Ammunition Column by Gilbert Frankau
Ammunition Column is a novel by Gilbert Frankau that follows the story of a group of British soldiers during World War I. The book explores themes of camaraderie, sacrifice, and the brutality of war. It was published in 1930 and received critical acclaim for its realistic portrayal of life on the front lines.
By Gilbert Frankau · First published 1930 · Genre: War Poetry, Historical Fiction, Military Fiction · 483 words
First lines
_I am only a cog in a giant machine, a link of an endless chain: -- _ _And the rounds are drawn, and the rounds are fired,_ _and the empties return again; _ _'Railroad, lorry, and limber; battery, column, and park; _ _'To the shelf where the set fuse waits the breech, from_ _the quay where the shells embark._ We have watered and fed, and eaten our beef; the long dull day drags by, As I sit here watching our "Archibalds" _strafing_ an empty sky; Puff and flash on the far-off blue round the speck one guesses the plane -- Smoke and spark of the gun-machine that is fed by the endless chain.
What this Textopian page supports
Ammunition Column is listed on Textopian as a poem by Gilbert Frankau, dated 1930 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Gilbert Frankau
- Date: 1930 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: War Poetry, Historical Fiction, Military Fiction, Realism
- Length: 483 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Ammunition Column by Gilbert Frankau
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Ammunition Column?
- How does this poem by Gilbert Frankau fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does War Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- The Voice Of The Guns by Gilbert Frankau
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- The Two Generals by Anthony Trollope
- With The Main Guard by Rudyard Kipling
Genres
- War Poetry — The text is a poem that vividly describes the experiences and emotions of soldiers involved in the logistics of war, focusing on the repetitive and mechanical nature of their duties.
- Historical Fiction — The setting and context are rooted in a historical wartime period, providing a fictionalized account of the experiences of those involved in ammunition supply during war.
- Military Fiction — The narrative centers around military operations and the life of soldiers, emphasizing the structure and routine of military logistics.
- Realism — The writing style and themes focus on realistic depictions of war, highlighting the mundane and mechanical aspects of military life.
Tags
war · military · drama · historical · conflict · courage · sacrifice · leadership · strategy · camaraderie · survival · tension