For The Colour Of A Flag Poem by Francis Duggan

For the colour of a flag or for National pride
Far too many young people fighting in wars have died
They believed in the war mongers that does seem sad to say
They fought for their beliefs and with their lives they did pay
We've not learned from the mistakes of the wars of past years
For every dead soldier a mother in tears
It's natural course their lives did not run
Yet peace does not come from the bomb or the gun
And though they may have been gallant and they may have died brave
Dead heroes they never return from the grave
For their belief in freedom they were prepared to die
But those who told them they were fighting for freedom told them a lie
They were not found wanting in the gap of fear
But when the last post is played the bugle they don't hear.