Thursday 8 September 2022

THE LIVERPOOL GRENADIER, 1685... (MY POEM ABOUT THE STATUE IN LIVERPOOL'S ST JOHN'S GARDENS...)

 The Liverpool Grenadier, 1685…



An air of covert casualness pervades

The leaning posture which exudes no fear 

Of the clean shaven Liverpool grenadier, 

Awaiting the order to form a battle line.

A jaunty soft cloth hat is worn and a red coat lined

With yellow but there is no queued, or plaited hair.

His long musket is clutched, his sword secured 

In a scabbard, the grenades suspended

From a shoulder belt across his chest. 

Coarse, drawn-up stockings of white

 Over yellow breeches are appended tight,

Fastened by buckle and strap, 

Like his exuberant shoes, rather refined…


Pete Ray

8th September 2022…


One of the bronze figures on the memorial to the King’s Liverpool Regiment in St John’s Gardens.



The regiment was formed in 1685 as the Princess Anne of Denmark’s Regiment of Foot and it fought against the Duke of Monmouth’s rebellion against her father, King James II.



Eventually, King George I renamed the regiment the King’s Regiment of Foot, which would eventually become the 8th regiment of Foot…

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