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<div style="background:#fff;border:#bbb dashed 1px;padding:5px"><a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=393131" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none"><div style="margin:10px 0"><strong>Shot at Dawn</strong></div><div style="margin:10px 0">This poem does not condone desertion<br>nor is it a proponent of summary execution<br>or the use of capital punishment as a deterrent.</div><div style="margin:10px 0"> </div><div style="margin:10px 0">The citizen army of August 1914<br>saw in its time 8Million signed up<br>resulting in 750,000 dead<br>of this 300/3000 executed.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">This is the tale of just one life.</div><div style="margin:10px 0"><br>Shot at Dawn<br>`</div><div style="margin:10px 0"> <br> </div><div style="margin:10px 0">At nineteen you were still a child<br>hopping off to an aggrandised war<br>filled with romantic and exuberant air</div><div style="margin:10px 0">At nineteen you travelled over the channel<br>to Mons, by the Belgian border marching<br>there receiving the horrors of humiliated retreat</div><div style="margin:10px 0">At nineteen you went missing<br>first in Dublin taking leave without permission<br>now in France and sought for desertion</div><div style="margin:10px 0"><br>At nineteen you were a fugitive<br>hiding from town to town<br>filled with fear and personal loathing<br>without destination, without future<br> </div><div style="margin:10px 0">At nineteen you were confronted<br>by a baron's gamekeeper<br>whisked from barn to court marshall</div><div style="margin:10px 0">At nineteen you met the iron will<br>of a military court in face of disaster<br>you were the first deserter to be convicted</div><div style="margin:10px 0">As far as publicly convenient, within two days<br>without showing the world we shoot our own<br>At nineteen you marched out, first light of dawn</div><div style="margin:10px 0">And in the half light of a new day<br>in an unmarked grave by the road<br>At nineteen ceremoniously executed and hastily buried</div><div style="margin:10px 0">A queue of poplar trees with arms outstretched<br>lifted plaintive prayers to the war torn sky<br>At nineteen hope flew as far as the eye can see</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Shortly before dawn, escorted by armed guards<br>tied to a post, blindfolded, white cloth to the heart<br>At nineteen your regiment paraded through gun smoke</div><div style="margin:10px 0">An exemplary deterrent to all West Kents<br>rifles cracked from shaking arms<br>At nineteen you were shot at dawn</div><div style="margin:10px 0"> </div><div style="margin:10px 0"> </div><div style="margin:10px 0"> </div><div style="margin:10px 0"> </div><div style="margin:10px 0">`<br>Pvt. Thomas James Highgate (19) <br>Royal West Kents<br>d.08-09-1914</div><div style="margin:10px 0"><br /></a><br />poem by <a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/by.php?a=Frederick+Kesner">Frederick Kesner</a><div class=q>
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nor is it a proponent of summary execution
or the use of capital punishment as a deterrent.

 

The citizen army of August 1914
saw in its time 8Million signed up
resulting in 750,000 dead
of this 300/3000 exec..."></div>
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