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A Soldiers Poem

bren

bren

master brummie
I thought this the best place to post this, i hope you agree --

THIS POEM WAS WRITTEN BY A PEACE KEEPING SOLDIER STATIONED OVERSEAS
THE FOLLOWING IS HIS REQUEST I THINK IT IS REASONABLE.

PLEASE WOULD YOU DO ME THE KIND FAVOUR OF SENDING THIS TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN

CHRISTMAS WILL BE COMING SOON AND SOME CREDIT IS DUE TO OUR BRITISH SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN FOR OUR BEING ABLE TO CELEBRATE THESE FESTIVITIES.
LETS TRY IN THIS SMALL WAY TO PAY A TINY BIT BACK OF WHAT WE OWE!

ITS CHRISTMAS DAY ALL IS SECURE

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
HE LIVED ALL ALONE
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE
I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE
AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN THIS HOME DID LIVE

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE
NO TINSEL NO PRESENTS NOT EVEN A TREE
NO STOCKING BY THE MANTLE JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS
WITH MEDALS AND BADGES AWARDS OF ALL KINDS
A SOBER THOUGHT CAME THROUGH MY MIND

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT IT WAS DARK AND DREARY
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY
THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING SILENT ALONE
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER
NOT HOW I PICTURED A LONE BRITISH SOLDIER
WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO THE FLOOR FOR A BED

I REALISED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT
SOON ROUND THE WORLD THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY

THEY ALL ENJOY FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE
I COULDN'T HELP WONDER HOW MANY ALONE
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME

THE VERY THOUGH BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY
THE SOLDIER AWAKENED AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE
'SANTA DON'T CRY THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE
I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM I DON'T ASK FOR MORE
MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY. MY CORPS'

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT I CONTINUED TO WEEP

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SAT AND SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHTS CHILL
I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD DARK NIGHT
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOUR SO WILLING TO FIGHT

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE
WHISPERED 'CARRY ON SANTA ITS CHRISTMAS DAY ALL IS SECURE'
ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT
'MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT'


bren


 
"LETS TRY IN THIS SMALL WAY TO PAY A TINY BIT BACK OF WHAT WE OWE!"

Thanks for posting this unique poem Bren. What we owe is immeasurable I believe but like you say we must appreciate the memory of what the sacrifices were and still are all the time. The planes flew over my house this morning on their way to the flyover at main Cenotaph in Vancouver, a Lancaster was one of the three I saw. I watched on TV as thousands turned out in the rain for the ceremonies. I watched as the 71 pictures of the fallen Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan since the conflict began were flashed on the screen with a back drop of a beautiful poppy field. All very moving and on a special day very necessary participation.
 
Excellent, Bren.​
The sentiments expressed in the poem are so real. Those, many of whom were afraid but fought anyway, are all so modest about their sacrifices.​
We must never forget.​
 
Thanks Bren for posting that, it made me think of my own mum who lost her dad in another senseless war, 14-18, when she was aged 7 years old. Then she lost her husband in 40-45 when she was aged 31, left with 5 mouths to feed she had to sell her/our heroes medals to buy food; shameful.

Personally my thoughts always go out to those left behind, let us remember those heroes too because they were the ones left to rebuild.
 
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]I copied this from this soldiers diary I found in papers belonging to a Mr Newby they must have been in the war together is name is at the bottom of the poem[/FONT]​
​
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]Peace[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]Comrade my comrade[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]Our fearful task is done[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]The battle flags are furled[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]At last the peace we fought is won[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]The bells ring out a joyous peal [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]The bonfires on the hill[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]Far over the sea its message send of gladness[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]And goodwill.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]Comrade my comrade[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]The battle din is over [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]Come join the memory[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]The merry laughing throng[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]That crowds the banquet floor[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]The friends of old [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]Your comrades kind[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]Your sweethearts fair and true[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]With faithful hearts [/FONT]​
1x1.gif

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]Through all these years[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]Are waiting there for you.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]Comrade my comrade[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]Awake and hear the bells[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]For you the laurel wreath entwined[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]For you the music swells[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]Oh God he cannot answer me [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]His lips are cold and still [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]For he lies deep in endless sleep[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]Beneath a vine clad hill[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]by[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]Private A. H. Waterman[/FONT]​
 
SILENT NUMBERS


Silence sat upon the hill of death
No more words riding on man's breathe
Emptiness filled the faces of the brave
As they lay numbered to take their grave

Some as old as youth, others in their prime
All dead before their time
War brought them to this place of grief
For death to steal them like a thief

Not one single tear can raise them from their sleep
For death is death and never was so deep
A piece of metal for a precious life
A pitiful token for their valiant strife

What is war for, but to maim and kill
To place an immortal soul without its will
Against a wall of strangers, just the same
These pawns these men without a name

So to the victor let his glory be one of shame
For those numbers that died indeed in vain
And let those other pawns spared by death's ugly hand
Remember this had all been planned.

This piece of work has a copyright and cannot be used without my permission.

September 1997.
 
Cat, so very sad and so very true. Lovely piece of work that will move many, thanks for sharing.

Graham.
 
Something along similar lines. I remember hearing this song played regularly in The Tavern in the Town when I first moved to Tamworth. It still brings tears to my eyes when I hear it now.

'Green Fields of France'

Well how do you do Private William McBride,
Do you mind if I sit here down by your graveside?
And rest for awhile ‘neath the warm summer sun,
I've been walking all day, now I'm nearly done
I see by your gravestone you were only nineteen
When you joined the great fall in in 1916;
Well I hope you died quick and I hope you died clean,
Or, young Willie McBride, was it slow and obscene?

Refrain
Did they beat the drum slowly,
Did they play the fife lowly?
Did they sound the Death March
As they lowered you down?
Did the band play
"The Last Post And Chorus?"
Did the pipes play
"The Flowers Of The Forest?"

Did you leave a wife or a sweetheart behind?
In some faithful heart is your memory enshrined?
And although you died back in 1916,
In that faithful heart are you forever nineteen?
Or are you a stranger without even a name,
Enclosed there forever behind a glass pane,
In an old photograph, torn, and battered and stained,
And faded to yellow in a brown leather frame?
Refrain

Ah the sun now it shines on the green fields of France,
The warm summer breeze makes the red poppies dance,
And look how the sun shines from under the clouds;
There's no gas, no barbed wire, there're no guns firing now.
But here in this graveyard is still No Man's Land,
The countless white crosses in mute witness stand
To man's blind indifference to his fellow man,
To a whole generation that was butchered and damned.
Refrain:

Ah, young Willie McBride, I can't help wonder why,
Did all those who lay here really know why they died?
And did they believe when they answered the call,
Did they really believe that this war would end war?
For the sorrow, the suffering, the glory, the pain,
The killing and dying were all done in vain,
For, young Willie McBride, it all happened again,
And again and again and again and again.​
Refrain

(I may have a word or two wrong, but I have to say, just reading them through to check I got a cold shiver up my back. )
​
 
They said it was the war to end all wars, but we all knew they lied
They said you'll come back as Heroes but most of my comrades have died
They said we would have the best of everything but we never did
They said they would be right there with us but the leaders ran and hid
They said it wouldn't last long: it would all be over in less than a year
They said they were suffering too, but I never saw one shed a tear
They said the Germans were the enemy, they called them Nazis or the Huns
They said they were animals, but they too were Fathers, Husbands or Sons
They said We were winning and that what we did would be remembered forever
They said our appalling conditions would get better, but of course they never
They said lots of things which they believed were true, but they were lying
They said we were all brave, but you don't feel brave when your mates are dieing
They said when this was over, war would never again raise its ugly head
They said we would all live in peace, it never happened, but it is what They Said


There were 70,000,000 men and women in uniform of that number one-half were either killed, wounded or became prisoners of war.
Russia's losses were never actually counted. It is estimated that over 6 million Russian soldiers were killed in WWI.
During World War One, 230 soldiers perished for each hour of the four and a quarter years.

© Jim Pritchard
 
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