SOLDIERS LAST STAND

[detectordave]

THE  FINAL INSPECTION

The soldier stood and faced God,   
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.

'Step forward now, you  soldier,
How shall I deal with you ?
Have you always turned the other cheek ?
To My Church have you been true?'

The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
'No, Lord, I guess I ain't.
Because those of us who carry  guns,
Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fears.

If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand.

There was a silence all  around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.

'Step forward  now, you soldier,
You've borne your burdens  well..
Walk peacefully on Heaven's  streets,
You've done your time in Hell.'

[Terra (Mike)]

WONDERFUL , SIMPLY WONDERFUL, Any idea who wrote it,

My Gran wrote a simple poem that one a prize , it went like this:


                      Every time i see a church
                      I pay a little visit
                      So when my time comes to go to heaven
                      God won't say " who is it ?"

[Tinman (paul/Lisa)]

Yeah Mike I enjoyed that myself, it always gets me anything to do with war specially if its WW1.Did anyone watch that prog last week about objectors in WW1? This one soldier was on the guns so never saw his enemy he was 17/18 and he had a photo of his sweetheart with him. Well one day he had to go on enemy ground and he saw the damage that he had done (bombing) anyway in amongst all the dead bodies he came across this one body of a young german and he was clutchig a phot of his sweetheart they were due to marry, it reminded him so much of himself he never fired another shot. It was a good story very moving im hopeless at repeating them in text

[detectordave]

Sorry i have no idea who wrote it i had it sent to me as an e-mail but given that more bodies where flown in to Wotton Bassett yesterday i thought that it would post it.Glad you all liked it.

[Jonola (Jon)]

Sunset Vigil...Written by Staff Sergeant Andy Macfarlane. Written at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan.




The news is spread far and wide
Another comrade has sadly died
A sunset vigil upon the sand
As a soldier leaves this foreign land

We stand alone, and yet as one
In the fading light of a setting sun
We've all gathered to say goodbye
To our fallen comrade who's set to fly

The eulogy's read about their life
Sometimes with words from pals or wife
We all know when the CO's done
What kind of soldier they'd become

The padre then calls us all to pray
The bugler has Last Post to play
The cannon roars and belches flame
We will recall, with pride, their name

A minute's silence stood in place
As tears roll down the hardest face
Deafening silence fills the air
With each of us in personal prayer

Reveille sounds and the parade is done
The hero remembered, forgotten by none
They leave to start the journey back
In a coffin draped in the Union Jack

[detectordave]

Theres a lot of good poems about this that was one of them.My friends son goes to hellmand the week after next its his first posting.

[Jonola (Jon)]

Can't remember any poetry being written when I was serving. Just drinking songs! I take my hat off to any of the lads who have the bravery to serve their country at this time.

[Terra (Mike)]

Same here Jon , i can still remember the songs from 22 years ago....lol

[Salty (Karl) Cardiff Scan Club]

Its hard to believe the emotions you can capture with words alone, i'm sat here choked up after reading those, and i'm not ashamed to admit it.
Salty

[Terra (Mike)]

This was written by a father who recently lost his son in Afghanistan

     There is in the eternal realms a great line of men who march along a long winding road
     Their task is to collect the dead of ages, taken from the ranks of the fallen

     After midnight on the 30th May 2009 the great line halts ,and a Sgt Majors voice rings out, not as in the parade ground, but in the solemn silence increasing

    The short command is given: " get fell in to the rear of the column"
    Two soldiers take their place and adjust their equipment and calm their terrible expressions

    These fallen two, shoulder arms and the great line of men , the dead of ages taken from the ranks of the fallen moves off at a slow march winding its way along the long and winding road

    Almost out of sight  the line visibly halts and a Sgt Majors voice rings out " get fell in at the rear of the column"

   And we who mortals be, strain to hear the sound of marching feet


 

[Chef Geoff]

I'm the same as salty, a bit chocked up after reading those. As Jon and terraterror said , i can remember more drinking songs than any others, but I have seen quite a few squaddies cry (me being one of them) whilst listening to "The Soldier" by Harvey andrews.

[Terra (Mike)]

 My friend was killed by the IRA at a checkpoint in the 80s , out of 6 i was the only RAF poll bearer , the rest being from his regiment, as we carried his coffin into Pontypridd crematorium , the speakers were playing  Dire Straits  " Brothers in Arms" all six of us were in tears ,along with the hundreds in the congregation, its a day i will never forget as long as i live . RIP Gary

[Stig(The)]

Well Geoff,thought i`d have a listen...... What can i say except very moving indeed 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLlDOOVZ1HQ

[zorro]

it was once said :
"It's not the activist that gives us freedom , but the soldier.
It's not the politician, who gives us liberty, but the soldier
It's not the journalist that gives us freedom of speach, but the soldier,
and its not the average joe that lays his life down for his country, but the soldier ".

ENOUGH SAID I THINK.

[waltonbasinman]

A few excellent posts there folks that kinda put everything into perspective. I have nothing but the upmost admiration for service men of all periods. I served eight years and have the whole eight years firmly embedded in my memory. Brave people.