'Go, go, go, like a soldier ......'

A4 Sketchbook.


I often draw about things I hear in the news - do you remember the spontaneous repatriation ceremonies at Wooten Basset? They suddenly ended. I wonder why. I'm sure there's a logical explanation.

I heard Rudyard Kipling (his son was killed in WW1) quoted on the radio this morning ........including these lines from 'The Young British Soldier' (the last verse)
Written during WW 1.

"When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
An' go to your Gawd like a soldier.
Go, go, go like a soldier,
Go, go, go like a soldier,
Go, go, go like a soldier,
So-oldier of the Queen!"

---------------------------

They also recited this about his lost son.......

'My Boy Jack'

1914-18



"HAVE you news of my boy Jack? "
Not this tide.
"When d'you think that he'll come back?"
Not with this wind blowing, and this tide.
"Has any one else had word of him?"
Not this tide.
For what is sunk will hardly swim,
Not with this wind blowing, and this tide.

"Oh, dear, what comfort can I find?"
None this tide,
Nor any tide,
Except he did not shame his kind---
Not even with that wind blowing, and that tide.

Then hold your head up all the more,
This tide,
And every tide;
Because he was the son you bore,
And gave to that wind blowing and that tide.