Reminiscences (By Gnr. A. Maxwell Pow) Poem by Andrew Wright

A year before war broke out, I used to think it grand,
To watch the Jerries marching home, behind their poshed up band,
With their sunbrowned skins, and their carefree air, they looked so bright and merry,
That I made up my mind, there and then, to be a bloomin' Jerry,
So right away I dashed off home, and dressed up spick and span,
Then sallied forth to show the world, I was every inch a man.

The recruiting sergeant stood up, when I gave the bell a ring,
His kindly face all wreathed in smiles, a soldier of the king,
Walk right in my lad, he said, and I will prove to you,
That joining your local regiment, is the best thing you can do,
Every man in the regiment, is a credit to his country,
He gets two weeks holiday every year, and then a five quid bounty.

He showed me what a fool I'd be, if I missed this one occasion,
So I signed upon the dotted line, with next to no persuasion,
I next went round to Quarty's store, to draw my soldier's kit,
Then hurried home as fast as I could, to try them for a fit,
One glance in the glass convinced me, that every mortal thing,
Had been done to make me look the part, a Soldier of the King.

Time rolled on and sure enough, his words came mostly true,
The fortnight's camp, the sunburned skin, the five quid bounty too,
Then as soon as camp was over, and we arrived back home again,
I filed with the rest behind the band, as they filed out of the train,
Battalion - "Shun" came the sharp command, "Slope Arms" and then "Right Turn",
"By the left quick march" and off we went, with swinging kilt and sporran.

Arriving at the Drill hall, came the order "Battalion - Halt",
"Order Arms", "Stand at Ease", not a man at fault,
"Battalion - pay attention, I am proud to be in command,
The conduct of the battalion, while in training has been grand",
On the words "Dismiss" we moved as one, you couldn't pick a loser,
We observed a pause, and then dashed off to the nearest "Local Boozer".

The wings of time flew on, and then to our dismay,
War clouds gathered overhead, and settled there to stay,
So once again we donned our kit, resolved to do our duty,
Said "Goodbye" to the ones we loved, resolved to do our duty,
Should Auld Acquaintance be forgot, for the sake of "Auld Lang Syne",
We sang these words as we sailed for France, to smash the Siegfried Line".

The first few months we spent in France, was just like being in Heaven,
We "Parley Vooed" the "Marseillaise" and called at No.7,
Things were settling down just nice, so peaceful and so gay,
Till Jerry barged right in on us, the Tenth of Bloomin' May,
His troops marched into Belgium, resistance was in vain,
And we marched into Belgium too, to sling him out again.

The task of doing this we found, was not so easily done,
And soon we were on the march again, back the way we had come,
Every single thing we tried, Jerry tried one better,
With Stukas, Tanks and Armoured cars, "Perona" "Donnerwetter",
When Froggie cracked and let him through, we knew we had our tally,
Nothing now for us to do but try and get back to Calais.

So here we will stay till the war is o'er, of that we have no doubt,
We played the game all fair and square, but Fortune bowled us out,
For us the game is over, but there's no use losing heart,
From the touchline we can cheer our mates, who will still take active part,
And then perhaps for all you know, the time is close at hand,
When we will the Jerries march again, behind their poshed up band.