For The Fallen

[boodie]

For the Fallen

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flash of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Laurence Binyon

For my Great Grandfather and Grandfathers who went off to serve their country, especially for my Great Grandfather who went even though he was not considered an Australian, wasn't eligible for medals, and his service was discounted for many decades, but loved this country enough to do so anyway.

Lest We Forget.

Comments

[lordgary.livejournal.com]

Your Gallipoli was like our Vimmy Ridge, my Grandfather fought in the Canadian corp and was not able to speak his own language. Both battle made each our Dominions a nation or it's own. We just Vimmy Ridge Day last week. They used to put families and neighbours in the same units so they would go over the top together in fear of looking like a coward in front of your family and friends. In some battles whole towns of boys were lost. They were hardasses, my grandfather who was really old by the time I came around never really spoke of the war, he lost five of his brothers.

[funnelwebkitten.livejournal.com]

Same here, though it was more like whole towns volunteered together, but yes in some places they lost something like 90% of the young men.