PRO EXEMPLO
“For the sake of example” said the General
dipping the pen in the inkwell
to sign the Court Martial death warrant
to send another soldier to hell
The condemned man was marched
to his final place of detention
to wait the short time remaining
with fear and terrified apprehension
The padre comforted the man
talking and helping him to pray
Anything to prolong the last night
and delay the birth of a new day
As dawn broke over the countryside
the prisoner blindfolded and bound
was taken to the place of execution
to be tied to a stake in the ground
A piece of white cloth was fixed
to the condemned man’s grubby vest
To mark the site of his beating heart
the target on the terrified breast
The firing party was drawn up ready
rifles preloaded – there was one blank
the scene was now a clear example
to the troops lined up on the bank
In order to ease the prisoner’s terror
no shouted orders to the firing squad
pre-arranged signals to be given
to despatch the soldier to his God.
Then the final firing signal came
The one each squad man would dread
Pull the trigger, a burst of cordite
The prisoner made an example – was dead
The deceased wrapped in a blanket
Was buried near where he fell
no one there with word or prayer
and no toll of the funeral bell
“A good job done” said the General
“On military law troops cannot trample
That fellow had to be shot sir
Simply for the sake of example.”
Copyright © Bill Conroy, 2016
Written by Bill Conroy
Bill Conroy is a Tauranga based freelance writer and poet with a particular interest in historical non-fiction and composing WW1 poetry.