A Poem from Gallipoli

Monday 18th October 1915: The East Anglian Royal Engineer Lance Corporal who sent us the recipe for biscuit and date pudding yesterday also sent us a poem which we reproduce below:

 The shades of night were falling fast,

As through the trench our fellows passed, -

Four men of the EARE,

With much barbed wire as we could see

          “A gangway please”

They went in front and worked real hard,

Four Norfolks with them, just to guard,

They then returned: the challenge quick,

The RE Corporal answered slick –

          “Working RE’s”

“Try not that way” the Sergeant said,

“A sniper’s potting at your head,

You’d better let my man guide you,

And safely he will take you through

          Good night, REs”.

Source: Bedfordshire Times 12th November 1915