WW1 – Barrowsgate

Trooper Tammy

Dec 16, 1937

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Tammy was not a man, but a horse. In this tribute to Tammy, Barrowsgate notes the crucial role that horses such as Tammy played in the Great War and observes that they witnessed just as much horror as their human counterparts. At the time of writing (1937) Tammy was seeing out his days working for…

Boiled Herring

Nov 10, 1936

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in Stories, Writings

In Flanders, in 1917, a spy is suspected to have infiltrated the Allied lines. A sentry is posted at “the Gap” with orders not to let anyone through without a pass from the General. Before long, an officer by the name of Boyd Heron attempts to pass and is challenged by the sentry. Note: Barrowsgate…

The Soldier’s Friend

Aug 17, 1934

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in Bitties Fae Barrowsgate, Observations, Writings

Barrowsgate describes the importance of jam during the Great War.

Eggs, Assorted

Oct 13, 1933

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in Bitties Fae Barrowsgate, Observations, Writings

Barrowsgate reads a Board of Trade report showing that millions of eggs are imported every year. He reflects on the humble egg in its many forms.

“Golochs”

Oct 1, 1933

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in The Blethers O’ Barrowsgate, Verse, Writings

Barrowsgate recalls a time serving in Egypt in 1915 when the locals sang a song about scarab beetles, which they regarded as sacred. He responds with his own opinion of them, in verse.

The Corp.

Oct 1, 1933

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in The Blethers O’ Barrowsgate, Verse, Writings

This verse is based on a story, recounted in “The History of the 10th Battalion AIF” by AH Limb. Flanders 1918. Two Australian soldiers evidently carrying the corpse of a mate on a stretcher were stopped by a curious officer. The officer, wishing to see the body, pulled back the groundsheet only to discover a…

“Waur an’ Waur”

Oct 1, 1933

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in The Blethers O’ Barrowsgate, Verse, Writings

A soldier standing guard wages war against a battalion of lice

“Nickums”

Oct 1, 1933

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in The Blethers O’ Barrowsgate, Verse, Writings

Twin brothers Rab and Tam cause havoc in the Tornaveen area. They stole the postman’s hens and let them loose in the church during a service. The ministers chase the birds from pew to pew through the church. They eventually grow up and possibly meet their end in Flanders (it’s not clear whether Barrowsgate is…

The Silvery Dee

Sep 8, 1933

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in Other verse, Verse, Writings

Barrowsgate, abroad, misses his true love and the river Dee. A draft of this verse called “The Exile’s Farewell” predates this version.

Hairst O’ War

May 28, 1931

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in Other verse, Verse, Writings

This is one of Barrowsgate’s rare serious verses and amongst his first published works. It was originally published in May 1931 in the Mearns Leader as “Hairst o’ War”, then republished in the same newspaper in November 1931 as “1914 – Remembrance – 1918”. The image above was taken from the July 1934 edition of…

Tag: WW1