant Leslie John Hall
I feel terrible – I can’t explain!
Will I see my wife and child ever again?
My thoughts never leave them: their faces are always before me;
Always with me… What could possibly have made me enlist?
As soon as we boarded this ship, conditions were beyond belief.
We are all crowded and sick, with bad food, terrible toilets,
Hopeless mind sets – breaking my false teeth, I haven’t eaten for a week.
They gave me threats against writing home about all this –
Where we are or where we are destined –
So my wife knows nothing, except niceties…
To sleep at night is impossible, with 196 men on one deck.
With a photo of my wife and son sitting over my heart,
I hear the wireless blare out bad news:
We’re heading for Jamaica, via the Panama Canal.
This is where the German submarines wait in deep waters to attack.
Going through the tropics has been like travelling through fire.
With disease breaking out on this ship, even meningitis,
We are not allowed off the vessel, so we’re out in this
Panama Canal, trapped on board.
I have been appointed guardian of lifeboats,
So I am to get the men afloat if danger comes,
And will be the last to leave, as sergeant.
As a heavyweight boxing champion, I won five pounds, before leaving,
So my money is hard won, but I’d give it all
To get back to my wife and boy.
Six life-boats leave, escorted by an American cruiser.
With boats packed, and seas rough, one soldier goes mad,
One dies, one jumps overboard.
We’re dodging submarines: take all my money,
But take me home…