See, they come marching over the plain, Cheerfully bearing their wounds and pain, Soldiers and sailors alike to the work, Never a man of them doing a shirk. These are the men that you owe a debt; England, remember it; never forget.
Scorched and parched 'neath the broiling sun, Not a word of complaint, work _must_ be done. Wounded and shattered, bespattered with blood, Drinking of water akin to mud. These are the men you owe a debt; England, remember it; never forget.
Ponder it well in your leisured ease, These, the soldiers of lands and seas, Building the Empire hour by hour, These, the foundation of all thy power. These are the men whom you owe a debt; Empire, remember; you dare not forget.
The Silent Army 'as its work, Duties that it cannot shirk, Six days a week; then there's kirk For us in the Silent Army. There's guards ter mount, fatigues to do, Bread ter make an' meat ter stew. If yer think there's time ter write to you, Well! strite! yer must be barmy.
Yer says yer owns as we can fight, Able to read, but not to write; We tries to fly our own kite, Us chaps in the Silent Army. We're glad enough ter git your print, Glad enough when bound with lint, Y're dull if yer can't take the 'int; Indeed! yer must be barmy.
It isn't always that us men Finds the time to use a pen, For we've work to do, sir, when We are in the Silent Army. We 'as our duties to attend, Food to cook and clothes to mend; Arsk Kiplin', he's the sojers' friend-- The friend of the Silent Army.
[The hint has been taken as far as the hospitals are concerned. They get THE FRIEND on application.--THE EDS.]
That a soldier's life is a merry one Is what some people say, But when you're on short rations, Well, it isn't half so gay; And you can't "live fat" in Bloemfontein Upon a bob a day.
_Grumble No. 1._--This is a recognised fact with bread at 1s. per loaf, tea at 6d. per cup, and sugar at 1s. 6d. per lb.
If you've had a present sent from home, You can take the tip from me, It's been "commandeered" by somebody, And it's one you'll never see, So as each mail arrives you ask, "Where can that parcel be?"
_Grumble No. 2._--Almost every man has a complaint to make regarding the non-receipt of parcels despatched from home.