Black Prince Smitten…
A son of Knowle aboard a British warship
Encouraged the village children to ‘do their bit’:
And send Christmas cards or seasonal gifts
To H.M.S. Black Prince, for which candles were lit…
That son of Knowle and his ship’s grateful company
Fashioned in return an ensign, its colours bright
And sent the flag home as a precious endowment,
A link, an association which veiled their true plight…
A son of Knowle and his courageous shipmates
Engaged the enemy in Jutland’s dangerous water;
The Black Prince was sunk, the company perished
In the burning, the carnage and horrific slaughter…
That son of Knowle, Frank, was Smitten
On the very day that the ensign arrived
At Knowle’s vicarage, a wicked indictment of war,
Yet that historic flag has miraculously survived…
Pete Ray
The Sunday School children from Knowle’s Parish Church adopted Able Seaman Frank Smitten’s warship as their own and what a cruel twist of fate it was when the flag sent by the ship’s company arrived at Knowle’s vicarage on the 31st May, 1916: the day that the ship was sunk…
The flag lies framed in Knowle’s Parish Church, along with a photograph of the Black Prince…
 |
| INSIDE THE CHURCH, 13TH NOVEMBER 2018... |
 |
| ARMISTICE PRESENTATION... |
 |
| NEW WAR MEMORIAL, KNOWLE... |
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.