A Scottish Soldier Poem by Johan Jacobs

There was a young Scottish soldier
of the Highlanders Brigade
his Black Watch Regiment
marched through the night’s thunderstorm
to battle the Boers at Magersfontein

They were waiting in the trenches
when the Black Watch deploy into
open order march for the dawn assault

At four hundred yards the Boers open fire
and caught the column changing formation
killing Scottish soldiers left right and center

The young Scottish soldier badly wounded
scared to lift his body and head
lying on the veld tormented
by ants thirst and scorching sun
blisters on his legs from kilt
to stockings...

In mid-afternoon the Highlanders broke
and retreat under heavy fire

The young soldier then died
under the African sun...
one of 279 killed and wounded

A black day for the British Empire
and the young Scottish soldier...
from the Black Watch Regiment!


Copyright©JohanJ