a Diggers lament,an Anzac

[John Saxton]

He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the R.S.L.,
Telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his mates;
They were heroes, every one.

And 'tho sometimes to his neighbours
His tales became a joke,
All his mates listened quietly
For they knew where of he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For ol' Jack has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer
For a Digger died today.

He won't be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.

He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly on his way;
And the world won't note his passing,
'Tho a Digger died today.

When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.

The Media tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young,
But the passing of a Digger
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Some smoothie who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?

The politician's stipend
And the style in which they live,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that they give.

While the ordinary Digger,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.

It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever-waffling stand?

Or would you want a Digger
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Digger,
Who would fight until the end?

He was just a common Digger,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his likes again.

For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Digger's part,
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honour
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage
At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline
In the paper that might say:

"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A DIGGER DIED TODAY."

[John Saxton]

thanks Fred for moving this to this thread,I should have done so in the first instance.

[DH2]

Thanks for this John, you wouldn't know how wrote it would you?

[John Saxton]

Thanks for this John, you wouldn't know how wrote it would you?

No I do not unfortunately ,it came via an email which undoubtedly has been around before it got to me.

[Twisted Tenon]

Thanks for this John, you wouldn't know how wrote it would you?

1987 A. Lawrence Vaincourt

[Twisted Tenon]

Reminds me of the Red Gum Classic - Ted


TT

[John Saxton]

1987 A. Lawrence Vaincourt

Thanks for bringing this to light for it's originality ,still a good reminder of those that served and are long gone ,but not from our memory whilst we all still can.

Cheers

[artme]

Thanks for that John.!!!

There are so many truths in that poem!!

I was reflecting earlier today on the returned men and how they managed to get on with life.

Of course they were ably supported by strong and silent wives whoo must have kept so much from the children.
I know my mother shielded us from so much and that only came out after dad was gone. Some info I picked up
from my uncles and aunties also.

I still marvel at all I have learnt and wonder how we and following generations can live up to the example set.

[Twisted Tenon]

Thanks for that John.!!!

There are so many truths in that poem!!

I was reflecting earlier today on the returned men and how they managed to get on with life.

Of course they were ably supported by strong and silent wives whoo must have kept so much from the children.
I know my mother shielded us from so much and that only came out after dad was gone. Some info I picked up
from my uncles and aunties also.

I still marvel at all I have learnt and wonder how we and following generations can live up to the example set.

So true artme. The knock on effect from both the world wars heavily impacted on the following two generations and continues today. I believe that we can trace a lot of our social problems from the end of the second war.
Those vet's paid a heavy price.

TT

[GM2]

A Profile on Lawrence Vaincourt who wrote the poem. GM2


https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2014/11/10/poem_written_by_veteran_republished_around_the_world_every_remembrance_day.html