ramblings and things

Conchie

We had our first pint

And then a few more 

And then the talk turned 

To the Great War.

He wore a khaki uniform

Just the same as mine

And he stood alongside me

On the front line.

He didn't carry a weapon,

Never fired a round,
But he was over the top

At the whistles sound,

And there you'd see him

Wandering no mans land

Searching for the wounded

A stretcher in his hand.

A Conchie and a coward

So the propaganda said

But for the likes of him many

Now living would've been dead 

Somehow we both survived

To reach our demob day

Shook hands goodbye and

Each went on his way

I suppose it's just now
With feelings of relief,

Maybe just tinged with

A survivor's grief,

And, maybe primed with 

A few pints, that I can tell

Of my four wasted years

In the Great War's hell

If he walked in here today

I'd shake his hand with pride

Buy him a friends drink

Stand proudly by his side

A Conchie and a coward

With beliefs he held true

But I tell you mates he was

The bravest man I ever knew.