大象传媒

This poem was submitted to the People's War site by a volunteer of the Stoke CSV Action Desk on behalf of Roy Thomas Matthias and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

From the shores of Lee on Solent,
Up to Scapas barren isle,
A.T.A.G. goes to join his squadron,
It's many a many mile.

Flying off to join his Carrier
H.M.S. Furious waiting there,
To take on board his Aircraft,
going off to start his war.

Raid's, and patrols off Norway,
Tirpitz bombed and set alight,
some Aircrews lost or injured,
Most lucky to be alive.

The bombing stop Tirpitz
From launchbing an attack,
King George comes up to Scapa
To inspect us when we get back.

Then Coastal Command from Norfolk,
Patrollintg of Holland's coast,
E Boats coming out at night,
To raid and run like ghosts.

After Furious comes Colllossus,
To transport us far afield,
Across the mighty oceans,
To places of our dreams.

Malta, Alexandra,
The red sea, very hot,
Strange sights and customs,
It seems we see the lot

Ceylon and India greet us,
Temple bells, elephants too,
Sights and places so incredible,
We barely think its true.

Madras, the Indian ocean,
Snake charmers, Holy men,
It's something from the fairy books,
Simply unforgettable.

On and on across the oceans,
Flying fishes, sharks we see,
Not the Aircraft of the Navy,
But predators of the deep.

Australia, Sydney Harbour,
Mighty bridge across the span,
Greetings from the Aussies,
Good on yer, yer bloody Pom.

Shore leave in the Blue mountains,
Kind Aussie families,
Sunshine, blue skies, Bondi beach,
We can hardly take it in.

Worries over Kamikazes,
Will we die, sink or swim.
Then bang, they drop the atom bomb,
And save us from Japan.

It's finished and home calls,
But first on our way home,
We call at Capetowns harbour,
Basking in the foam.

Shore leave in South Africa,
Generous people by the score,
Trips up Table mountain,
Thank God we won the war.

Then England, home and loved ones,
So hard to settle down,
But there's loves and lives to bind us,
And keep our feet down on the ground.

It's all a distant memory,
But with thoughts and photos too,
It's made me thing about it,
And write this down for you.

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