Terry Ireland Poet Rhyme

Firing Squad 1916

Another dawn moment
Another dawn crime 
Another act of violence
In a violent desperate time.
The firing squad paraded
On the killing ground
Every rifle charged but
One with a blank round.

They carried out the victim
Tied him to a chair
Filled full of whiskey
Just to get him there.
As one the rifles fired
On the officer’s shout
And then the firing squad
Marched off and fallen out.
Through each mind
A single thought was drilling
Pleas God I had the blank 
So I didn't do this killing.
No such hope for the officer
Who, with strained white face,
Had with single revolver shot 
Performed the Coup de Grace

Another dawn moment 
Another dawn crime 
Another act of violence
In a violent desperate time.
No attempt at understanding
No attempt at any care
It should have been Kitchener
Or Haigh tied to that chair

It was said that one weapon carried a blank so that nobody was certain whether or not they had actually carried out the execution.
Apparently towards the end, to stiffen morale, 5 or so officers faced the firing squad.

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Ilene Bauer January 6, 2023 at 10:12 AM I’ve heard of those blank rounds, Terry, although I don’t see how that would assuage anyone’s guilt… Terry Ireland January 6, 2023 at 2:19 PM It gave them just that bit of hope they hadn’t done it. Also it could protect them from retribution attacks from the executed man’s friends - just that bit of doubt. Remember a firing squad were detailed the duty, not willing volunteers.