The deserter - Gilbert Frankau

[Aäron]

Hellow, I’ve just join this World War One Literature forum and I’m
convinced it will be an instructive experience. I’ve studied 'The
deserter' by Gilbert Frankau at school. It’s a short and rather easy
poem with a lot of imagery. I think he wrote the poem to report his
fellow-soldiers and the home front about what can happen if you desert
and to minimize his role during the execution. What do you think about
the intention of the author?
And what about the feelings? I think Frankau had a sense of the
awfulness of the occasion.
What do you think? Do you have other opinions? Please tell me your
opinion!

Aäron


The poem:

I’m sorry I done it, Major.’
We bandaged the livid face;
And led him out, ere the wan sun rose,
To die his death of disgrace.

The bolt-heads locked to the cartridge;
The rifles steadied to rest,
As cold stock nestled at colder cheek
And foresight lined on the breast.

Fire! Called the sergeant-major.
The muzzles flamed as he spoke;
And the shameless soul of a nameless man
Went up in the cordite-smoke

[private_21.5]

Hi Aaron,

I personally think he can't stand the image of good fellows being
killed.
But could you tell me how you got to it that the writer has minimized
his role during an execution?
Greetings,

Ruben

[DJ]

Ruben asks some good questions here.

Yet it is unlikely that Frankau saw, let alone, participated in in an
execution. His war career, was mostly centred around writing
propaganda, [Even when he was with the Wipers ....]

But I would suggest that the key lies in the first verse.

The regret in the line; "I’m sorry I done it, Major.’ " which suggests
resignation to his fate by the victim. Followed by military discipline
taking control;

"We bandaged the livid face;
And led him out, ere the wan sun rose,
To die his death of disgrace. "

The soldier, has no way of avoiding military control. Therefore I
would judge that Frankau is penning a warning to potential deserters
that they will be caught, and executed. Not all of them were. The
decisions and criteria used to decide who died are the subject of
some debate.

But, by analogy Frankau was telling serving soldiers, that they have
no chance of escape..

There are echoes of Kipling's 'Danny Deever' here.

Danny Deever

"WHAT are the bugles blowin' for? " said Files-on-Parade.
"To turn you out, to turn you out," the Colour-Sergeant said.
"What makes you look so white, so white? " said Files-on-Parade.
"I'm dreadin' what I've got to watch," the Colour-Sergeant said.
For they're hangin' Danny Deever, you can hear the Dead March play
The regiment's in 'ollow square - they're hangin' him to-day;
They've taken of his buttons off an' cut his stripes away,
An' they're hangin' Danny Deever in the mornin'.
"What makes the rear-rank breathe so 'ard? " said Files-on-Parade.
"It's bitter cold, it's bitter cold," the Colour-Sergeant said.
"What makes that front-rank man fall down? " said Files-on-Parade.
"A touch o' sun, a touch o' sun," the Colour-Sergeant said.
They are hangin' Danny Deever, they are marchin' of 'im round,
They 'ave 'alted Danny Deever by 'is coffin on the ground;
An' e'll swing in 'arf a minute for a sneakin' shootin' hound
0 they're hangin' Danny Deever in the mornin'!

" 'Is cot was right-'and cot to mine," said Files-on-Parade.
" 'E's sleepin' out an' far to-night," the Colour-Sergeant said.
"I've drunk 'is beer a score o' times," said Files-on-Parade.
" 'E's drinkin' bitter beer alone," the Colour-Sergeant said.
They are hangin' Danny Deever, you must mark 'im to 'is place,
For 'e shot a comrade sleepin' - you must look 'im in the face;
Nine 'undred of 'is county an' the Regiment's disgrace,
While they're hangin' Danny Deever in the mornin'.

"What's that so black agin the sun? " said Files-on-Parade.
"It's Danny fightin' 'ard for life," the Colour-Sergeant said.
"What's that that whimpers over'ead? " said Files-on-Parade.
"It's Danny's soul that's passin' now," the Colour-Sergeant said.
For they're done with Danny Deever, you can 'ear the quickstep play
The regiment's in column, an' they're marchin' us away;
Ho! the young recruits are shakin', an' they'll want their beer to-
day,
After hangin' Danny Deever in the mornin'.


http://www.kipling.org.uk/poems_deever.htm

One should also consider the Frankau poem alongside that of Winifred
Letts, which I believe one of your fellow students may be discussing
on this board.....................

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[Aäron]

Hi Ruben,

I think it's clear the writer was part of the firing squad.
He wrote the line 'we bandaged the livid face and led him out,...' in
the first person plural, consequently he was part of the firing squad.
I think the line 'Fire! Called the sergeant-major’ tells us Frankau ‘s
trying to minimize his role during the execution. He got the
instructions of the sergeant-major and had to follow.


Aäron

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[private_21.5]

I agree with the part that the firing squad had to follow the order
but I have to say I'm not convinced that he is part of the firing
squad

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