Just a Remembrance

Young lads in their teens and Gung Ho, Signed on the dotted, all said let's go. A bedraggled bunch were dumped at the gate, A sergeant trying to form us up straight. Stopped at each spider to drop off a few, In we all went wondering what to do. Most never been away from home before, All confused asking what was in store. Bawled out for talking too much, He was a Geordie, could have been Dutch. From then each day was all a whirlwind, Awake before dawn to a clatter of noise, A fearful time, we were only young boys. Getting kit, marching after a fashion, Scorned by the sergeant, shouted with passion. Medical tests, bend over and cough. If he goes behind me, I swear, I'm off. It was all a bit heady in those early days, We managed somehow to form up in line, We grew as a group and managed just fine. It was a million miles from where I had come, It was worth it to see the man I'd become. ©Dave Timperley 11/10/2021