n-ireland.co.uk - connecting people

Forum:	Genealogy & History
Topic:	The Donemana Poet

Want to register?

Who Can Post?	Any registered users may post a reply.
About Registration	You must be registered in order to post a topic or reply in this forum.
Your UserName:
Your Password:	Forget your password?
Message Icon:
Your Reply: HTML is OFF UBB Code is ON Smilies Legend
Options	Disable Smilies in This Post. Show Signature: include your profile signature. Only registered users may have signatures.
*If HTML and/or UBB Code are enabled, this means you can use HTML and/or UBB Code in your message.

If you have previously registered, but forgotten your password, click here.

<TABLE BORDER=0 cellpadding=4 border=0 cellspacing=1 WIDTH="95%"><TR bgcolor="#000080"><TD COLSPAN=2><CENTER>T O P I C     R E V I E W</CENTER></TD></TR><TR bgcolor="#dedfdf"><TD valign=top>J Dempsey</TD><TD>Looking for any information on the works of Robert Boak,known as the Donemana poet. He lived in the first half of the 20th century in Donemana, Co Tyrone. The titles of two poems are 1. My Native Glen 2. Come closer, Bill, old comrade Any help appreciated. </TD></TR><TR bgcolor="#f7f7f7"><TD valign=top>PatWalton</TD><TD> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by J Dempsey: Looking for any information on the works of Robert Boak,known as the Donemana poet. He lived in the first half of the 20th century in Donemana, Co Tyrone. The titles of two poems are 1. My Native Glen 2. Come closer, Bill, old comrade Any help appreciated. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>I've just come across a newspaper cutting in an old family bible - it's a poem called "At the Field Hospital" dated 2 July 1916 and the first line is "Come closer Bill old comrade, I'm glad to have you near" - the poet is not named, there are just the words "Field Card" at the end. Could this be by your Donemana poet?? The cutting is qute faded but I'm going to retype it for one of my relatives in Derry - would you like me to post / e-mail you a copy. I know your original message is quite old now, but if you are still interested, drop me an e-mail.Pat </TD></TR><TR bgcolor="#dedfdf"><TD valign=top>Dianeo</TD><TD>Hello Pat,I've just heard the 'Come Closer Bill Old Comrade' Poem recited by Gerry Anderson on Radio Ulster. This poem has great significance for me and I would love to have a copy of it. I would also be extemely interested to know what paper it was printed in. Thank you, Diane.</TD></TR><TR bgcolor="#f7f7f7"><TD valign=top>lesporter</TD><TD>Hello Pat, I have just listened to the Robert Boak poem on Gerry Andersons Show. I was deeply moved and as I have been a collector of all things relating to WW1 and especially the part played on the Somme by 'The Derrys' I was also wondering if you knew from which newspaper this came and on which date it was printed. ------------------ Les Porter</TD></TR><TR bgcolor="#dedfdf"><TD valign=top>lesporter</TD><TD>Hi to all who are enquiring about the poems of 'The Donemana Poet' I have information for you all and if you would care to email me at leslie.porter3@ntlworld.com I will share this information with you------------------ Les Porter</TD></TR><TR bgcolor="#f7f7f7"><TD valign=top>lesporter</TD><TD> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Dianeo: Hello Pat,I've just heard the 'Come Closer Bill Old Comrade' Poem recited by Gerry Anderson on Radio Ulster. This poem has great significance for me and I would love to have a copy of it. I would also be extemely interested to know what paper it was printed in. Thank you, Diane.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Hi Diane I too heard the poem and required info on it, then something niggled at me and I was sure I'd read it before. I checked all the books I had in relation to the Somme and I found it in a book called 'Three Cheers For The Derry's',unfortunately now out of print. The original'At The Hospital 2nd July 1916' was printed in The Londonderry Sentinal on July 15th 1916. Hope this helps.------------------ Les Porter</TD></TR><TR bgcolor="#dedfdf"><TD valign=top>Eanna</TD><TD><A HREF="http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/radiofoyle/gerry_anderson/poetry/gerry_poetry107.shtml" TARGET=_blank>BBC Poetry Corner</A>AT THE FIELD HOSPITAL (Field Card)2nd July 1916Come closer, Bill, old comrade, I’m glad to have You here, It does not seem so hard to die when one we Love is near; For as “Kids” we played together – “Shot Marbles on the wall,” And as youths in good old Brandywell we used To kick the ball. You’ll tell them in the dear old town – old Derry On the Foyle – That the boys who drilled with “Wooden Guns” Were worthy of their soil. But you’ll hardly need to tell them, e’er now The world has heard, What with the hardy sons of Ulster for their King and Country dared, How when ordered from the trenches, by just That one word “Go!” With the war-cry “No Surrender” they quickly Found the foe, And onward dashed, from trench to trench, as Streams the rushing tide. The Fountain, Dark-lane, Rosemount, and the Lads from Waterside Went onward, ever onward, their progress None could stay. They weren’t out “Goose-stepping” nor singing “Dolly’s Brae.” But to clear the earth of him we hate – Lor’ how The Germans ran! They hadn’t time to “wait and see” at “Omagh” or “Strabane.” It maybe someone blundered, the fault might’ve Been our own, But when we reached trench No.5 we found ourselves alone: Alone and unsupported amidst a withering fire, Yet we held our winnings gamely till the order Came – Retire! I cannot, nor will any man, the stories ever tell. How caught in that triangle – it seemed the Mouth of Hell – With comrades falling, falling, we formed as on parade; “You’ll fight a rearguard action,” was all our leaders said. And in that rearguard action, Bill, I got the Knockout blow; And now I’ve got to “travel” the road that all must go. When lying faint from loss of blood I heard A brother call, “We cannot leave him here to die, Where one goes, go we all.” It was a chap from Monaghan, a loyal man and true; He swung me ‘cross his shoulders, And said he’d see me through. “Right, matey,” then another said “where one Goes go we all, I’ll help you, brother Ulsterman – I’m County Donegal.” The Ulster’s fought the rearguard, with many a hearty cheer And the next thing I remember Was being patched up here. But I know the efforts useless; I feel I’m going fast. I see the new day breaking, foe me ‘twill be the last; I’ll ne’er again sit on the Wall Of an evening calm and cool To watch the youngsters playing “tig” around First Derry School.* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * I thought of “Derry Walls Away” when Joining in the fight, I said it was for Ulster, I wanted Right-Left-Right You’ll tell them in dear old town – Old Derry on the Foyle That the men who guarded Ireland’s shore sleep ‘neath a foreign soil; And when the news of victory comes and the Old Church joy bells ring. They’ll raise a stone for those who fell for Country and their King.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Contact Us | n-ireland.co.uk home