ABOUT ME

I live in a camper van with a West Highland Terrier for company.
My passion is creating images but it is a work in progress.
I am always willing to share what knowledge I have and can be contacted through the comments on this post or e-mail ADRIAN
ALL IMAGES WILL ENLARGE WITH A LEFT CLICK

Sunday 11 November 2018

ARMISTICE DAY.

    Tommy


      I went into a public 'ouse to get a pint o'beer,
      The publican 'e up an' sez, ``We serve no red-coats here.''
      The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
      I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
      O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' ``Tommy, go away'';
      But it's ``Thank you, Mister Atkins,'' when the band begins to play,
      The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
      O it's ``Thank you, Mr. Atkins,'' when the band begins to play.
      I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
      They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
      They sent me to the gallery or round the music 'alls,
      But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
      For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' ``Tommy, wait outside'';
      But it's ``Special train for Atkins'' when the trooper's on the tide,
      The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
      O it's ``Special train for Atkins'' when the trooper's on the tide.
      Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
      Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
      An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
      Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
      Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' ``Tommy how's yer soul?''
      But it's ``Thin red line of 'eroes'' when the drums begin to roll,
      The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
      O it's ``Thin red line of 'eroes'' when the drums begin to roll.
      We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
      But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
      An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints:
      Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
      While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an ``Tommy, fall be'ind,''
      But it's ``Please to walk in front, sir,'' when there's trouble in the wind,
      There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
      O it's ``Please to walk in front, sir,'' when there's trouble in the wind.
      You talk o' better food for us, an'schools, an' fires an' all:
      We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
      Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
      The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
      For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' ``Chuck him out, the brute!''
      But it's ``Saviour of 'is country,'' when the guns begin to shoot;
      Yes it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
      But Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool--you bet that Tommy sees!

      Rudyard Kipling

      LEST WE FORGET




12 comments:

  1. Thank you, Adrian. A beautiful post. I was very proud to learn that the band of my old school would be leading the processesion to the Cenotaph today.

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    1. Richard, I did try' not sure if I succeeded.

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  2. I have a lot of time for Rudyard Kipling. That's one of his writings I didn't know. But I do now and I won't forget. The older I get the more I remember the devastation of The Blitz in my home city. I must be one of millions in this country and in almost every country of Europe of my age and older who lived in a city that was blitzed and who will remember. It's our duty to make sure that no one forgets the brutality of war.

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    1. Graham, I suspect he is a bit non-PC these days. Not to worry.
      The blitz made a terrible mess and took years to clear up, it will happen again despite the loss of life as people do forget.

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  3. Unfortunately things haven't changed a great deal, especially when it comes to government support for many ex service members.

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    1. John, nothing has changed, we now consider prosecuting them for doing their job.

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  4. A thought-provoking tribute, Adrian.

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    1. Frances, our soldiers have never been treated very well.

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  5. Woman: Do you enjoy Kipling?
    Man: I don't know, I've never Kippled.

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