Not Very Light…
Unwieldy brass ‘duck-gun’,
Tarnished, is manipulated to fire
From a forward trench,
On a cruel, black February night, near
Passchendaele.
Unimpressively, the Very cartridge splintered,
Vanished, as tame as a damp squib
From a back-garden,
On a damp, dark November night, near
Darley Dale.
Expended German flare flashed,
Arched, lit No Man’s Land
From a dependable weapon,
On a glum, black winter’s night, near
Death’s vale.
Experienced Cockney wire-cutter perished:
Lurched, scorched by falling fire,
From a renegade light,
On a cruel, dark brutal night, near
Passchendaele...
Pete Ray
British Very lights were usually no match for the German versions but the enemy’s flares lit up No Man’s Land anyway, easing the embarrassment of British trench soldiers, who fired the occasional response to satisfy honour.
Men were actually struck by the burning, falling balls of fire.
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