World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives, Canadian
Going back to Blighty on a cold winter's night,
Aw Gawblimey, ain't it cold?
When we get to Blighty, then we'll be all right,
Aw Gawblimey, ain't it cold?
Pity the poor old soldier,
Pity the poor young soldier,
Pity the poor old soldier,
Standing in the rain and the cold."
The popularity of "My Little Grey Home in the West" brought to birth
a dismal parody entitled "My Little Wet Home in the Trench," and many
other popular songs have had striking parodies composed on them by the
singing Britishers in Flanders.
Those songs have saved many a man from nervous exhaustion, they have
cheered the wounded, they have been heard by the dying wherever the
British Army has grappled the foe, and they have inspired the mildest
mannered man with courage abnormal.
Who would not go "over the top" with men who could sing "I Want to Go
Home" as they crouched for the charge across No Man's Land. Who would
not fight like knights of old when comrades could sing in face of the
foe, "Keep your head down, Alleman'."
America's sons in Flanders will fight all the better when they learn
the songs which Britain's sons have sung from Ypres to Gallipoli, in
Macedonia and Mesopotamia, India and Egypt; on sinking transports at
sea, and in shell-torn trenches on land.
He who sings well will fight well. Perhaps the songs of Uncle Sam's
soldiers will be most heard of when the Allies make their final drive,
but the simple songs and parodies of the British, Canadian, Australian,
New Zealand and South African soldier have re-echoed round the world
since "Tipperary" took fearless men to heroes' graves in 1914.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 3: M.P.--Military Police.]
CHAPTER XI
BITS OF WAR
One of the bravest officers I ever met is the hero of the following
story. He was in the front line trenches for the first time, and was
very eager to go "over the top." He devoured every story told by the
officers in the dugout of their prowess in fighting the Hun. We could
all see in his cherubic countenance that he believed everything he was
told.
The dugout was rather cramped for space and not at all comfortable, so
that when one of the Junior Subs asked him if he would like to take a
walk, he readily assented. The hour was about midnight, and the Junior
Sub informed him that as soon as he made arrangements with his N.C.O.
they would take the desired walk. Arrangements having been made, our
"hero" was informed that all was in readiness, and the little party set
out.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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