大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Vijiha Bashir, at 大象传媒 Scotland on behalf of J.Moran from Glasgow and has been added to the site with the permission of Johnstone History Society. The author fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

The recruiting office beckoned me; to there I made a dash,
A kilted Sergeant sat in there, bedecked in his Red Sash,
He said you鈥檙e the type we鈥檙e looking for, big, strong, able ailing,
So just sign on the dotted line and you will get a Shilling,
He led me to the doctor鈥檚 room, where I got a friendly greeting,
The DOC then said you are A.1 because your heart is beating,
As I approached the Barrack gate, I thought I must be dreaming,
For above the sounds of Pipes and Drums, I could hear Drill Sergeant screaming!

I tried to turn away and run before it was too late,
But a tree striped arm reached right out and pulled me in the gate,
The QM Issued me with kit, some large and some to wee,
And when I mentioned this to him, he yelled, 鈥渄on鈥檛 talk back to me鈥�!
The R.S.M. Marched up to me and gave a piercing glare,
鈥淕et over to the Barber鈥檚 shop; I鈥檓 standing on your hair鈥�!
They led me to the dreaded square my feet they felt like lead,
These boots were never meant for me, I was used to crepe soled suede,
The Drill Instructor shouts like mad, I鈥檓 sure he has no mum or dad.

鈥淎ttention, stand at ease and don鈥檛 forget to bend your knees,
That鈥檚 a rifle, not a gun鈥�. 鈥淚t鈥檚 for fighting, not for fun,
shape, shine, silhouette, never get your rifle wet,
You must learn to read a map or you become a handicap鈥�.
鈥淲hen I say fix! You don鈥檛 fix but when I say Bayonets! Then you fix鈥�.
鈥淪tomach in chest out, don鈥檛 lose balance when you turn about鈥�.
Yes sir, no sir, three bags full, blind obedience is the rule,
Kit inspection another dread when ordered to stand by your bed.
I was taught to aim and shoot and regulate my sight,
The proper way to camouflage and read the stars by night.

My training ended one fine day; to the battalion I must go,
My Co. had decided I was fit to fight the foe,
Now why did I ever join and bring about such pain?
I then made my mind up to never volunteer again,
Then for the first time since enlisting, I got a big reprieve
The C.S.M. Gave me a pass to have a spot of leave.
I left that training depot, bulled up from head to toe
My Sergeant looked at me and smiled and for the first time said hello,
With my straight back and measured stride I never had felt bolder
My proud moment came when an old man said 鈥� 鈥淭here goes a Scottish Soldier鈥�.

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