Its 7.20 am
Time for a smoke
The young men share
A few risque jokes
Never seen battle
Or visited Hell
Its July the first
Day one of the Somme.
Its 7 29am
Cigarettes out
The officer prepares
Whistle and shout
Bayonets fixed
Steel prepared
Now reality
Becomes scared.
Shrill the whistle
Men climb the trench
Most fall back
To Heaven sent
Last thoughts of home
Mothers wives and child
Lets waste a generation
Forward men charge.
-
Author:
nephilim56 ( Norman Dickson) (
Offline) - Published: March 22nd, 2026 03:11
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 39
Offline)
Comments5
Quite a tribute to this battle, the men that died there, gritty and real about a real event now mostly forgotten. Well done Norman
Many thanks always appreciated
Many thanks always appreciated
You are most welcome Norman
I read that the soldiers on that first day were volunteers and worked in "Pals Battalions"- units made up of family and friends,
Devastating not only families, but whole communities.
God help us, war is brutal, to say the least.
and in many ways futile, thanks for reading always appreciated
Very real and atmospheric. I was obsessed by the trenches in WW1 once. Keep the memory alive if you have the motivation.
I try, thanks for reading always appreciated
A thoughtful write N.
thanks appreciated
Super words Norman about a time when so many died, " WE WILL REMEMBER THEM"
Andy
thanking you always appreciated
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