War - Ww1 - The Important Question Poem by Paul Warren

In 1917 at the salient in the Third Battle of Ypres
The British attacked in force and were wasted away
The Germans had defence as measured in their depth
And in some places was five miles of trenches in breath
The Tommy soldiers were shot down when they were sucked in
When the Germans held back their Gegenangriff divisions from them

The Tommies captured the thinly held first and second lines
But it was a trap set by the Germans that put them in a bind
The strong Gengenagriff divisions counter attacked them
Winning back the trenches lost and for the British was the end
When this slaughter was happening and Passchendaele became
Written in folklore in April to November 1917 of the Great War fame

Whilst this was happening Lloyd George and his Parliamentary crew
Were in London debating amongst themselves all the important issues
This body count from this Western Front Battle continued to rise
And the grief of the British people meant anti-war sentiment was no surprise
The War Cabinet spent a whole day debating whether Indian troops should
Have a Queen's Commission and command white troops as they inevitably would.

© Paul Warren Poetry