Michael - A Poem.

"There's something in your face, Michael, I've seen it all the day;
There's something quare that wasn't there when first ye wint away. . . ."

"It's just the Army life, mother, the drill, the left and right,
That puts the stiffinin' in yer spine and locks yer jaw up tight. . . ."

"There's something in your eyes, Michael, an' how they stare and stare --
You're lookin' at me now, me boy, as if I wasn't there. . . ."

"It's just the things I've seen, mother, the sights that come and come,
A bit o' broken, bloody pulp that used to be a chum. . . ."

"There's something on your heart, Michael, that makes ye wake at night,
And often when I hear ye moan, I trimble in me fright. . . ."

"It's just a man I killed, mother, a mother's son like me;
It seems he's always hauntin' me, he'll never let me be. . . ."

"But maybe he was bad, Michael, maybe it was right
To kill the inimy you hate in fair and honest fight. . . ."

"I did not hate at all, mother; he never did me harm;
I think he was a lad like me, who worked upon a farm. . . ."

"And what's it all about, Michael; why did you have to go,
A quiet, peaceful lad like you, and we were happy so? . . ."

"It's thim that's up above, mother, it's thim that sits an' rules;
We've got to fight the wars they make, it's us as are the fools. . . ."

"And what will be the end, Michael, and what's the use, I say,
Of fightin' if whoever wins it's us that's got to pay? . . ."

"Oh, it will be the end, mother, when lads like him and me,
That sweat to feed the ones above, decide that we'll be free. . . ."

"And when will that day come, Michael, and when will fightin' cease,
And simple folks may till their soil and live and love in peace? . . ."

"It's coming soon and soon, mother, it's nearer every day,
When only men who work and sweat will have a word to say;
When all who earn their honest bread in every land and soil
Will claim the Brotherhood of Man, the Comradeship of Toil;
When we, the Workers, all demand: `What are we fighting for?' . . .
Then, then we'll end that stupid crime, that devil's madness -- War."

By Robert W. Service




PS Thank you to BillyBoy for sending it to me.

Britains Got Talent 2009.

I have never watched this program .............. But last night I did watch the final and these guys were brill.

Picture of the Week.

They walk amongst us !!

Some guy bought a new fridge for his house. To get rid of his old fridge, he put it in his front yard and hung a sign on it saying: 'Free to good home. You want it, you take it.' For three days the fridge sat there without even one person looking twice at it. He eventually decided that people were too un-trusting of this deal.
It looked too good to be true, so he changed the sign to read: 'Fridge for sale £50.'

The next day someone stole it!

Lot's of things to do ....

The Father in Law came home after spending over 4 months in hospital.

This has been a busy time , but hopefully things can get back to normal. He needs to practice a little so he can get around , but he is getting there.


Have changed my Web Page hosts, I got fed up with Web Mania, always something going wrong and it was always my fault.


Here is the new link to my new host :


Sheptess


I hope to be post more often in the future.

The Smell of Battle.

Boer War 1899 to 1902

This site has lots of information.



This little video shows pictures of Cape Town and some of the soldiers who served there.

Thought for the day.

Handle every situation like a dog.

If you can't eat it or hump it.
Piss on it and walk away.

Tennyson of the Transvaal.

Oh those rides across the river
where the shallow stream runs wide
And a sunset’s beams were glossing
strips of sand on either side.
They would cross the sparkling river
on the brown horse and the bay,
Watch the willows sway and shiver
and the trembling shadows play.
'Tis a memory to be hoarded
of a foolish tale and fond,
Till another stream be forded
and they reach the great beyond.


Harry ‘Breaker’ Morant

WW1 War Poem.

In the Trenches.

I snatched two poppies
From the parapet’s ledge,
Two bright red poppies
That winked on the ledge.
Behind my ear
I stuck one through,
One blood red poppy
I gave to you.

The sandbags narrowed
And screwed out our jest,
And tore the poppy
You had on your breast ...
Down - a shell - O! Christ,
I am choked ... safe ... dust blind, I
See trench floor poppies
Strewn. Smashed you lie.

Anonymous Poem.

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.'

Author Unknown~

Another Great Picture.

If you are looking into your family tree (even though there is no Scottish interest) then this is the best forum around.


Scotlands Family Tree

Picture of the Week.

What a Picture ...

A Christmas Picture !!

It's that time of year again.....

Christmas will soon be here. I have already bought all of my wife's presents, so I dont have to worry.




I hope you are not too far behind, Never leave it to the last minute. Something always goes wrong.



Merry Christmas and a Happy New year.

Remembrance Day.

Remembrance Day is here again,
On this day we remember all those who were slain.
The ones they left behind have endured much sorrow and pain.
But rest assured,
the whole world knows those brave ones didn't die in vain.

The poppies that you see people wear,
Are there to show you they still care.
We open our hearts so that we can share,
A moment of silence, and offer a prayer.

To all the soldiers who died saving our country.


~~By Patti Joyce.~~


Elaine's remembrance Day Poem Page

View my friends (Bill Norwood) Special Page.

Christmas in Ladysmith 1899

Christmas Day in South Africa falls almost at midsummer and the sun rises early, as did the Boers in 1899, immediately sniping at the town and sending over their big shells. Later in the day two of these shells land in the town but failed to detonate. On being opened, the engineers found that the detonators had been removed and the space filled with Christmas pudding. Written on the outside was the message "With the compliments of the season".

Read the rest of this story at ladysmithhistory.com


Read about Captain John Norwood VC Here. He served in the 5th Dragoon Guards at ladysmith.

Trick or Treat.

Every year before this one, we would draw the blinds and not take any notice of the door bell, and it worked.


This year, I bought sweets and waited ................... and waited .................. and guess what ....... No one come and knocked on our door.


Oh well, not to worry, there is always next year.

Norwood Family History Slide Show

Well, I have completed my friends web pages (for now, he will without doubt what something new).

If you Click Here, you will be able to see his slide show.


It shows quite a few members of his family.

Please let me know if you have any comments.