War - Ww1 Vc - South Australia - Arthur Blackburn Vc Poem by Paul Warren

In 1914 in Adelaide, South Australia he heard the bugle's call
And volunteered for the 1st AIF in the 10th Battalion volunteer's all
He was a private and a battalion scout on the Landing Day
At the Gallipoli Coast as farther inland than others they do say
In August 1915 he rose through the ranks to second lieutenant
In the Dardanelles campaign on a battlefield commissioned officer's warrant.

In 1916 he went to the Western Front and was thrown into the fray
At Pozieres capturing trenches and bombing the German's away
He was given the Victoria Cross for his leadership in this action
He hadn't taken a step back with deeds that were hard matching
In 1917 medically unfit meant his war was finally done
Home to Adelaide as an ANZAC with his war duly won

Between the wars he plied his lawyer trade
And as the Adelaide City Coroner his reputation was made
He joined the militia to maintain his warrior stance
And as a Nationalist member for Sturt was his state political dance
When in 1939 the Second World War called him to arms rallying
As the commander of the 2/3rd Australian Machine-Gun Battalion

To Syria to fight the Vichy French and the capture of Damascus he went
As the senior officer present with him accepting their surrender sent
Then the Japanese started their warrior move southward was seen
And back in Java to garrison these islands was his duty gleaned
He was captured by the Japanese and a cruel imprisonment was the deal
When he was liberated in Mukden, Manchuria weakened not broken by the ordeal

Made Companion of the Order of the British Empire was his reward
Back to Australia after the army a president of the RSL on their board
He continued his distinguished career as a great South Australian soldier
Who had shown to the entire world that he was one who was so much bolder
He is buried now in the AIF cemetery and his Victoria Cross is given to the Australian nation
For display in the War Memorial in Canberra for Australians to see as a great citation.

© Paul Warren Poetry