Major General William Earle, A Son Of Liverpool…
He was just one of sixty who died
In the taking
Of the Kirbekan heights during the Mahdist War,
From the Sudanese.
He was a Commander, forsaking
Home and family for the prestige
Of battlefield glory
And immortality
But was shot by a concealed
Sniper, where there was nowhere to hide…
He was commemorated, as if deified,
By the creating
Of a bronze memorial in Victorian Liverpool,
Ill at ease.
He poses with arm outstretched, wearing
Gauntlet and spurs, treading down a captured shield
From the battleground, gory.
And for prosperity
His lauded feat was revered
By his native city, which for the loss of a son cried…
Pete Ray
5th September 2022
Major General William Earle CB, CSI was born in Liverpool in 1833 and lost his life at the storming of the heights of Kirbekan during the Mahdist War on 10th February 1885.
Only 60 of the 1,000 or so attackers lost their lives as they routed the 9,000 or so Sudanese defenders in a five hour battle and Earle was one of those casualties…
‘Mahdi’ means ‘guided one’…
The statue is situated outside St George’s Hall, Liverpool…
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.