This morning, I examined Trumpet Major James Smith’s military enlistment and discharge papers online. His discharge was on health grounds – but he still lived another twenty-three years. One can be unfit for soldiering, but still fit enough to live a useful life away from the battle-field or garrison. Indeed, he had married four years before his discharge from the army, and had quite a big family, over the space of twenty-odd years.
I was quite moved by the poignancy of fourteen-year old James’s ‘Attestation’ in 1826 (his enlistment papers) – he was so young, and so small to be joining the army. He still had another thirteen inches of height to grow, going by his discharge papers! (Fourteen-year old boys are an average of 8 to 9 inches taller nowadays, two centuries later.)
Mary-Ann enjoyed writing anapaestic tetrameters; I found several of them, and similar variants, amongst her poetry collections. Next week, I’m going to go back to the library to look at some more of her poems. In particular, I’m keen to see the poem she wrote ‘To James’ after his death, in an Addendum at the end of her second collection.
Anyway, I wondered whether I could pen an anapaestic tetrameter of my own, so here it is – my first attempt at writing in this particular poetic meter. I hope Mary-Ann and Rose would approve:-
You were four feet, nine inches, your eyes grey but bright,
Just a boy of fourteen - still a lad;
Though you hadn't near equalled your father in height,
You were counting the days till you had!
You were fair and light-skinned, with a healthy physique,
And you'd finished your schooling at last;
You knew what came next - you were keen to step up,
Leaving playthings behind in your past.
Growing up in the army, your future was clear -
You enlisted in steamy Cawnpore,
A Dragoon, bravely riding with no trace of fear -
And you’d make your Ma proud, that’s for sure!
But how long would you soldier? How long in Cawnpore?
Would you battle, or help keep the peace?
Would your bugle lead soldiers to brave acts of war,
Or might you succumb to disease?
Just a boy, starting out in the steps of your Pa,
With your trumpet, a sword, then a horse -
With your musical gifts you were told you’d go far,
But at fourteen, time still took its course.
For the marching, the drills, and the beat of the drum
Would have thrilled you enough at the start,
Now your schoolbooks were closed and your work had begun,
You’d need strength, and a resolute heart.
Horsepower: the Museum of the King’s Royal Hussars. Timeline showing that the 11th Hussars had been engaged in the Siege of Bhurtpore only the year before.
Karen McAulay, Musicologist 