In remembrance

Thanks to a 'nudge' from my old e-pal, JK, here is a suitable poem from Kipling for this sad day:

 

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, Mister 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, 'ow'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;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An 'Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool - you bet that Tommy sees!

 

Comments

[Whitewall]

Do they still give out poppies in Britain? Some still do here on this day. My late father-in-law was a veteran of WW1. My wife and I can usually manage to find one.

Timely delivered.

[David Duff]

Oh yes, Whiters, we still wear them.

[Whitewall]

My wife gets tearful when reading "Tommy" because as a child she and her Father attended all the Armistice Day parades as his failing health would allow. I read it to her as best I could with the ability I have for the narration. She reads it, but not aloud.

[TheBigHenry]

My Mom was born in Warsaw, Poland on Armistice Day, November 11, 1918.
My Mom passed away in Tampa, Florida, on Memorial Day, May 30, 1999.

Your Sunshine misses you still ...

TBH and his Mom (1950)
Riverside Park, Manhattan

[David Duff]

Just had a quick squint at your blog, Henry. Very impressive photos, er, particularly those pretty gals!

[TheBigHenry]

Thanx for visiting, David. The pix I have been posting of late are, of course, to the credit of other people. They are beautiful, in my humble opinion.

When I began blogging in 2007, I concentrated on my own thoughts about the things that matter to me. By 2011, however, having published more than 1500 posts, I kind of ran out of steam (ink?), and took to publishing mostly beautiful pix of many talented photographers.

Nevertheless, I invite you to sample some of my favorite "word" posts, which I have listed in the left-hand column (not to be confused with Leftist column).

[Penseivat]

This reminds me of the Guildford bombings of the pubs frequented by soldiers from nearby barracks. An abomination that has not yet been rectified by the offenders being made to pay. And how did the local publicans support their troops and show the IRA scum how they felt? They banned all service personnel from the pubs. Even today, there is bad feeling between military and some pubs in the town.
Attended my local war memorial today and was pleasantly surprised to see so many young people there. A group who looked as if I should cross the road if I met them in the street were pushing disabled servicemen in their wheelchairs. A really sobering sight. Perhaps we do have a future generation worth nourishing?

[jimmy glesga]

Penseivat, I recall well some pubs being out of bounds in the UK due to resident PIRA sympathisers. The thing is if you did attend and got into trouble then you were tapping the boards in front of the OC.

[AussieD]

Whitewall down here in Oz it is rare to see someone not wearing a Flanders Poppy on the lead up to Armistice Day. You can buy them at various prices from $1 to $10. All proceeds go to our veterans.

Here in Melbourne the Central Business District comes to a stop at 11:00 hours and buglers from one of the three services march to the centre of the major intersections to sound "The Last Post" and a minute later "Reveille".

Ignore it and someone will bring you up short with a quick and not too polite "Stand Fast"

As for Kipling when I was but a young sprog in HM's service we had an instructor who was fond of Kipling's verse. His favourite exhortation in respect to teamwork was;

Now this is the Law of the Jungle -- as old and as true as the sky;
And the Wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the Wolf that shall break it must die.
As the creeper that girdles the tree-trunk the Law runneth forward and back --
For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.

I had a friend who was a good caligrapher make me a framed copy and I posted it in every command I held.

[AussieD]

TBH I looked at your site. Impressive. Loved the bit that tells you your dog has been up to no good.

When was that fly over of Auschwitz by the IDF ?

[JK]

September 4th, 2003

[David Duff]

Give us a clue, JK!

[JK]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOWCgKVQE5M

[David Duff]

Ah, 'gotcha'!

[TheBigHenry]

JK,

Thanx for responding to AussieD before I had a chance to read his comment. I have added your video link to my pic's caption, "IAF Jets Over Auschwitz".

AussieD,

Thanx for your kind words.

Shalom

[Whitewall]

JK, that was worth the suspense of waiting.