War - Ww1 - Left Out Of Battle Poem by Paul Warren

He was told before the big push on that July day
That he would be ‘Left out of Battle' and not go with mates that way
Casualties were so heavy in these battles during the Great War
The army could not lose all when adding up the butcher's score

So he said his goodbyes and watched them march faces to the foe
Knowing that this would be the last time seen for some in a tale of woe
But he had to stay back this time to be part of the battalion's core
So that it could re-build from these men held back in this gamblers draw

If you look back now on the roll of honour for this deadly game
It was how these battalion's survived and were listed in history's fame
When the role listed off dead men's names in the hundred score
And were able to return to battle when the war machine needed more.

© Paul Warren Poetry