OLD COMRADES

By Charlie Chester. MBE 

There are two words in our English Language

and to some they may seem quite absurd

but to men by the score....side by side through the war

There's a lifetime....in Two Little Words.

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And those Two Words are "OLD COMRADES"

Young men, who marched off in the rain

and though greying in hair....they are happy to share

In a stroll down memory Lane.

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But this time....not marching....or carrying guns

and the hatred they new....has passed by

No advance or retreat....just in friendship they meet

Tho they'll carry the scars....till they die.

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They came back with all kinds of stories

From Germany.....France and Thailand

from Burma and Monte Cassino

D. Day Dodgers.....with boots full of sand.

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OLD COMRADES.....how quickly we say it

yet those two simple words know their worth

instrumental in forging the greatest of bonds

that were ever created.....on earth.

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We all know.....that old Sergeant Major

was a loud mouth.....and miserable cuss

and we know was born out of wedlock

But at least.....well.....HE WAS.....one of us.

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There was tea that they used to call "Gunfire"

and if that didn't work.....just for fun

The M.O. would hand out the Number Nine Pills

Just to witness how fast you could run.

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Of course there was Cookhouse and meal times

We went there with hunger and thirst

We got the same food as the Officers too!

The trouble was.....they got it first.

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If an Officer wasn't saluted

Then the Squaddie at fault.....got his chips

But we all knew exactly what Officers were

A Lemon.....with too many Pips.

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There were times we were filthy and dirty

There were times when a mate would get vexed

but when bullets are aimed.....you can't stay inflamed

'Cos you never know.....who'd get one next.

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There were rough uns and tough 'uns and young 'uns

And I just don't care what people say

The hard times we shared as Comrades

Makes OLD COMRADES seem special today.

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We answered the Bugle..... we answered the call

and then.....we returned to the fold

and we always remember with prayer and with pride

The ones who WILL NEVER GROW OLD